278 THE SHAKESPEARE GARDEN 



with roses, honeysuckle, rosemary, and other roving 

 flowers, give the effect of the old leafy tunnels of 

 greenery and blossoms. 



Ill 



Soil and Seed 



Every gardener of olden times, as well as every 

 practical worker to-day, insists upon the necessity 

 of digging and trenching and preparing the soil be- 

 fore any seeds are sown, or cuttings planted. For 

 this important preparation, the advice of the best 

 local gardener is imperative. 



Regarding seeds it is interesting to seek advice 

 from Didymus Mountain's "The Gardener's 

 Labyrinth." "Every gardener and owner," he says, 

 "ought to be careful and diligently to foresee that 

 the seeds committed to the earth be neither too old, 

 dry, thin, withered, nor counterfeited, but rather 

 full, new and full of juice. 



"After the seeds being workmanly bestowed in 

 the beds, the gardener's next care must be that he 

 diligently pull up and weed away all hurtful and 

 unprofitable herbs annoying the garden plants 

 coming up." 



All very sound advice, quaintly expressed. Old 



