44 EVERSLEY GARDENS 



thither like sapphires, intent on the same ex- 

 cellent work. The borders round the house 

 are always gay now with a wide band of Poly- 

 anthus of every conceivable shade from snow- 

 white to rich deep crimson, backed with dark 

 Wall-flowers. Much as I detest " fashions " in 

 flowers, I rejoice that a taste for the beautiful 

 and useful Polyanthus has revived ; for during 

 long years of neglect it was thought only 

 worthy of the children's little gardens, or the 

 cottager's border. Few flowers are so easily 

 cultivated ; and when once a good strain has 

 been established there is no difficulty in in- 

 creasing it by gathering and sowing the seed 

 in June, while the old plants are lifted and set 

 in close rows in a cool place till they are wanted 

 again for autumn planting. 



One's neighbours' gardens are full of interest 

 and suggestion in this budding and blossoming 

 time of year. And hardly a week passes with- 

 out gleaning hints or extracting promises of 

 cuttings or offsets. In the Spring of 1906 I 

 got many hints in a delightful garden, where, 

 between straight-clipped hedges of Laurel, of 



