74 THE GARDEN, YOU, AND I 



consummation than with us, where the climate of ex- 

 tremes makes the perfection of flowers most uncertain, 

 at least in the months of July and August when the 

 immature bud of one day is the open, but often imper- 

 fect, flower of the next. As no one may change climatic 

 conditions, the only thing to be done is to give to this 

 class of flowers of the summer garden room for indi- 

 vidual development, all the air they need to breathe 

 both below ground, by frequent stirring of the soil, and 

 above, by avoidance of over-crowding, and then select 

 only those varieties that are really worth while. 



This qualification can best be settled by pausing and 

 asking three questions, when confronting the alluring 

 portrait of an above-the-average specimen of annual in 

 a catalogue, for Garden Goozle applies not only to 

 the literature of the subject, but to the pictures as well, 

 and a measurement of, for instance, a flower stalk of 

 Drummond phlox, taken from a specimen pot- grown 

 plant, raised at least partly under glass, is sure to cause 

 disappointment when the average border plant is 

 compared with it. 



First is the species of a colour and length of flower- 

 ing season to be used in jungle- like masses for summer 

 colour ? Second has it fragrance or decorative 

 quality for house decoration ? Thirdly, has it the back- 



