40 Old Time Gardens 



derivative, and the word exists much disguised in 

 orchard. In the sixteenth century yard was used 

 in formal literature instead of garden ; and later 

 Burns writes of" Eden's bonnie yard, Where yeuth- 

 ful lovers first were pair'd." 



This front yard was an English fashion derived 

 from the forecourt so strongly advised by Gervayse 

 Markham (an interesting old English writer on flori- 

 culture and husbandry), and found in front of many 

 a yeoman's house, and many a more pretentious 

 house as well in Markham's day. Forecourts were 

 common in England until the middle of the eigh- 

 teenth century, and may still be seen. The fore- 

 court gave privacy to the house even when in the 

 centre of a town. Its readoption is advised with 

 handsome dwellings in England, where ground-space 

 is limited, and why not in America, too? 



The front yard was sacred to the best beloved, or 

 at any rate the most honored, garden flowers of the 

 house mistress, and was preserved by its fences from 

 inroads of cattle, which then wandered at their will 

 and were not housed, or even enclosed at night. 

 The flowers were often of scant variety, but were 

 those deemed the gentlefolk of the flower world. 

 There was a clump of Daffodils and of the Poet's 

 Narcissus in early spring, and stately Crown Impe- 

 rial; usually, too, a few scarlet and yellow single 

 Tulips, and Grape Hyacinths. Later came Phlox 

 in abundance the only native American plant, 

 Canterbury Bells, and ample and glowing London 

 Pride. Of course there were great plants of white 

 and blue Day Lilies, with their beautiful and decora- 



