OUR MOUNTAIN GARDEN 



success, my work was not in vain after 

 all, for all unconsciously I had discovered 

 the first great secret of successful flower 

 growing, namely : that before planting any- 

 thing the bed must be dug to the depth 

 of about two feet, all the stones, roots, 

 and other foreign matter taken out, and 

 the soil crumbled till it is fine and mellow. 

 Unless one is willing to take this trouble 

 at the start, it is futile to plant at all, 

 for even black-eyed Susans, the worst of 

 weeds, will not grow in an unprepared 

 bed. 



And now I began to have deep 

 thoughts in regard to preparing soil, for 

 had I not read the books of the Wise 

 Ones in regard to the subject? One 

 and all recommended for every species 

 of plant a " deep sandy loam, moist and 

 well drained," as the first essential of its 

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