PAINTING THE LANDSCAPE 



beautiful your flowers are!" and perhaps 

 asks for a root of this or that plant ! I 

 do not know anything which instils into 

 one's inner consciousness a more serene 

 sense of contentment than this subtle form 

 of flattery! But in gardening, as in all 

 other pursuits, it is always the connoisseur 

 who sees the good points most quickly and 

 touches most lightly on the shortcomings, 

 and nothing is pleasanter than to wander 

 about the garden with such an one. Not 

 only is he appreciative of what has been 

 done already, but, as he walks and talks, 

 he gives forth many helpful suggestions 

 for future touches here and there, or im- 

 parts little practical secrets concerning 

 easy ways of achieving results for which 

 we have vainly laboured. 



Equally pleasant is it to make a return 

 visit and see with him his splendid do- 

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