PREFACE. 



THIS book contains, with certain new additions, The 

 Six of Spades and other articles, which were written 

 long ago (with the exception of The Joy of a Garden, 

 which appeared in the London Guardian some twelve 

 months ago), and were received by the public and by 

 the press with much sympathy and kind approbation. 

 They were written, and are republished, from an 

 earnest desire to enlarge that love of a garden, which 

 brings so much pure eojoyment to the gardener, 

 whatever may be his position in life. Whether he 

 reside in a castle or a cottage, it makes his home more 

 dear to him, and helps him, by satisfaction ever new, 

 " therewith to be content." When the author pleads 

 that children at home, boys at school, young men at 

 college, villagers, and citizens, should have every 

 encouragement and opportunity for appreciating the 

 beauty of things pleasant to the eye, and the utility 

 of things good for food, he writes from practical 

 results, and not from theories. For example, it was 

 my custom for many summers to take walks by the 



