164 A BOOK OF ENGLISH GARDENS 



only lady's Garden in my experience which was at 

 the same time a true Cottage Garden possessing all 

 the little touches and arrangements peculiar to 

 one." 



The absence of the intimate knowledge of one 

 village and the delight of watching the little well- 

 known plots of ground changing their dark Winter 

 dress for the fresh beauty of Spring, and later to the 

 full glory of Summer, is to a certain extent com- 

 pensated for by the interest of a wider if less 

 intimate acquaintance with many a village, and the 

 different ways of doing things in various counties. 



Truly there is no race in the world in which so 

 many flower-lovers are to be found as among the 

 English. England is just a large Garden, made 

 up of a number of smaller ones, with a fringe of 

 little Cottage Gardens. 



Travellers abroad know that the little oases of 

 colour and green are not to be found attached to 

 each tiny homestead as in England. Here even 

 the hideous railway line which has cut through 

 many a glorious park is not without its brightening 

 touch of flowers, grown often by the stationmaster, 

 in a rich profusion which proclaims a born Gardener. 



So deeply rooted in the English race is this love 

 of flowers, that wherever an English man or woman 

 goes, be it to the uttermost parts of the earth, 

 among the most adverse conditions, a Garden is 

 made. For instance, from Africa comes the follow- 



