NOVEMBER 121 



the summer of making notes of work to be done in 

 the winter, such as the removal of plants which are 

 getting too crowded, or which are evidently not happy 

 in their present position, or the alteration of paths 

 and beds made necessary by the growth of trees, or 

 it may be merely by the desire for change; and all 

 such work is best done in November. In some gardens 

 there is a great deal of work done in the separation of 

 plants, and I know of many who think that frequent 

 separation is absolutely necessary to the well-being of 

 plants. It may be so in some soils, especially in heavy 

 clay soils, but I am glad that it is not necessary for 

 me. I find it better to leave plants alone as much as 

 possible; there are some which from time to time I 

 may be obliged to divide, but I do it unwillingly, for 

 I find, in many cases, that it takes them more than a 

 year to recover from the operation. This is especially 

 the case with roses, lilies, and paeonies, but I believe 

 this is entirely a question of soil, and what is a law 

 for my garden is no law for others. In my own 

 garden I am not afraid of moving plants at almost 

 any time of the year, if I see the necessity for it ; but 

 to move plants in the height of summer requires extra 

 care in planting, and much watching after planting; 

 in November the work is much easier. There are few 

 gardening works in which a gardener's skill, or want 



