II 



SUBURBAN GARDENING 



Gardening in the suburbs is by no means as easy as it 

 seems. It ranks with "How to dress well upon a slender 

 purse," "How to entertain charmingly on a limited income," 

 and other modern questions, which, when ingeniously solved 

 by folk of peculiar gifts, seem to the onlooker to present no 

 problem at all. 



The owner of a large estate, or of a small place, if blessed 

 with an abundant bank-account, may seek out a landscape- 

 gardener of approved worth and on broad and accustomed 

 shoulders lay all his responsibilities, while for himself there re- 

 mains only the pleasing and comfortable task of criticising. 

 But for the average owner of the suburban place there is no 

 such convenient refuge; either he must work out his own sal- 

 vation or let his place go gardenless. 



The suburbanite is not left unaided or unencouraged in his 

 necessity; he is the recipient of much advice. It is he who is 

 constantly urged in large and easy phrase to "beautify his 

 grounds"; for him in horticultural papers appear plan after 

 plan wherein numbered circles stand for shrubs, and scallops, 

 like the marks of surf on the sand, for herbaceous "borders." 

 It all seems simple until he tries to apply the plan to his own 

 place, only to find, after repeated efforts, that his mind begins 

 to wander under the strain, like a lost plainsman's after days 

 of thirst; for much lies between plan and performance. 



When the suburbanite goes a-gardening he may have in 



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