24 COME INTO THE GARDEN 



both households that may change all the cir- 

 cumstances absolutely. Be courteous, be con- 

 siderate, make as generous concessions as friend- 

 ship may prompt — but be independent. 



Of the division and use of the ground space 

 left after building there are only a few general 

 things to be said here, this being a subject for 

 more special discussion in subsequent chapters. 

 It is well for us to remember, however, that the 

 most delightful small gardens that have ever 

 been made have never been devoted wholly to 

 flowers and flowering shrubs. These are the 

 humble cottage gardens of the old world, which, 

 though ablaze with flowers, furnish their quota 

 of salads and greens, too, and of pungent herbs 

 and fruits. And there is no doubt that greater 

 thrift in gardening practice here would produce 

 gardens of much greater interest and beauty. 



We are and always have been a nation of 

 wasters; nowhere is this more apparent than in 

 our handling of these small home plots. If we 

 could reform ourselves in this respect it would 

 be a great accomplishment from the esthetic as 

 well as the practical point of view. For it is 

 not so much a matter of money — although it 

 counts decidedly, in real cash — but a matter of 

 sound judgment; of good habits of order and 

 eflBciency and usefulness; of quickening the fac- 



iei brary 

 N. C. State Colle^ire 



