Introduction xvii 



strong specimens. Each clump or group or border may be dominated 

 by one kind of plant — foxgloves, hollyhocks, spireas, asters. The odd 

 and unusual things you may grow as incidents, as jewelry is an incident 

 to good dress. Miscellanec us mixtures are rarely satisfactory. The point 

 IS that the character of the home garden should be given by the plants 

 that are most sure to thrive. The novelties and oddities should be subjects 

 of experiment: if they fail, the garden still remains. 



if the native shin 



intergreens. A good suggestion for the mass planting 

 wild flowers 



The lawn should be the first care in any home ground. All effective 

 planting has relation to this foundation. Homelikeness also depends upon 

 it. Grass will grow anywhere, to be sure, but mere grass does not make a 

 lawn. You must have a sod; and this sod must grow better every year. 

 This means good and deep preparation of the land m the beginning, rich 

 soil, fertilising each year, re-sowmg and mending where the sod becomes thm. 



