xxvi How to Make a Flower Garden 



for decoration and exhibition. When China asters are wanted because 

 they are China asters, grow them where and how China asters thrive best; 

 if they are wanted as a part of the general garden effect, grow them where 

 and how this effect can be best secured. 



The place for the service garden is at one side or the rear — preferably 

 m the back yard. Grow the things in rows. 



Give the children an opportunity to make a garden. Let them grow 

 what they will. Let them experiment. It matters less that they produce 

 good plants than that they try for themselves. A place should be reserved. 

 Let it be well out of sight, for the results may not be ornamental. How- 

 ever, take care that the conditions are good for the growing of plants — ■ 

 good soil, plenty of sun, freedom from the encroachments of tree-roots and 

 from molestation of carriage-drive or chickens. It may be well to set the 

 area off by a high fence of chicken-wire screen ; then cover the fence with 

 vines. Put a seat in the enclosure. This will constitute an outdoor nursery 

 room ; and while the child is being entertained and is gaining health he 

 may gam experience and nature-sympathy at the same time. 



There are two kinds of interest in plants — the interest in the plant 

 itself for its own sake, and the interest in plants as part of a mass, or as 

 elements in a picture. The former is primarily the interest of the plant- 

 lover or the botanist ; the latter is the interest of the artist. Fortunately, 

 many persons have both these elements highly developed, and every person 

 can train himself to appreciate both points of view. Now, a home ground 

 is one thing. It is, or should be, homogeneous in its composition. It 

 should appeal to one as a unit : the entire place should produce one effect. 

 This effect may be that of rest or retreat or seclusion or homelikeness. In 

 order to produce this harmony, plants must be placed with relation to each 

 other and to the general design of the place. The abihty to do this kind 

 of planting is one of the attributes of a good landscape gardener. He 

 produces good "effects" and harmonies. He thinks less of plants as mere 

 plants than he does as parts of a composition. He sees them much as a 

 painter does. All this is contrary to the general conception of planting. 

 Most persons, I fear, think of a plant only as a plant, and are content when 

 it is planted. But merely to plant a plant may have little merit in the 

 home grounds : robins and squirrels do that much. 



