A GARDEN DIARY 133 



MARCH 19, 1900 



OOME way back in this diary I was unwise 

 ^ enough to inveigh against that "pleasant 

 herb called Vanity," especially in its relation to 

 gardens. A greater error I now feel there could 

 not be, and I am convinced that if we only took 

 care to cultivate a sufficient supply of it, it 

 would not only be a satisfaction in itself, but 

 an immense stimulus to the successful cultivation 

 of all other desirable plants. 



This is not, I am aware, the general view. The 

 general idea being that the herb in question is a 

 mere weed, one that will not only grow every- 

 where, and at all seasons, but that grows the most 

 luxuriantly upon the poorest soil. Now this is 

 certainly not the case. What amount of it is 

 grown in other gardens I cannot say, no report 

 or only a very indirect one being forwarded 

 to any of the regular gardening periodicals. 

 That there are poor varieties of it I am willing 

 to admit, but a really good " strain " is always 

 worth securing, if it can be done legitimately, 



