A GARDEN DIARY 151 



sprout together. Past this, sweeping up from the 

 region of the larches, comes our new grass walk, 

 eleven feet wide, consequently a walk of pride 

 to people who have hitherto subsisted upon two- 

 foot tracks ! With a fine easy curve it turns 

 away to the south, making for the gate which 

 divides the garden from the copse. That turn 

 being shared by the new opening, will I think 

 ensure that no new rush of cold air can come 

 tearing in upon the flower-beds. But for this no 

 hatchet or billhook would have been conducted 

 to the spot by me. Our new little view is pace 

 our neighbour's opinions a remarkably nice little 

 view, but did it display Alps or Andes, in place 

 of the despised Dorking downs, the right-minded 

 gardener would in the latter case hesitate ; might 

 even feel in the end that it would be too dearly 

 purchased. 



Now for the next question, and a serious one. 

 Are we to allow ourselves to make any garden 

 use of this new clearing or not ? This touches 

 upon the larger question of meddling generally. 

 To meddle, or not to meddle ? Is it permissible 

 as regards what lies outside the strict garden 

 boundaries to interfere, or ought we to leave 

 the whole matter to Nature, in other words to 

 Chance ? 



To lay down the law dogmatically upon this 

 point would be to lay it down for every garden 

 in Great Britain, or all not girded by kitchen 



