A GARDEN DIARY 157 



fine, mixed with sand, and rolled, answers 

 fairly. Another question arises in the matter 

 of vases. Terra-cotta ones of the right design 

 are not easily come by in this country, and, when 

 come by, they often cost more than if imported 

 direct from Italy. These, however, are details, 

 while the question of what to plant in such 

 gardens is still more obviously an open one. 

 That the more of glaucous, grey-blue tints such 

 as that found in the foliage of carnations we 

 have the better, is I think certain, while if 

 small bushes are wanted, lavender will provide 

 the same shade. Where both walls and walks are 

 of red brick, blue, white and violet seem to be 

 the right prevailing colours ; reds and yellows 

 only to be admitted slowly, and with precaution. 

 All this, however, savours of dogmatism ! 



The supreme moment for such little plots is 

 of course their spring-bulb time. Most people 

 call them Dutch gardens, and whether common 

 in Holland or not, the tulip undoubtedly seems 

 born to flourish in them. When the tulips are 

 over, plenty of other things come on however to 

 take their places. Pansies, for instance, never 

 look better than in such gardens, whether as a 

 carpet for tea-roses, or in beds by themselves. 

 The smaller campanulas, especially the white hair- 

 bells, the small double daisies, and a host of other 

 things of the same sort, answer perfectly, while, 

 if we want to stretch out our bulb season all 



