IV 



JOYS AND SORROWS OF A 

 TRIAL GARDEN 



three indispensable adjuncts of a good 

 flower garden, when considering its upkeep, 

 are, in the order of their importance : a tool-house 

 well stocked, a good supply of compost, and space 

 for a trial garden. In planting for color effect 

 the trial garden is a necessity. The space for it 

 may be small: no matter; plant in it one of a 

 kind. The gardener happy in the possession of 

 the visualizing sense may take the one plant and 

 in his or her imagination readily see its effect as 

 disposed in rows, groups, or large masses. 



My own trial garden space is very small; and 

 my idea has been from the first to secure plants 

 for it in multiples of four, if possible according to 

 size. The formal flower garden happens to be 

 arranged alike in all four quarters of its plan, and 

 this habit of balanced planting makes the trying 

 out of eight or sixteen of a kind a really econom- 



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