Introduction 



prove a hard taskmaster indeed, or a living re- 

 proach — a reproach that will burgeon and bloom 

 in noxious weeds and sickening plants, a garden 

 where the worm dieth not and the aphis and grub 

 revel undisturbed and unchecked. 



There is nothing so easy as to keep a garden 

 in perfect order, free from weeds and pernicious 

 insect life, nothing easier than to have the re- 

 verse of this. One cannot garden successfully on 

 the principle that one can work in the garden 

 when there is nothing else to do, no one to play 

 with, nowhere to go. The garden should be first 

 to a certain extent, and this is not an arbitrary or 

 exacting condition for the toll exacted is paid for 

 many times over in the peace of mind that comes 

 from work well and conscientiously done, to say 

 nothing of the economic value of thrifty veg- 

 etables. 



There are always critical times in the life of 

 the garden; — the gardener must recognize these 

 and be prepared to give just the assistance the 

 condition requires at just the time it is required; 

 if this is done promptly it will surprise one who 



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