PREFACE. 



THIS is not a scientific wcrk, as the reader will soon dis- 

 cover. I know that lofty minds will pass it by in silent dis- 

 dain. I have not tried to make the world wiser. Let the wise 

 do that. 



Nor is it a manual, giving in terse, sharp periods, the greatest 

 amount of accurate information in briefest space. My style, I 

 fear, is like my garden, which grows successfully many weeds, 

 while attempting something useful. I never could write a 

 manual any more than I could work steadily in my garden at 

 one thing all day. I always did like to weed near the straw- 

 berry-bed or the raspberries, on the same principle. I fear 

 that when a boy (?) I enjoyed sitting near the choir, where 

 I could glance at the pretty singers during the dry passages 

 of the sermon. Do we not need occasional relaxation from 

 the severe duties of life ? 



In brief, it is my sincere conviction that a garden is good 

 for humanity (see Genesis ii. 8), and it is my wish to diffuse 

 this belief as widely as possible. 



I frankly admit that the following pages are very much the 

 same in character as if I had taken the reader by the arm. 



