GARDENING OVER A WINTER FIRE. 243 



written ; and the latter is by far the best source 

 of information, only it is school that " keeps in " 

 a long time, and requires patient learners. It 

 is in this that the " illiterate gardener," as you 

 term him, has studied ; but when you come to 

 talk to him on his specialty, you may find that 

 the illiteracy belongs to the questioner. If the 

 kid-gloved theorist will go to work practically 

 under Nature's instructions for a dozen years or 

 more, he may find that though attending what 

 may be termed a " dame's school," he will 

 learn more than volumes can teach. Books 

 aim to give, in brief, the slow teachings of ex- 

 perience, and as life is short, we avail ourselves 

 of" short-cuts, and quick methods." 



But the best knowledge is best gained by 

 putting books and experience together, and let" 

 ting one help the other Books broaden and 

 liberalize, remove prejudices, and stimulate to 

 higher attainment Facts, experience in the gar- 



