234 A WHITE-PAPER GARDEN 



so rejoiced all eyes last spring. New violet 

 beds are to be started from the strong seed- 

 lings that grow in between the old plants. 

 New pansies must be taken from the cold 

 frame and set out between the fresh plantings 

 of daffodils. The Madonna lilies which were 

 reset in August now show fine tufts of root 

 leaves between which young plants of English 

 larkspur show their cleft leaves. Rows of 

 Canterbury bells, mats of pinks and sweet 

 williams and columbines where is the time 

 to come from in which to get everything in 

 order ? What will happen if we have failed 

 to hoard every flake of ashes from the hearth 

 fire ? What shall we do if we have forgotten 

 to bring home from every outing a pailful of 

 sand for lightening the soil, or for sifting under 

 and over every Dutch bulb ? Which is better 

 worth while, a new coat or some loads of earth 

 from the depths of a swamp ; from the woods 

 or from the stableyard of some farmer too 

 careless to know that he would do better to 

 give away his best cow than the rich composts 

 to which he is so indifferent ? There is a 

 constant opportunity for choice on garden 

 days, and a better school for developing the 



