WHAT I KNOW ABOUT GARDENING. 101 



I have heard of places where there was very 

 little land to the acre. It is universally true 

 that there is a great deal of vegetable show 

 and fuss for the result produced. I do not 

 ..complain of this. One cannot expect vege- 

 tables to be better than men : and they make 

 a great deal of ostentatious splurge, and 

 many of them come to no result at last. 

 Usually, the more show of leaf and wood, 

 the less fruit. This melancholy reflection is 

 thrown in here in order to make dog-days 

 seem cheerful in comparison. 



One of the minor pleasures of life is that 

 of controlling vegetable activity and aggres- 

 sions with the pruning-knife. Vigorous and 

 rapid growth is, however, a necessity to the 

 sport. To prune feeble plants and shrubs is 

 like acting the part of dry-nurse to a sickly 

 orphan. You must feel the blood of Nature 

 bound under your hand, and get the thrill of 

 its life in your nerves. To control and cul- 

 ture a strong, thrifty plant in this way is 

 like steering a ship under full headway, or 

 driving a locomotive with your hand on the 



