CHAPTER II 



THE NEW BORDERS 



THOUGHT, taste, and labour are all needed to make a 

 garden that is beautiful' at different seasons of the year, 

 and which always shows something of interest. A good 

 garden cannot spring from a common personality. 



Whence has come the idea that anybody can make a 

 garden, without wit, without work, without money ? 

 The upbuilding of a garden is as much a matter of training, 

 experience, patience, and restraint as the training of 

 children. It is, however, a task so delightful, in spite of 

 passing disappointments ; so healthful, in spite of occa- 

 sional fatigue ; so admirable in its influence on mind and 

 character, in spite of trying failures, that every one may 

 enter upon it with the certainty of benefit. 



A beautiful garden is capable of playing so important 

 a part in the life of a human being that it is worthy of the 

 best that is in him. Never give the fag-end of a tired 

 mind, the last efforts of a weary body, to the garden. 

 Begin the day with it. Pour out on it the vigour, fresh- 

 ness, and vitality of early morning. Enter into an active, 

 earnest, faithful comradeship with the plants. Visit them 

 when you rise, in those early hours when the wine of life 

 sparkles freshly. 



Every good plant that we grow is an addition to our 

 list of stimulating and cheering friends. Each has its own 

 individuality. We love all, but we love each differently. 

 Beautiful gardens come from beautiful plants. 



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