2i 4 THE NEW GARDENING 



plants that not one professional gardener out of a hundred 

 could imitate them. 



Let me hasten to add that I am far from suggesting 

 that this bedding system is entirely wasteful and useless. 

 To do so would be to take up very narrow ground, con- 

 founding economy with ethics. It does good by arresting 

 the eyes of the multitude and turning their thoughts in 

 the direction of flowers. It instils a feeling of flower-love 

 in the breasts of many who cannot themselves garden. 

 It " shakes up " the stodgy-minded professional who has 

 been working in one groove for years and sets him think- 

 ing. It has broad, tender, humanizing influences. 



But it should not stand alone, it should be supplemented 

 by real small gardens. It should be the missionary work 

 which brings in the convert, and more detailed effort 

 should then train him in ways suited to the needs of his 

 class. 



Is there any real obstacle to the establishment in 

 every Garden City and for the matter of that in every 

 public park of a section in which one large garden is 

 made up of a series of small ones ? I do not see any 

 serious objection. Let us suppose that a given area of 

 ground which is now devoted to the large composite beds 

 so beloved of the old type of public gardener is entirely 

 reorganized, being in future composed of a number of 

 small gardens, each complete in itself, but all linked 

 together, is there any reason why the collective effect 

 should be so much inferior to that of the old system as 

 to counterbalance the superior educational influence of 

 the new ? Assuredly with competent designing and 

 skilful working there need be none. I believe that such 

 an innovation would be welcomed by all except certain 

 of the most conservative of the gardeners who had to 

 carry it out. The general effect would have the same 



