388 GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS 



On the ground stand two dilapidated and dark old glass- 

 houses ; one a vinery facing south with a somewhat raised 

 Vine border long disused ; the other house, a span roof, near 

 the eastern wall of the garden. A few poor trees outside at 

 one corner give the only touch of greenness to the space 

 within. 



" The first idea, to cut up the ground into three squares, one 

 for flowers, one for vegetables, and one for reserve ground, 

 was abandoned, both on account of its ugliness and also be- 

 cause it did not afford scope for a grass walk with flowers at 

 each side and a seat in shelter, which was the cherished wish 

 of the new possessor. At last it was decided to make a broad 

 gravel walk across the width of the garden at the far end, and 

 heighten the old Vine border so as to obtain a southern slope. 

 The entrance to the garden is at the south-west corner, and 

 the greenhouse stands midway on the eastern side, projecting 

 into the ground. This afforded an opportunity to destroy the 

 formality of the long strip by making a broad grass walk from 

 the entrance diagonally across the ground into the angle be- 

 tween the greenhouse and the garden wall. This walk, seven 

 feet broad, was sunk quite three feet into the ground by the 

 steps at the entrance, and rose gradually to the ground-level 

 at the other end. The clay and soil taken out were used to 

 raise the beds on either side and make an even slope to the 

 path as it rose to the level. At a distance of about twelve feet 

 from the grass path a hedge of Olearia Haastii and red and 

 white double Japanese Rosa rugosa was planted to screen off 

 the reserve and vegetable plots from the decorative part of the 

 garden. By this means two broad borders were obtained 

 having different aspects, and at the upper end a very warm 

 and sheltered corner was formed for tender plants, while at 

 the lower end by the door two fair-sized triangles were dug 

 out of the clay to form a drainage to the sloping walk, and at 

 the same time afford a moist and shady nook where some 

 hardier bog plants and flowers might thrive. 



"Towards the upper end a narrow gravel path was cut 

 through the bank round the end of the greenhouse which 

 joined the broad terrace walk at the foot of the Vine border, 

 and afforded on the side near the greenhouse a suitable place 

 for a seat where the flower borders might be seen. Four Bay 

 trees in tubs (which find shelter in winter in the disused vinery) 

 protect the seat from the neighbours by means of striped 

 awnings tied from stem to stem. 



" After this rough blocking out of the flower garden the next 

 thing was to plant it, and to harden one's heart against unsuit- 

 able things, however lovely and desirable they might be in 



