HARDY GARDENING 



plants and then disappeared, touching noth- 

 ing else. Such a thing had never before hap- 

 pened in my garden. One of the men had 

 sprayed them with both slug -shot and kero- 

 sene emulsion to no effect, — and so no Asters. 

 ]\ly friend with the little garden heard me 

 bemoaning my loss, and the next day sent 

 me, over the five intervening miles, a hamper 

 — almost a small clothes-basket — full of the 

 beautiful things. It quite took my breath 

 away. I wondered how she could do it, and 

 thought she must have given me every one 

 she had. Yet, upon driving over in hot haste 

 to pour out thanks and regrets, lo! there were 

 Asters all a -blow in such quantities in her 

 garden that it seemed as if none had been 

 gathered. 



Except by the sea -coast, our dry sum- 

 mers, with burning sun and, in many places, 

 frequent absence of dew, are terribly hard 

 on a garden; but with deep, rich soil, and 

 plenty of water and proper care, it will yield 

 an almost tropical growth. Therefore, when- 



15 



