GARDENING BY MYSELF. 



17 



And now the catalogues begin to come 

 in, — at a good time, when there is little oth- 

 er work to do. What are you going to 

 plant ? It is not very safe to make lists for 

 other people, therefore get a good catalogue 

 and choose for yourself. Study too, at the 

 same time with names and colours, the nature 

 of your soil and chmate ; for though as Edu- 

 cation once said to Nature, " something may 

 be done by taking pains enough," yet it is 

 well to know zvhat pains will be needful. 

 But especially make yourself well acquaint- 

 ed with the catalogue, so as to leave no 

 room for regrets. 



Catalogues ! Catalogues ! — what bewil- 

 dering things they are ! How they do pile up 

 epithets and suggestions and images; heap- 

 ing " lovely blues," and '' cream}^ whites," 

 and " intense reds," and '' clear yellows," and 

 ''rosy pinks," and '' desirable contrasts," just 

 to turn the heads of people who cannot get 

 everything. There is a saying in the family 

 that where other people read novels, / 

 study catalogues — and it is a good deal so. 



