128 GARDENING BY MYSELF. 



by sowing seeds — it is too early yet for that, 

 except the few things that are sown for suc- 

 cession ; but in the way of layering, budding 

 and making cuttings. This last, Mr. Hen- 

 derson calls the most important of all floral 

 operations ; furnishing, with care, an inex- 

 haustible supply of plants. And he adds 

 the comforting assurance, that care is the 

 thing needed, not great knowledge. Yet a 

 little knowledge is a good foundation for 

 care's work. 



When I was a child, I was taught elabo- 

 rately how to make cuttings in the English 

 fashion, by our English gardener, — a man 

 thoroughly at home in the business from a 

 seven years' apprenticeship and much use. 

 His success was always good ; and mine, 

 following his directions, was rarely want- 

 ing. Yet some of these English ideas Mr. 

 Henderson has, American like, cut down 

 and simplified ; and so I shall sometimes 

 choose to give you his directions, rather 

 than those which I could more properly call 

 my own. The simpler the better, always. 



