30 LIVING OUTDOORS 



because I am a horticulturist, but because we cannot be a pink- 

 cheeked nation until America is one great garden as England is, 

 and until we adopt that splendid English idea the "week end." 



From Saturday noon until Monday morning one half of England 

 is entertaining the other half out of doors. Nothing but routine 

 business is transacted on Saturday and Monday mornings. Indeed, 

 week-end parties often last from Friday night until Tuesday 

 morning, and they enjoy cheaper railroad rates than for the 

 shorter period. I believe that our railroads can, and will, stim- 

 ulate country living wonderfully by lowering week-end rates. 

 The English railroads advertise bluebell excursions, so that Lon- 

 don children may go out and pick these spring flowers. The 

 newspapers always remind people of "Chestnut Sunday," when 

 every one goes out to Bushey Park to see a mile of horse chestnut 

 trees in bloom. Already our railroads are beginning to advertise 

 nature's free shows, such as the autumn colours on the Hudson 

 River, etc. The time will come when nearly all important bus- 

 iness will be done by appointment and every one who can afford it 

 will allow himself two or three days a weeks in the country from 

 April till October. 



We shall certainly develop an American style in gardening, 

 and I believe that we shall get it largely by pursuing the British 

 idea of comfort, rather than the Italian idea of formalism. These 

 stiff, geometrical gardens which are dominated by architecture are 

 only for show. They are frightfully expensive and not enough 

 "fun." Marble benches are mighty cold and hard to sit on. 

 You can't linger lovingly on a hot day over an Italian well curb 

 with no water in it. The endless steps are tiresome. The 

 glare of white stone makes the eyes ache. A hard-working, 

 democratic people wants fun and comfort. Flowers are more 



