i84 



THE NATURE BOOK 



and night, there might come a message 

 from the flowers bringing inspiration at 

 working time, and even a glamom" to your 

 dreams. 



The real old English garden is modelled 

 closely on Nature's own wild garden of the 

 fields and woods. Having chosen the 

 most suitable spot fo; the various plants, 

 one leaves them to the soft summer 

 breez-.\ the cool night air, strength-giving 

 sun and refreshing rain, that they may 

 live their lives without further interference, 

 conscious that in due time they will giv^e 

 of their best. Only when Time has 

 made perfect the imperfections of man's 

 work among the flowers can the old 

 English garden be said to have reached 

 its fullest beauty ; then it is surpassed by 

 none in grace and charm. Taere is 

 something about it that speaks straight 



to the heart, casting an irresistible spell 

 and bringing home to one the delights of 

 a garden tended by Nature herself. A 

 garden grown old is the most beautiful 

 of all, and it is only by leaving the plants 

 to the subtle skill of Nature and the foster- 

 ing care of Time that a garden can grow to 

 a perfect old age. Flowers continually 

 disturbed lose their hold in the garden 

 scheme ; they strike a false note and mar 

 the harmony of the whole. A sense of 

 peace hovers over the garden that is old : 

 the plants are treasured friends with 

 which one has grown up : they are linked 

 inseparably with the joys and sorrows 

 which have beset the pathway of life. 

 An indissoluble bond of fellowship binds 

 th m to us : with us they were young, 

 with us they are growing old. 



H. H. Thomas. 



;SS H PERRIN'S GARDEN AT TERENURE. 



Vhologruj': 



