FOREWORD 



of them held but a few kinds of flowers, and among 

 them a great sameness prevailed, for almost without 

 exception they represented the conspicuously thrifty 

 plants of that locality which were then in bloom. 

 Their owners had planted them without a thought 

 that there might be failure to fulfil their expectations. 

 Still, here and there could be seen plants that had been 

 introduced within the last few years. Undoubtedly, 

 they had first been experimented with in the gardens 

 of adjacent large estates, and some one had reproduced 

 them by means of a clipping or a root in the gardens 

 of the unpretentious. 



I noticed especially that the crimson rambler rose 

 bloomed in the majority of these wayside gardens. 

 It occurred as generally as did geraniums, climbing 

 up the side of the houses, peeping into the windows, 

 mounting the fences, and in every way showing the 

 characteristics of a truly domesticated plant. Its 

 apparent thriftiness, however, merely proclaimed it 

 to be admirably adapted to the surrounding soil of 

 the island and its climate. Although a native of 

 Japan, it held its own with the indigenous plants, 

 sometimes even showing with outstretched zeal the 

 wish to oust them from their places. 



To construct a good seaside garden it is necessary, 

 as with all other gardens, first to learn what plants 

 are best adapted by nature to its special conditions. 

 Nature in her wild haunts gives many hints as to the 

 kinds of plants she employs in various places, as, 

 wherever there is opportunity, she sends up some 

 green thing to soften the surface of the earth. The 



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