Spring subjects have mostly flowered before the 

 trees are in full leaf ; and, with our blazing sum- 

 mer suns, overshading through foliage will sel- 

 dom occur. A few hours' sunshine during the 

 day is sufficient for most plants which blossom 

 after the latter part of May. The rock-garden 

 is never appropriate in the center of a lawn. It 

 is a dainty form of gardening, which should be 

 enshrined by itself, rather than have its loveli- 

 ness thrust upon one. 



A rock-garden in a glade of a wood would 

 be charming. This would afford abundant 

 shade and moisture for the shadow - loving 

 plants and diminutive ferns, as well as shelter 

 from rude draughts, notwithstanding the belief, 

 which most of us had when we were children, 

 that it was the trees that made the wind. 



Wherever it may be situated, it should be 

 readily accessible to the garden-hose. I find a 

 very fine dust-spray, which may be pinned into 

 the ground and shifted from one point to an- 

 other, the best means of watering. A coarse 

 spray washes away the earth and is rude to the 

 flowers. With sufficient moisture in summer and 

 protection during winter, many species which are 

 pronounced not hardy, or not to be acclimated, 

 may be grown successfully. Oak and beech 

 leaves covered lightly with evergreen boughs 



