18 THE GAEDENEE'S COMPANION 



leaving ugly patches of earth between them ; where- 

 as a really pretty bed should be full of plants, small 

 things nestling in front of larger ones, tall, slight 

 things towering gracefully above the sturdy ones, 

 all making one harmonious whole. 



The other fault I would warn you against is be- 

 coming greedy of plants, until your ground is al- 

 most all given over to the flower beds, only narrow, 

 grudging room being left for paths or lawn, and 

 the whole having the effect of a nursery garden. 

 More than one garden of moderate size have I seen, 

 where the owner seemed so anxious to possess every- 

 thing in the way of plants, that all idea of restful- 

 ness and beauty had entirely departed from that 

 garden. 



Now that it is no longer the fashion to have 

 gardens exclusively devoted to " bedding out," some 

 people are apt to consider that a garden may be al- 

 lowed to grow untidy looking ; now this is a very 

 grave fault in a garden, and you should always 

 make a point of having the lawn kept well mown, 

 and the paths attended to. This latter point is, 

 perhaps, the most important of all in giving a plea- 

 sant finished look to your garden ; gravel or cinder 

 paths must be constantly gone over with a hoe to 



