THE GARDEN AT HOME 



we ride the high hobby horse and plume ourselves that 

 never was such gardening known! Yet why this in- 

 fatuated delight and exaggerated pleasure in something 

 that is altogether abnormal, therefore not truly repre- 

 sentative of the plants we grow ? It arises from a 

 false conception of the beauty of flowers, and the 

 more we strive after big blooms and extraordinary 

 stature, or some other unnatural feature, the less likely 

 are we to appreciate plants and flowers in their usual 

 proportions and showing their natural charm. More often 

 than not extra size in blossom or an increased number 

 of blooms is only obtained at the expense of symmetry 

 and natural grace, and the due appreciation of a plant 

 in its normal state is an admirable trait, though, alas ! 

 often wanting in the home gardener. 



If we must emulate those who grow the finest 

 possible flowers, let us at least meet them on common 

 ground. There are many hardy flowers which, if we 

 would only plant them well and leave them alone, we 

 might grow as successfully as the most skilled of expert 

 gardeners. But the real pleasure of gardening is not 

 found in striving to eclipse the achievements of others, 

 for such striving leads eventually to the show board, 

 where the flowers, cut from the plants, are arranged, it 

 may be, in paper collars or in zinc cups on painted boxes 

 in competition with others of their kind, and where the 

 biggest " rules the roost." 



It is not in this direction that garden magic lies. 



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