CHAPTER XXVII 



ON SPECIALISING 



The plants are under one's sole care ; the jobber never touches 

 them, and there is infinite joy in this. 



WHY not specialise in some favourite flower ? The 

 majority of hardy plants need no unusual care, though, 

 on the other hand, some, while thriving well enough when 

 treated generally, reward the grower tenfold if given 

 such little luxuries as delight them. The rose is a delight- 

 ful flower of which to make a special feature, but it is 

 so indispensable that no good gardener would ever think 

 of growing it in the mixed border, along with other hardy 

 flowers, or, indeed, of growing it anywhere except in a 

 bed by itself. So we may dismiss the rose from our con- 

 sideration, since it can only be grown properly when given 

 special treatment. Many take delight in growing Carna- 

 tions ; next to Roses, they fill most space in my garden 

 all too confined. I have them not only out of doors, but 

 in the greenhouse too, and few weeks pass that I am not 

 able to gather Carnation blooms. 



The Iris is an excellent flower for the home gardener 

 to take up and make a speciality of ; in fact, I doubt 

 if there is any better. There is such remarkable variety 



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