ON SPECIALISING 



Is he who grows roses justified in looking with disdain 

 upon the man who keeps his garden gay with bedding 

 plants ? Is not each fulfilling his own ideals, and in so 

 doing guiding the garden to its destiny ? What does it 

 matter whether for the moment the fashion is for Peeonies 

 or Peas or Tree Carnations ? These and other fashion- 

 able flowers are neither better nor worse than they were 

 before. Let each make of his garden what seems best to 

 him, for that way lies contentment and the pleasure of 

 hope fulfilled. 



Growing fruit trees is an absorbing interest, and the 

 farther one pursues it the more alluring it becomes. 

 Not only each kind of fruit tree, but the varieties 

 of each kind have such pronounced peculiarities that 

 their cultivation possesses a never-ending fascination. 

 Some are never happier than when expending care and 

 skill in the cultivation of plants notoriously difficult to 

 grow, such, for instance, as Mariposa Lilies and some of 

 the true Lilies or Liliums ; and if one has a border (covered 

 with frames having movable lights) at the foot of a sunny 

 wall or greenhouse, there are many uncommon and 

 beautiful plants, particularly rare or difficult plants, 

 that one may grow there with success. 



If one has a greenhouse that is perhaps the best place 

 of all in which to specialise. There are plenty of plants 

 from which to choose, and it is possible to attend them with 

 scrupulous care and exactly to fulfil their needs. In fact, 

 I think when one has only a small greenhouse, it is better 



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