COMMUTER'S WIFE 125 



muter's wife, who, if she is wise, plans as far as 

 possible for the permanent, so if she is obliged to 

 neglect her flowers for a time, garden baldness will 

 not result. 



Evan says that if gardening is to be my relaxa- 

 tion and a pleasure, I must pursue it, but be very 

 careful that it does not get the upper hand and pur- 

 sue me, for he has seen this turning of tables not 

 only cause the downfall of many gardens, but of 

 country homes as well. 



If, a few days ago, Cris had put the sand where he 

 was directed, I should have planted my bulbs in the 

 wrong place. During the delay Evan discovered 

 that the grassy stretch outside the study and win- 

 dows of our den, where father tramps to and fro and 

 smokes when he is thinking, looked bare, and some- 

 thing was needed to shield the foundation of the 

 house. 



This is a dry and sheltered nook, and an ideal 

 location for bulbs, if they are planted well forward 

 of the path and drip-line of the eaves. Evan has 

 marked out two curving beds that follow the line of 

 the path that goes to the rear door, and I am mass- 

 ing all my bulbs in them, daffodils, narcissus, hya- 



