126 THE GARDEN OF A 



cinths, tall late tulips, the golden banded auratum, 

 pure white madonna (candidum), and pink and crim- 

 son spotted Japan lilies. I shall plant them in groups, 

 not rows, according to height rather than colour, so 

 that by scattering some portulacca seed in June, the 

 ground will be covered beneath the tall stalks of 

 the later flowers, and we shall have colour under 

 the windows from April until October. There are 

 no plants more healthy, sturdily brilliant in bloom, 

 and unlikely to disappoint than the bulb tribe. 



These are the only two flower beds to be allowed 

 out of strict garden limits, as we have decided that 

 all the other decorations grouped about the house 

 must be tufts of eulalia, various shrubs, and groups of 

 scillas, daffodils, peonies, and iris set in the grass. 

 The older shrubs we have in plenty, great masses of 

 lilacs, syringas, and snowballs filling every corner 

 and overarching the walk. 



Our ancestors were aided by their usual common 

 sense regarding economy of labour, when they gath- 

 ered their little home gardens in a corner, often fenc- 

 ing them in from the rest of the land. Here the 

 flowers could be considered as a whole, be loved, 

 tended, watered, and protected from insect enemies 

 without waste of energy. 



Upon this same principle I must collect my flower 



