4 THE JOY OF GARDENS 



discouraged and refuses to send forth its plant, there are 

 many more just waiting the chance to get a foothold and 

 to make greenery and color above the earth we have 

 scratched. With garden books all around, and so much 

 other advice, we should be able to put what we ought to 

 have with what we really want, in good taste. 



Then comes another night of blustery weather to keep 

 every one at home and the neighbors fast behind their 

 own doors, and we declare in exultation that fortune has 

 sent it to be the hour of planning. Accordingly we clear 

 away the books of fiction and the tempting magazines 

 from the table, and prepare for a serious campaign in 

 formal lists. It looks to be dull work; but if you would 

 not be sorry later on, drive out the lurking distrust of 

 summer success and play that all will go as gayly as a 

 fairy tale, for beauty still abides among old-fashioned 

 posies. 



Flowers are fed by faith, like all the homely virtues, 

 and faith is the first essential in getting bloom. It is 

 united to some hard work, it is true ; but who ever minded 

 the drudgery of a mountain climb after he had gained 

 the heights? 



Long ago the garden plan had its serpentine paths or 

 was laid off in parallelograms, but to-day the waste 

 ground given to paths is used for planting, and turf is 

 trained over the lawns and close to the beds. The gravel 

 path appears only as the practical marching ground to 



