FLOWER-BEDS 



and having also some lettuce, a few onions, and 

 a patch of parsley. Here also I test the possi- 

 bility of raising certain desirable vegetables in this 

 climate, and if successful, I recount my experience 

 to one of my farmer friends, present him with 

 the necessary seed, and promise to buy his vege- 

 tables when ripe. This is quite as satisfactory as 

 raising your own vegetables, and actually much 

 cheaper to you, as you are compelled to raise 

 more than you need in order to supply maximum 

 demands. The farmer of course takes care of 

 himself, and the surplus of his crop may be sold 

 to others. The balance of the space in the gar- 

 den beds is devoted to the raising of perennial 

 and biennial plants, so that a supply of hardy 

 plants may always be on hand, and each year, 

 also, new species are tested. Considering the 

 large number of plants tested by me in the past, 

 it is remarkable how few I have found worthy of 

 cultivation. 



With so large a number of trees on the lawn, 

 we have of course a quantity of leaves to remove 

 every spring. They are carried to a retired corner, 

 and piled up to decay. We have four such piles 

 on hand at all times, the oldest of which is used 

 during the summer on the flower-beds and lawns. 

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