56 



MANUAL OF GARDENING 



there may be opportunity for a little neat and artistic plant- 

 ing. Even if one lives in a rented house, he may bring in a 

 bush or an herb from the woods, and paint a picture with it. 

 Plant it in the corner by the steps, in front of the porch, at 

 the corner of the house, — almost anywhere except in the 

 center of the lawn. Make the ground rich, secure a strong 

 root, and plant it with care; then wait. The httle clump will 

 not only have a beauty and interest of its own, but it may 

 add immensely to the furniture of , the yard. 



50. Young shoots of ailanthus (and sunflowers for variety). 



About these clumps one may plant bulbs of glowing tulips 

 or dainty snowdrops and lilies-of-the-valley; and these may be 

 followed with pansies and phlox and other simple folk. Very 

 soon one finds himself deeply interested in these random 

 and detached pictures, and almost before he is aware he finds 

 that he has rounded off the corners of the house, made snug httle 

 arbors of wild grapes and clematis, covered the rear fence and 

 the outhouse with actinidia and bitter-sweet, and has thrown 

 in dashes of color with hollyhocks, cannas, and lilies, and has 

 tied the foundations of the buildings to the greensward by low 



