36 The Wild Garden. 



compared to the hidden parts, is pretty much as 

 that of the face to the back of a mirror. Of course 

 all the labour required to produce this happy result 

 is worse than thrown away, as the shrubberies 

 would do better if let alone, and merely surface- 

 cleaned now and then ; but by utilizing the power 

 thus wasted, we might highly beautify the positions 

 that now present so objectionable an aspect. 



If we resolve that no annual manuring or digging 

 is to be permitted, nobody will grudge a thorough 

 preparation at first. Then the planting should be 

 so arranged as to defeat the digger. To graduate 

 the vegetation from the taller subjects behind to 

 the very margin of the grass is of much importance, 

 and this could only be done thoroughly by the 

 greater use of permanent evergreen and very dwarf 

 subjects. Happily, there is quite enough of these 

 to be had suitable for every soil. Light, moist, 

 peaty, or sandy soils, where such things as the 

 sweet-scented Daphne Cneorum would spread 

 forth its dwarf cushions, would be somewhat 

 more desirable than say, a stiff clay ; but for 

 every position suitable plants might be found. 

 Look, for example, at what we could do with the 

 dwarf-green Iberises, Helianthemums, Aubrietias, 

 Arabises, Alyssums, dwarf shrubs, and little conifers 



