PLANNING THE GARDEN 21 



not be gathered. The planter of this place be- 

 gan his work when he was in wretched health, 

 but through his gardening operations he recov- 

 ered from his illness, gained strength and vigor, 

 made his home more beautiful and, at the ex- 

 pense of a few minutes each day, and a few 

 dollars, he increased the value of the property 

 nearly twenty per cent. 



If the owner of a city lot is not impressed 

 by examples of this kind but still finds it diffi- 

 cult to rid himself of the idea that the small 

 space at his command means an end to all 

 thought of ornamental planting, let him make 

 a sketch of his yard on paper, drawn to scale, 

 and with this before him undertake an explora- 

 tion of the possibilities. It is not unlikely that 

 this method of procedure will disclose oppor- 

 tunities for gardening which, as a beginner, not 

 yet either deeply interested or enthusiastic, he 

 might otherwise overlook. Gradually, as these 

 become apparent, the fact also will develop that 

 it is not more impracticable to create a pleasing 

 picture within an area of a few square yards 

 than in the space of a mansion garden. In- 

 deed, it may prove that limitation of space will 

 contribute to fine if not broad expression of the 

 best gardening, for it is evident that it must 



