PREFACE 
THE world and his wife are gardeners nowadays, It is safe to 
conclude that most people have to be content with little gardens, 
and since these are notoriously more difficult to manage satis- 
factorily than large ones, I may be pardoned for believing that I 
have a good excuse for the publication of this volume. LirTLe 
GARDENS aims at giving concise and practical counsel on laying 
out a small garden and generally turning it to the best advantage. 
This may seem an impossible task within one hundred and fifty 
pages, but I believe the work loses nothing in being concise, 
Was I disposed to expatiate upon the delights that are within 
reach of the flower lover, or to elaborate an explanation of 
some practical work beyond the necessary limits? Then at once 
I was confronted with the list of subjects still not touched upon, 
and compelled, willy nilly, to confine my remarks strictly to 
essential information and to express this as briefly as possible. 
For the exposition of my views I have relied to some extent 
upon illustrations, for often it happens that a picture will tell a 
story better than a page of letterpress can do, and when pages 
are strictly limited, obviously this is a question worth considera- 
tion, One can make the most of a little garden only by choosing 
suitable plants and giving each the treatment best suited to its 
needs, LITTLE GARDENS weeds the good from the bad, and 
endeavours to show how the good may be made to give of their 
best. H. H. T. 
September, 1908. 
