32 THE LITTLE GARDEN 



of a foot or less than a foot in height, — that is, hedges for boiv 

 dering or outlining beds of flowers, — not more than four inches 

 apart. Also, digging and fertilizing of the planting-place for a 

 hedge one year in advance is strongly recommended. Buy not 

 one shrub from an agent, a man who comes to your door. Much 

 time and money are lost by such purchases. These men, as a rule, 

 act for nurseries overstocked with poor or ugly material, such 

 as the golden-leaved shrubs, so difficult to use well, obsolete 

 because undesirable; and this is their method of disposing of 

 such stuff. To find out where to buy, send a postcard to any 

 nursery listed or advertising in a gardening periodical; a good 

 catalogue of shrubs not only is a guide for buying but serves, 

 too, as an informal textbook for reference. Indeed, the tree-, 

 shrub-, and seed-lists are first aid to those innocent of horticul- 

 tural knowledge, and quickly lead to the buying of more per- 

 manent literature on this enthralling subject. 



When all is said, the enclosed place or garden has the best 

 chance of becoming the beautiful place or garden. Aside from the 

 protection of the wall or hedge, the background for inner plant- 

 ing is established, that background against which may perhaps 

 shine out only a few rare and perfect shrubs, or which may form 

 the green foil for such a burst of color in flowers of spring or sum- 

 mer or autumn as will amaze the visitor who enters through the 

 garden gate. 



