228 Xanbscape Hrcbitecture 



maintenance. Seed is sown, a cutting or a small plant 

 is set out, or a graft is set in a stock; one must know 

 how to do it ; but nine tenths of the success attained 

 comes from an tmceasing conflict with adverse condi- 

 tions, eventually finding in the process of development 

 the brief poise and equilibrium of a mature and success- 

 fully grown shrub or tree. Intimate, loving comprehen- 

 sion of the nature of the plant can alone do this. It 

 would seem that love is actually necessary to achieve 

 the greatest results even in growing a plant, but love 

 without knowledge can accomplish little, as many 

 an amateur horticulturist has learned to his cost. 

 Knowledge generally comes from long, heart-breaking 

 failure and diligent, oft-repeated effort. The man who 

 hires such work done, even with practically unlimited 

 means, seldom gets as good results as some enthusiastic 

 amateur — crank his neighbours probably dub him — who 

 works night and day whenever he has a moment to spare 

 to give to his plants. And there is incessant work 

 to do. There is planting to be done every little while 

 throughout the seasons, spring, summer, fall, and winter, 

 especially if the work is supplemented by a greenhouse. 

 There is always pruning of some sort, pinching if 

 nothing else, and warfare always on insects, weeds to 

 fight and watering to be done, and cultivation, spading, 

 hoeing, and mulching to be maintained. 



It is difficult to realize what such maintenance means 

 when it is faithfully carried out, tmless one has been 

 responsible for it himself. There are endless ways for 

 maintenance to present its exacting demands. The 



