Introduction 15 



made up with the idea of including the majority of 

 the available plants, including a few vines. An 

 asterisk marks about half of these as the most de- 

 pendable plants that will give a satisfactory variety 

 of form and color. 



In choosing a list for the available garden space, 

 the most successful results will be secured by spend- 

 ing some little time and study upon the planting ar- 

 rangement 011 paper. It is so much easier to change 

 locations and proportions on a sketch pad than to 

 correct errors after the plants are once started upon 

 their life work. Lay out the garden plot on paper 

 first, representing each foot of length and breadth 

 by a half-inch or other convenient unit. In a plot 

 along a fence or wall, keep the higher plants at the 

 rear and the low edging plants in front. Avoid 

 straight lines in the clumps, allowing the various 

 plantings to run in and partly around neighboring 

 groups rather than as simple bands or blocks. Above 

 all, have one or two generous groups of a particular 

 plant rather than a lot of insignificant patches. With 

 most annuals, it takes a fairly large planting to make 

 a satisfactory showing, and it would be far better to 

 cut down the list of plants to be grown than to at- 

 tempt to grow more kinds of flowers than the available 

 space warrants. 



There are four considerations that should be kept 

 in mind while arranging the planting plan: color of 

 flowers, height when in bloom, time of bloom, and 

 preference as to sunlight or shade. The available 



