APRIL 75 



trouble of watering, which is all the attention they 

 require. They fill ,up bare places and holes in the 

 borders, and flower as they never did with us in the 

 old days when they were left alone. This treatment 

 especially suits the Phloxes, which is curious, as they 

 are moved when just coming into flower. The rows in 

 the spring must be labelled with the names and colours, 

 as the different hues of the flowers war with each other 

 if promiscuously massed. The Michaelmas Daisies 

 flower earlier in this way than when left to starve in a 

 dry border or shrubbery, but one can always leave some 

 in unfavourable places to flower late. 



April ith. — All the Linums and Liuarias {see Mr. 

 Eobinson's book) are useful for house and table decora- 

 tion, and are very suitable for small gardens. The 

 common blue Max is a lovely thing; so is the white 

 French Willow-weed {Epilobmm), which is most useful, 

 and flowers earlier in the year than the common lilac 

 one. 



As a single plant, for beauty of growth and foliage 

 there are few things as lovely as the common Hemp 

 plant {Cannabis sativa). It is an annual, easily grown in 

 April in a pot or box, and planted out. 



In gardening, as in most things, it is thought that is 

 really required, and that wonderful thing which is called 

 ' a blind god ' — love. But blind love is mere passion. 

 Eeal love in every form, even towards animals and 

 plants, is watchful and ever seeing, never missing for a 

 moment what is for the good and the advantage of the 

 beloved. In walking round and round the garden, with 

 a practised eye one soon sees when a plant is getting 

 on well or the contrary. When a plant is doing badly, it 

 means the conditions are unfavourable, and it is then 

 our duty to find out why. In my garden the usual 

 cause of failure is dryness, and many and many a plant 



