92 POT-POURRI FROM A SURREY GARDEN 



summer for the sake of the sunsets. To the west, then, 

 I have my fountain, level with the turf, and with only the 

 ornament of some special plants. To the right of the 

 fountain is a large bed of carnations, sUghtly raised and 

 terraced with stones, to give good depth of rich soil, 

 unrobbed of moisture from the strong-growing shrubs 

 behind, that are especially necessary for protection from 

 the norbh and east. I strongly advise that on first coming 

 to a new place you should never cut down much till you 

 have given all the consideration possible to that matter of 

 protection. I cannot repeat too often that wind-swept 

 gardens can never be really satisfactory to the gardener. 

 On the left of the fountain, out in the grass, are the two 

 long borders, far the most difficult part of the garden 

 to keep as I should wish them to be. They should be 

 always gay and bright, the highest plants planted down 

 the middle ; and even they should be unequal in height. 

 All plants that grow forward into the grass must be kept 

 for other beds edged vrith stone or gravel. Borders cut 

 in grass must be luxuriant and not untidy, and filled 

 principally with plants which in their non-flowering 

 season are not unsightly. It is for such borders that the 

 seed beds and the reserve garden are so indispensable. 

 On the left of these borders are a few specimen plants 

 cut in the grass : — A Polygonum cuspidatum, which is a 

 joy from the first starting of its marvellous quick spring 

 growth to its flowering-time, and to the day when its 

 yellow autumn leaves leave the bare red-brown branches 

 standing alone after the first frosts of October ; a Siberian 

 Crab, beautiful with blossom in spring and with fruit in 

 autumn ; also that lovely autumn-flowering shrub Des- 

 modium penduUftorum, which has to be cut down every 

 year, and which is never seen to advantage in a border 

 because of its feathery and spreading growth.- Behind 

 these again, and facing due north and shaded from the 



