94 POT-POURRI FROM A SURREY GARDEN 



good feeding. It wants nothing but cutting back hard as 

 soon as it has made its summer growth, after flowering, to 

 keep it well in its place. It flowers profusely year after 

 year, and it is easily increased by summer layering. 



Old Man or Southernwood {Artemisia abrotanum) 

 ought never to be forgotten. It grows easily from cuttings 

 stuck into the ground in any of the early summer months. 

 I am told that it is an especial favourite with the London 

 poor. Perhaps its strong smeU brings back any chance 

 association with the country and the cottage garden. It 

 reminds one of the old story of the poor Irishman, when 

 the Lady Bountiful of the place had transformed his cabin 

 into the graceful neatness of an English cottage. He gazed 

 half -indignantly and half -gratefully on the change. ' It is 

 all very kind,' said he, ' but the good lady does not know 

 how dear to a poor man is everything that reminds him 

 of the time when he played, instead of working. These 

 great folks do not understand us.' But, after all, are we 

 not aU like that ? Does not sweet Nature herself throw a 

 veil over the storms of middle-hfe and soften memories, 

 which become sharp, vivid, and clear only concerning our 

 young days and the time when ' we played,' full of 

 buoyant hope for aU that lay before us ? 



I have always wished for a sundial in the middle of 

 my grass walks where they widen into a circle. Even 

 in an unpretending modern garden I do not think a sun- 

 dial is affected — or, at any rate, not very — and I long to 

 write round the top of it my favourite among the old 

 Italian mottoes : — ' I only mark the bright hours.' To 

 the left of my long borders are four large, most useful, 

 square beds, divided by narrow green paths. These are 

 planted and sown, and renewed three or four times a year ; 

 and I always wonder how anyone gets on without such 

 kinds of beds. The Love-in-the-Mist and Gypsophila 

 gracilis are sown broadcast here together twice a year, 



