146 OLD-FASHIONED GARDENING 



which he loved so well, riding about inspecting the 

 farms, directing, planning; walking down the south 

 driveway to turn in at the gate of his vegetable gar- 

 den perhaps, for a look at the grapes; lingering and 

 loitering along the path at the bottom of the terrace 

 until he reaches the summer-house, then sitting here 

 for a bit, out of the sun ; or strolling in the warm early 

 tw>ilight or under the big, round, white southern moon, 

 among the beds of pensive box, happy in this happy 

 creation of his brain and tireless energy and industry, 

 he is as virile a model of America's best as at any time 

 and circumstance of his life. And surely a model 

 nearer to the life of us of to-day; and more precious 

 to the rank and file to-day, for that nearness. 



Unlike Mount Vernon, Monticello was not in ex- 

 istence when its master was bom. Washington in- 

 herited his father's farm, with the limitations which 

 previous use and development always impose. But 

 young Tom Jefferson struck out for himself from the 

 beginning; and although Monticello — the "little moun- 

 tain" — was one of the hills of Shadwell, his father's 

 estate, nothing was done to it until he chose it as the 

 site of his own home. 



About the time that he began his activities in the 

 world at large, he also began a Garden Book in which 

 he set down everything ; all that he observed anywhere. 



