A GARDEN NOTE-BOOK 



Some one — was it Eden Philpotts ? — has said 

 that it seems to be the general course of amateur 

 gardening to turn in one's middle age to the more 

 permanent forms of vegetation, trees and shrubs. 

 I confess to a feeling of regret that my earlier 

 years were not devoted to study and experiment 

 with these glorious subjects, and would advise 

 young amateurs to begin their decorative garden- 

 ing with shrubs and trees. Thus they build upon 

 a horticultural rock. The foundation is properly 

 laid. A tree or shrub may be grown from seed, as 

 Professor Sargent would always have us do it; 

 the expense in any case is exceedingly slight, the 

 care practically nil compared with that of flowers. 

 If all young people interested in gardening, as 

 happily so many are now, would first look into the 

 principles of design, of planning of gardens, then 

 inform themselves concerning the structural green 

 of their garden, its trees and shrubs, and finally 

 throw down their garlands of flowers, there would 

 be beautiful because logical results. Most of us 

 begin at the wrong end in this wonderful art. I 

 confess this to be my own sorrowful experience, 

 and would warn every one away from such a 

 course of errors as my own. 



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