THINGS WORTH DOING 273 



to get together as many kinds as I could of any one 

 plant in general cultivation, and grow them together, 

 and compare them at their blooming season and see 

 which was really the best and most beautiful ; for in 

 equal or even greater proportion with the growth of 

 critical appreciation, there comes an intolerance of 

 rubbish, and by the constant exercise of the critical 

 faculty the power of judging becomes unconscious, 

 and, as it were, another natural sense. And though 

 I am far from venturing to think that the conclusions 

 of my judgment are infallible, yet I believe that they 

 are soundly based and of good general utility, and 

 therefore fairly trustworthy for the guidance of 

 others, 



I think it is a fair test of the genuineness of the 

 profession of the many people who now declare that 

 they love plants and gardens, to see if they are willing 

 to take any trouble of this kind for themselves. For 

 though there are now whole shelves-full of the helpful 

 books that had no existence in my younger days, yet 

 there are many things that can only be ascertained by 

 careful trying in individual gardens. 



Now that there is so much to choose from, we 

 should not let any mental slothfulness stand in the 

 way of thinking and watching and comparing, so as 

 to arrive at a just appreciation of the merits and uses 

 of all our garden plants. 



It is not possible to use to any good effect all the 

 plants that are to be had. In my own case I should 



