CHAPTER VII 



THE BEGINNER 



** When spring unlocks the flowers.'' 



Now and again we meet with beginners who really seem 

 hardly to know one end of a plant from another. Always 

 buying their flowers in bunches, they have no idea how 

 they look when growing, and seeing flowers placed side 

 by side that have been sent from the widest different 

 zones and climates, they are not even very sure which of 

 them may be claimed as English grown. Shiploads of 

 flowers from warmer latitudes keep London and other 

 large towns far in advance of the seasons as seen in 

 country districts, and it is misleading. At last some 

 enterprising spirit begins to long for the pleasure of the 

 growing plant. It is a trial to be always buying and 

 bringing home fresh flowering plants only to see them 

 die off in their new quarters (for this is what they 

 generally do), so a balcony or window-box is started. 



We will suppose its owner to be living quite in town ; 

 country, and, as I think, even suburban folk with gardens 

 have little need of window-boxes, which are make-shifts, 

 after all, though not to be despised on that account. 



The enterpriser must now choose his window-box, and 

 is lucky if his house is built handily for it, and if his 

 aspects are favourable. But what is one plant's good is 

 another plant's poison. No aspect is without some 

 advantages, if only it has light and air ; even shady 

 places can do with Ferns. 

 36 



