THE SMALL SUBURBAN GARDEN 67 



One garden (by no means among the largest) was 

 particularly attractive. Nothing much was attempted 

 in it, but the little that was attempted was so well done. 

 The turf was of the finest, like dark green velvet, soft to 

 the foot. Only a few kinds of flowers, but all of the very 

 best. Choice Roses clustered against the west wall — not 

 nailed to the wall, but trained carefully on wood against 

 it ; in front of these grew dwarf standard Rose trees, and 

 before them again stretched a long border of Carnations, 

 ready to bloom when their turn came. The grey-green 

 spears were beautiful already, and a pleasure to see, even 

 before a bud among them was unfolded, because so well 

 kept and so healthy. Massed richly in one corner near 

 the house the still bright foliage of the Lily of the 

 Valley showed what a wealth of these flowers must have 

 made the garden sweet in June. A tree or two at the 

 far end (I was peeping through them) gave the shelter 

 and comfort no garden should be without. This 

 little strip, small as it was, deserved the lovely name of 

 " garden." 



One could not help observing with amusement that 

 in some cases back and front gardens did not match ; 

 like goods in a shop-window front, the best had been 

 put out for the public. The public is very much obliged 

 for the show, but how about the family, if there is one ? 

 No pretty flowers for them, no comfortable nooks, 

 no pleasant sward, no borders of white Pinks nor 

 clumps of Mignonette. Next door, perhaps would be 

 seen the other extreme — too much fussing, too much 

 detail, too many rustic shelters, even the flowers too 

 much crowded together ; but to gardens that err in this 

 way much may be forgiven, for much they have been 

 loved. 



There is nothing like individuality for making a small 

 garden attractive. Few gardens are too small for the 

 careful cultivation of one particular flower or series of 



