18 



THE HERB-GARDEN 



will provide such a parcel of ground to be laid out 

 for their garden, and in such convenient manner as 

 may be fit or answerable to the degree they hold. 

 To prescribe one form for every man to follow 

 were too great presumption and folly.' 



The difficulties that beset the maker of a Herb- 

 garden are neither those of soil nor site. They lie 

 in a very different direction. You cannot always 

 get the Herbs you want. And why ? Because 

 they are not on the market. The common kinds 

 are, of course, to be bought from any florist ; but 

 there is not much demand even for them, and now 

 and again disappointment may await us over what 

 would appear such a simple matter as getting 

 Camomile-plants, for instance. Thinking to do 

 better in France, we entered into correspondence 

 with a famous French firm, who sent us an enchant- 

 ing catalogue of Plantes Aromatiques. But it 

 turned out that hardly any of them were in stock 

 for us to see, though all could be procured if we 

 wished. So we decided to order seeds and plants 

 in England. The best Enghsh firms are always 

 in communication with those abroad, and are 

 generally able and pleased to assist the collector. 

 Fellow-gardeners are kind in sparing parts of their 

 treasures ; sometimes a cottage-garden will be a 



