5 8 4 



THE CENTURY BOOK OF GARDENING. 



in detail in previous chapters. 

 One can make a selection of 

 noble kinds for permanent 

 effect, for when once planted 

 in deep, rich soil, and given 

 an annual mulching, they will 

 remain in health without 

 further trouble for some years. 

 They may be under-planted 

 with spring bulbs, and thus 

 the borders and beds will, 

 with little labour, produce 

 flowers for many months. In 

 planting ever bear in mind 

 that Nature groups her 

 flowers, and does not produce 

 them in lines. Hardy flowers 

 should be massed rather than 

 planted singly, and this 

 applies to the shrubbery as 

 well, where groups of the 

 same kinds of flowering shrubs 

 are far more effective than 

 when dotted about in hap- 

 hazard fashion. 



If the garden is of the 

 usual rectangular form, and 

 there is space for the growth 

 of vegetables, keep these 

 towards the lower end, and 

 bush or other fruits can be 

 planted near the walks. In 

 small gardens it will be advis- 

 able to restrict fruit trees to those of the bush form chiefly upon the English Paradise 

 stock. Merely a general outline is given of how to commence gardening, as details have 

 been given in previous chapters, which deal with individual subjects. 



THE COLUMBINE {Aquilegia cccrnha). 



A TOWN GARDEN. 

 By E. H. WOODALL. 



F^EW things are more depressing to the average man than the dismal aspect of 

 j a neglected back garden in a town of considerable size. Such a plot came under 

 my notice not long ago, and, under judicious management and careful arrangement, 

 it has in a very short time proved such a pleasure that 1 think some details may 

 be of use to those who find themselves possessors of such a potential " Eden." As is usually 

 the case in all ordinary town gardens, the area is about three times as long as it is wide — 

 in this case containing quite a third of an acre — surrounded by sooty brick walls devoid of 

 any climber whatever. The ground is quite flat, and the soil strong clay, which, however, 

 had once been well worked. On the ground stand two dilapidated and dark old glasshouses — 



