FRAGRANCE 



69 



very small garden. We must, of course, be equally 

 careful to exclude all plants whose odour is distinctly 

 disagreeable, though many of these are desirable 

 enough otherwise. I have known a small garden 

 rendered quite unbearable by the musky aroma of the 

 old-fashioned Crown Imperial. 



It is remarkable to find how many plants are available 

 for our garden of sweet and delicate fragrance ; whole 

 families of hardy things, requiring neither special care 

 nor culture. Some of the best are to be found among 

 the flowering shrubs, a few of which should be in every 

 small garden. In order to provide space for them, I 

 would see a clean sweep made of the coarser ever- 

 greens, laurels especially, which at present rob the soil 

 and darken the corners in so many places. A mistaken 

 idea exists that comparatively few of the flowering 

 shrubs will thrive in our uncertain climate, and that 

 they require some form of protection in winter. Cer- 

 tainly a warm and sheltered district is necessary to 

 enable the successful culture of the less hardy Myrtle 

 and Magnolia, but there are hosts of others, all fragrant, 

 which succeed anywhere. 



To begin with, there are the Lilacs, beautiful at all 

 times, but particularly in spring, when the dense screens 

 of mauve and white blossoms drench the air with deli- 

 cate perfume. The newer varieties should be chosen, 

 and attention paid to pruning and the removal of root 

 suckers to ensure fine blooms. Lilacs are often planted 

 in crowded shrubberies, where they never do well. In 

 the small garden they should be boldly grouped near 

 grass margins, or they may be used to shut out any 

 unsightly features in the vicinity. In semi-shade the 

 Azaleas are charming, the Ghent sections being per- 

 fectly hardy and especially suited, with their endless 

 range of colouring, for association with the old-world 

 flowers of the Cottage Garden. The Garland-flower 



