xiv 



INTRODUCTION 



where a touch of strong, brilliant colour is wanted 

 to lead again to a shaded path of mystery. 



In order successfully to accomplish this Fine 

 Art gardening, which we in England are now 

 ambitious to have, artistic, well-educated, refined 

 head gardeners are needed. From our Colonies, 

 too, comes a cry for skilled and well-instructed 

 " heads." There they have plenty of hands to 

 do mechanical work, numbers of " coolies " to do 

 menial jobs, but they want more intelligent direc- 

 tors and guides to industry. Again, in our schools, 

 we require for the children those who sympathise 

 with school garden work and Nature -study. 



These, then, are the ambitions of lady gar- 

 deners. They do not wish to supplant able, clever 

 men head-gardeners, nor even to compete with 

 them. They do desire, however, to assist as far 

 as their strength allows, by lending intelligence, 

 good taste, refinement, towards securing better 

 cultivation of our great country. What they lack 

 in physical strength they endeavour to compen- 

 sate by other equally important, yet softer, womanly 

 qualities. 



This book has two objects in view. It hopes, 

 by means of practical advice — in fact, by some it 

 may be considered somewhat Spartan counsel — 

 to draw attention to what is required of lady gar- 

 deners. The other aim is to show employers what 



