X 



INTRODUCTION 



and the scent of sweet briar or rosemary bring 

 happiness and contentment. 



It is the same with country people, who live 

 in our quiet English villages that are as yet un- 

 spoilt by the dust of motors and the noise of 

 holiday-makers. A little chat over the garden 

 wall in the cool of evening, about the luxuriant 

 growth of the peas, the beauty of madonna lilies 

 gleaming white against the dark timber of the 

 cottage, or the special size of this year's roses, will 

 often make a lasting friendship. No make-believe 

 pastime is gardening with them ; it is their true 

 recreation. Their lives have been passed amidst 

 fields, trees, beautiful hedgerows, and consequently 

 they look upon these objects as friends. Surely 

 this love of Nature is wholesome both to body and 

 mind, and greatly to be encouraged by all who wish 

 for the weU-being of England and her Colonies. 



Are we not shown the vast importance of keep- 

 ing our rural population away from towns ? Do 

 we not thus endeavour with every means in our 

 power to improve the cultivation of our land ? 

 County Council lectures, flower shows, cottage- 

 garden competitions. Nature-study courses, train- 

 ing colleges are provided for this purpose. But, 

 perhaps, the surest way of all is to make our boys 

 and girls fond of bee-keeping, fruit growing, garden- 

 ing and all other industries of country life. It 



