CHAPTER XIII 



FOR THOSE WHO HESITATE TO EMPLOY LADY 

 GARDENERS 



Many ladies who own large gardens take personal 

 interest in the arrangement of the grounds. Not 

 only do they wish to have beautiful, sweet smell- 

 ing flowers in glasses and bowls to adorn their 

 rooms ; they also aspire to have plants grouped 

 harmoniously in herbaceous borders and in formal 

 beds. There has arisen a kind of competition to 

 have as good a garden, if not a better one, than our 

 neighbour. In the case of some specially gifted 

 and energetic ladies, lovely gardens have been 

 created, through their directions being carefully 

 followed by the head gardener. Some illustrations 

 of such are given in this volume. Possessed of 

 complete knowledge about the flowers best suited 

 to the soil and position, having carefully studied 

 the height, time of flowering, and prettiest com- 

 binations of colour for beds, they are competent 

 to direct themselves. It sometimes occurs, how- 

 ever, that the lady of the house is willing to devote 



105 



