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INTRODUCTORY 



A GARDEN is alive — is a wonderful manifestation 

 of life in many forms — with the deepest mystery 

 of mysteries lying at its heart. All the miracles 

 of creation are its commonplace, hourly incidents; its 

 still activity holds the secret which alchemist and sage 

 have ever sought and will ever go on seeking, until 

 they find — or until they and the world cease to be. 



Gardening is therefore a wonderful privilege, and 

 should be approached as such. Not only are its most 

 arduous tasks lightened under this view of it, but the 

 garden itself becomes something very different from 

 what it has ever been — becomes a great inspiring teacher 

 or the embodiment of a great philosophy, or — a fairy 

 tale come true, according to the temperament of the 

 gardener. 



A garden is not only alive itself — it is the support 

 and sustenance of all life in the world, right up the 

 scale to man. Without vegetation we should perish, 

 promptly and ignominiously, meat eaters and vege- 

 tarians alike. So the garden's importance can hardly 

 be exaggerated, or the need for intelligent study of its 



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