CHAPTER XVI 



Bungalow^ or Mid-Summer 

 Gardening 



ON the heels of an increased interest in country life, and an in- 

 creased appreciation of what it offers, there has come, during 

 recent years, a noticeable increase in the custom of spending one 

 or more of the Summer months in a bungalow up in the mountains or 

 down near the seashore. For families that live in cities rather than 

 suburbs or small towns, and that are unable to maintain real country 

 homes in addition to their flats or apartments, this arrangement is a 

 god-send; but too often it is accompanied by inconveniences which, 

 accepted as unavoidable, are in reality, entirely unnecessary. It is 

 commonly expected, for instance, that unless one's bungalow is located 

 close to a friendly farmer's place, or a large central hotel or boarding 

 house, there can be no hope of fresh vegetables during the vacation and 

 that canned goods must be relied upon during the very months v/hen 

 the permanent country dweller is revelling in fresh picked Peas, Beans, 

 Lettuce, Tomatoes, etc. Then, too, the idea of a flower garden around 

 a bungalow is almost unheard of, the thought being that unless the 

 Summer sojourn begins in April or early May it is impossible to pre- 

 pare for and plant flowers that will bloom before Labor Day sees the 

 family on its homeward way. How can one arrange so that this shall 

 not be the case ? 



One way is to have someone who lives nearby get the ground pre- 

 pared and the seeds planted as soon as need be — say in April or early 

 May — that is, providing the bungalow site is within convenient reach 

 of a community where such labor can be obtained. However, unless it 

 is done as a personal favor by a friend or acquaintance, it is impossible 

 to guarantee that such work will be entirely satisfactory or in line with 

 the wishes of the occupants of the bungalow. Another possible plan 

 sometimes, is to visit the place during each of two or three week-ends 

 before the vacation season opens and do all the preHminary work at 

 these odd times. This involves a not too distant location, a bungalow 

 that is not occupied by other persons previous to the opening of the 

 Summer season, and an owner or landlord who is willing to have the 

 tenant make these preparations in advance. 



The commoner and simpler course, however, is to put all the effort 

 into a real Summer garden — one in which the work is not started till 



244 



