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AN IDEAL ENGLISH GARDEN. 



gardens in this country that equalled the one I propose 

 to describe. Indeed, I have seen many that surpassed it 

 in elaborate arrangement and expensive detail, but none 

 of them were more artistically arranged or contributed 

 so much of comfort to the home. 



In front of this ideal home was a beautifully kept 

 lawn, green and soft as velvet. Two or three pieces of 

 statuary graced it, and rustic vases, filled with choice 

 flowers, were arranged close to the windows of the sit- 

 ing-room, so that, when the windows were opened, the 

 odor of flowers was wafted in. The porch at the door- 

 way was covered with clematis and honeysuckle, and 

 seats and single tables were arranged in the cool shade 



turfed over and used as a children's play-ground. In 

 one corner there was a summer-house made of lattice- 

 work with a domed roof. In the other corner was a 

 large lilac tree, and near it a graceful laburnum with 

 golden tresses. In the center of the play-ground was a 

 swing, The summer-house contained a table and mova- 

 ble seats, and here the children found shelter from April 

 showers or the heat of the summer sun. Here, in the 

 summer afternoons, the mother brought her needle-work 

 and taught her little girls to sew, while some one read a 

 poem or a story. How much better it was for the chil- 

 dren that they should spend all their play-time under 

 such influences than in the streets! The entire play- 



of a "spreading chestnut tree." In a greenhouse on one 

 side of the dwelling were reared the more delicate 

 plants, and from a vine that spread its broad leaves 

 under the glass hung heavy bunches of grapes, the 

 .flavor of which I well remember, but cannot describe. 

 White and red roses climbed all over the front of the 

 dwelling, completely concealing the stone-work, and 

 reached high above the latticed windows of the bed- 

 rooms. When the casement was opened, they peeped 

 in and looked around like the bright rosy faces of chil- 

 dren, each striving for the first morning kiss and caress. 



The kitchen-garden was at the back of the house. 

 One-half was devoted to vegetables, and the other was 



ground was surrounded by a solidly built brick wall, some 

 ten feet high. The gate was of massive iron-work, and 

 the grotesque birds and beasts adorning it were worked 

 into an elaborate design. On the wall were trained, in 

 espalier fashion, peach, pear, apricot, plum and cherry 

 trees. Beyond this wall there was a paddock for the pony 

 and an orchard where the most delicious apples ripened. 



I cannot paint for you in poor words half so beautiful 

 a picture of this garden as the one that lives in my mem- 

 ory, but, after all, does it not seem like an ideal garden ? 

 Is not this the real mission of gardens — to contribute 

 comforts and tangible delights as well as mere outward 

 beauty ? Lillian Chauter, Missouri. 



