Departments 
The Garden Miscellany 
(Written by a woman who does lier own gardening for the 
women who do theirs.) 
Mere In the memory of man has there ever been such a terrible 
Weather year for gardens? We were fed up with false hopes by that 
phenominal winter! Then came a premature spring, followed 
by drought, then Aveeks of fog and smoke, followed in turn by 
cloud-bursts and hail. Mildew rampant, blight triumphant, 
rust uncheckable and rot everywhere. Only the rose-bug, the 
slug and the cut-worm triumphant. Our sole comfort is that 
it is so awful it is not likely to happen again and we have 
learnt the worst that can happen to a garden. 
Today is the first day that we have seen the face of the sun 
for two weeks — the grand finale being a hailstorm of sorts — 
and I look out on my little garden in sad amazement. The 
Hollyhocks and late Asters are laid flat, the flowerets are blown 
completely off the naked Phloxes, Dahlia and Boltonia stalks 
brol^en off close to their stakes, and Gladioli and Lilies all 
lying criss-cross and helter-skelter. Just now a visiting 
Gardener has called up to know if she can visit my garden ! 
No, she cannot! I won't have anyone see my defeat. By the 
way, six delightful visitors have come with their credentials 
this summer, all in the morning though I stated the hours as 
four to six ; but bless them ! they were so appreciative I for- 
gave them for catching me in my corduroy breeches. I know 
raffia and stakes and a few sunny days will patch up the 
wreckage and, if we have a long fine autumn, Chrysanthemums 
and Michaelmas Daisies will soothe our troubled breasts; the 
^annuals however, are past reclaim, they receive that check 
that one is always reading about, early drought and sharp 
frost, and with me none, save those started in the cold-frames 
have blossomed. It is a queer season when even Sweet-Alyssum 
rots off, and Zinnias and Balsam grow four feet high and refuse 
to blossom. 
Lilacs Let us ''comfort ourselves with apples" ordering some 
choicest varieties of Crab-Apples for fall planting! Lilacs too. 
and Trlips all must be ordered now. If you want only one new 
Lilac let it be Syringa Villosa, a Japanese species with large 
branching panicles of pinkish flowers. If you want one of 
those dark plum varieties for contrast, order Milton or Danton. 
Ceridea Svpin^ia is a glowing bluish variety. I stiU love the 
older variety. President Grevy, best of all; it is a double, pale 
violet with enormous trusses of bloom. If you cannot get the 
true Villosa send to Cedar Hills Nursery, Brookville, Long 
Island, which is Mr. Havemeyer's experimental ground and 
nursery ; they have all the choicest new kinds for sale. 
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