4 
THE FLOWER GARDEN. 
that are a hundredfold more beautiful than common laurels, 
privets, and the general run of trees and shrubs grown in many 
gardens. Nor should the value of the wealth of hardy 
creepers and climbers for clothing bare walls and fences and 
ugly objects be overlooked. There are plants, trees, shrubs, 
and climbers to suit every position in the garden, whether it 
be in sun or shade, described in the various sections further 
on in this volume. 
Finally, as the late George H. Ellwanger, the author of 
that charming American volume “ The Garden’s Story,” 
truly says : “ No arbitrary rules will suffice to make a garden, 
for, in the very nature of things, no two gardens can be just 
alike. Each one should seek his own expression in the com- 
bination he strives for. For this there exists an infinite variety 
of material, adaptable to the particular soil, exposure and 
character of the space one would adorn and idealize. A 
charming feature of one garden may not be attainable in 
another, either through lack of space, difference of exposition, 
or natural incongruity. Thus, a miniature pond for the 
cultivation of bog plants — a delightful feature of the garden 
where it may be carried out — cannot be introduced with 
propriety on high exposures. Nor can a bank of ferns be 
placed to advantage where they have not the coolness and 
shade with which they are associated, and without which they 
cannot be satisfactorily grown.” Furthermore, remarks the 
same author, “The great secret of successful gardening is 
continuity of bloom — a luxuriance of blossom from early 
spring to late autumn : so that, when one species has flowered, 
there will at once be something else to continue the blossoming 
period without leaving unsightly gaps of bare ground. Plant 
permanently, mass boldly. Do not confine yourself to a few 
kinds when there is such a wealth to choose from — plants for 
sunshine and plants for shade, plants for colour and plants 
for fragrance, plants for spring and plants for autumn, plants 
for flower and plants for form. Aim at individuality, to pro- 
duce an ideal of your own.” 
Reader, you have in Mr. Ellwanger’s words the fashioning 
of the garden beautiful in a nutshell. Read, mark, learn, and 
digest the contents of the succeeding pages, and if you fail to 
produce a beautiful and interesting flower garden it will be 
more or less your own fault. 
