4 
HERBACEOUS GARDEN 
garden, let him strive for a gentle slope to 
the south, and failing this, to the south-west, 
or the south-east. An eastern exposure means 
that the rays of the early morning sun after a 
frost will play sad havoc among the flowers. 
For, should the frost lie on leaf and flower 
when the sun shines out, they will look as 
though seared with hot irons. Whereas a 
south-west exposure means that a gradual thaw 
from the warmth of the air alone, before the 
direct rays of the sun have had time to get 
round, will do the buds of his pet paeonies no 
harm, while those planted on an easterly border 
will be blackened and shrivelled. 
Choose high ground rather than low, for 
frosts are low-lying, and gardens brilliant with 
dahlias, salvias, and pentstemon may be seen on 
high ground in October when their neighbours, 
in apparently sheltered, but low-lying gardens, 
are black and finished off by perhaps one 
night’s frost. 
Should there be any hesitation whether to 
choose a sunny site or a shady, take the 
former. Sun is health and cleanliness to a 
garden — a purifier of soils ; it means freedom 
from slugs and snails, mildew, etc., and ensures 
stocky and compact growth and brilliance of 
colouring. After a downpour the flowers 
