26 SUBURBAN GARDENS 
For it is not so much a matter of money — al- 
though it counts decidedly, in real cash — but 
a matter of sound judgment; of good habits 
of order and efficiency and usefulness; of 
quickening the faculty of appreciation. More- 
over, although we have not needed to husband 
the natural resources of this fine and fat land 
wherein we are the fortunate dwellers to any 
appreciable degree, the time is not so far dis- 
tant when we shall be obliged to do so. In- 
deed I am tempted to think that it is here now, 
when apples that are worthy to be eaten com- 
mand from four to six cents apiece, while the 
tree growing against the wall — which cost 
$4.00 to be sure but takes up only the room 
for its trunk at the ground, the rest being flat 
against the house — yields nearly a bushel of 
the choicest table fruit the second year from 
planting. 
Gardening is arduous work, of that there 
can be no question, nor to it a denial from any 
honest person of actual experience. But gar- 
dening among vegetables and flowers is no 
more arduous than among flowers alone — and 
I think that no one who has tried it will deny 
that it is a deal more gratifying and satisfying. 
There should be flowers of course, quantities 
of them; but they ought never to crowd out 
