i 
THE GARDEN 
1 
their full beauty in the summer. In like manner 
those who tend a garden must have infinite 
patience if they would succeed. A whole 
year, or even two or more, seems long to wait, 
but to grow many of the things described in the 
following pages it will take fully that time, and 
all the while care and trouble must be bestowed, 
for although a plant will grow steadily if all its 
surroundings are favourable, it is easily killed 
by many causes, such as a bad soil, choking 
by weeds, want of water, or too much scorch¬ 
ing sun. It is only by study of the plants or 
reading about them that all they require can be 
learnt; but by a steady attention to rules, even 
in a child’s small garden a great deal can be 
achieved. 
If the soil is very sandy and light it can be 
improved by collecting leaf-mould from some 
wood, or, if possible, mixing some good soil 
and manure with the natural earth of the 
garden. If, on the contrary, it is of stiff clay 
or loam, children should try and get some sand 
to mix with it. If the garden is very shady, only 
grow such things as do not mind the shade; or, 
again, if there is no shade at all, some must be 
contrived by placing branches, or a sort of little 
tent of a sack stretched across sticks, to shade 
any special flower that flags under a hot sun, if 
it is to be grown at all. 
