i Noy., 1901.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 483 
Horticulture. 
COTTAGE GARDENING. 
By W. SOUTTER. 
He who would lay out for himself a rural paradise here below cannot do 
so more successfully than by planting trees. By’so doing he is not only giving 
pleasure and satisfaction to himself, but he is contributing to the adornment of 
the district in which he resides. There are few individuals who look upon 
tree-planting on broad principles, but plant chiefly to shut out their neigh- 
bours, and as long as aman can get an impenetrable hedge established close 
against the fence adjoining his neighbour, he is quite satisfied, and the trees 
are left to fight out the balance of their existence as best they can. 
There is another class who set apart a small plot of ground near the 
dwelling, and lay it out with a dash of so-called architectural slall, mostly of a 
varied and severe type, the beds diversified in form and size, as a collection of 
animals in a zoo. Into these beds are jammed as many plants as the superficial 
area will accommodate; no allowance being made for future development. 
Can anything be more out of tune with-nature? And yet we sit on our 
verandas and view our handiwork with a smug self-satisfied feeling. No one 
will venture to dispute that a few patches of colour near the front steps of the 
home are cheery and nice to look at; but cast the eye on the rear of the 
building, and this is usually the picture that presents itself to the gaze: 
A washing boiler standing lonely on three bricks, half submerged in a 
healthy patch of Sida retusa. A few kerosene tins in various stages of decay, 
numerous variegated jam tins intermixed with unchopable blocks of 
timber that have escaped from the wood heap. <A few tired-looking clothes 
props considerably out of the perpendicular. A consumptive-lookmg peach- 
tree that does duty as a hen roost or supports a clothes line, and last, but not 
least, the unromantic but necessary outbuildings. This picture which I have 
depicted is not confined to Brisbane; it is a common picture visible in almost 
every part of the State. 
How to alter the picture is the next question. The first thing asked by 
those who are determined to make a garden is, ‘“ What will it cost?” That is 
an important question. To make a garden properly, you must take an active 
hand in it yourself, and it will cost you a few patches of skin off your fingers 
consequent upon pulling Sida retusa, a backache consequent upon digging the 
ground to receive the plants, half-an-hour’s less sleep in the morning, and, 
during a dry spell, a few trips with the watering pot in the evenings. 
Now about planting. Never mind about your neighbour seeing into your 
garden; therefore don’t plant a whole crowd of trees down your boundary 
line to shut him out. You ought to be downright pleased to let him see how 
pretty your garden looks, and he might be stimulated to make his own as 
beautiful. Just plant a few nice shade trees at respectable distances (about 
30 feet apart) ; you do not want to have a serub round the house. What you 
should aim at is effect and utility, without over-crowding. If 2 place is planted 
on these lines, you will have a thing of beauty and a joy for life. 
Don’t run away with the notion that you should not have any flowers. 
Far be it from me to advise that. Have flowers by all means, but don’t build 
up a whole host of small beds like hearts, diamonds, spades, and clubs. Just 
make two or three good-sized beds and fill them sparingly with plants, always 
remembering that you can’t grow flowers and trees in the same bed, neither 
han flowers and weeds be grown successfully together. Plants, as well ay 
cuman beings, like plenty of elbow-room, so don’t over-crowd. 
