CHAPTER XVI. Conclusion

CONCLUSION

The character of professional gardeners seems to be changing. They have become more perfunctory, more stubborn, more opinionated, until now it is a really serious question with them of "the danger of a little knowledge." To find a man who combines sobriety and a good disposition with a fair knowledge of his business and a real liking for it, is a difficult matter. Where but one man is kept to care for vegetables, flowers and lawn, he is more than likely to have little interest beyond potatoes or corn, or to be good at raising small fruits, and to consider everything else he has to do as so much waste of time. When first married, one of our gardeners was a German who took no interest in flowers, and planted half the vegetable garden with "kohlrabi" and "korn salad." We had never heard of these delicacies before, and did not care for them. I remember also his telling me that one kind of flower was enough to raise anyway.

If a young man with an elementary knowledge of gardening can be found, who wants to learn, is strong, willing and intelligent, it is better to supply most of the brains yourself. You will find your own wishes more apt to be carried out than by the gardener who "knows it all," and seems to resent what he calls "interference" on the part of his employer.

I remember, when a child, seeing my father's gardener walking about in the early evening after his supper, smoking a meditative pipe, tying up Roses or spraying plants, and often setting out seedlings after sundown. He was never idle; he loved his work and attended to it. But now it is rare indeed to see a gardener, after hours, going about his work; autre temps autres moeurs.

September sixth]

Remember always that it is the overcoming of the difficulties in the gardener's way, the determination to succeed, that gives zest to the occupation. Did everything planted grow and flourish, gardening would be too tame. Rust and blight, cutworms, rose-beetles and weeds, afford the element of sport so attractive to us all. A lesson must be learned from every failure; with renewed patience persevere until success is reached.

I would make the strongest plea in favor of a garden to all those who are so fortunate as to possess any land at all. The relaxation from care and toil and the benefit to health are great, beyond belief, to those who may have to work with head or hands. If you can snatch a few minutes in early morning or late afternoon, to spend among the plants, life takes on a new aspect, health is improved, care is dissipated, and you get nearer to Nature, as God intended.

If the rich and fashionable women of this country took more interest and spent more time in their gardens, and less in frivolity, fewer would suffer from nervous prostration, and the necessity for the multitude of sanitariums would be avoided.

Flower gardening is preëminently a woman's occupation and diversion. Nearly every great lady in England takes a personal interest in her gardens and conservatories, and knows all about the plants and flowers. Here, the majority of women having large places leave the direction of the flowers, as well as the vegetables and fruit, to the taste and discretion of the gardener, and thus miss a great and healthful pleasure.

As a rule, young people do not care for gardening. They lack the necessary patience and perseverance. But in the years of middle life, when one's sun is slowly setting and interest in the world and society relaxes, the garden, with its changing bloom, grows ever dearer.

PLAN FOR BORDER]

INDEX

Aconitum Napellus, 110.

Altheas, 160.

Ampelopsis Veitchii, 25.

Anemone Japonica alba, difficulty with, 61.

Annuals-- List, with height, colour and period of blooming, 88. Sowing, 78, 80. Transplanting, 86. [See also names of flowers.]

Antirrhinum, sowing, 80.

Aquilegias, see Columbines.

Asters-- Destruction by beetle, 14, 81. Sowing, 80.

Auratum lily, 139. Disappearance of bulb, 139. Price, 42.

Autumn work in garden, 70-72.

Azalea mollis, perishability of, 13.

Barberry as hedge, 51, 160.

Bedding-out plants, 120. [See also names of plants.]

Beds, rule for making, 16.

Beetle destroying asters, 14, 81.

Biennials, 117. [See also names of flowers.]

Bone-meal, 73, 74.

Bordeaux mixture, 190.

Borders-- Around house, 29. Blooming from May to September, contents of border, 69. Planting, 29, 40-44, 67. Short path and narrow borders, 68. Small plot borders-- Boundary lines of property, 48-50. Cost, 44. Planting, 40-44.

Boston ivy, 25.

Box, white spider pest, 194.

Box-edging, 177-178.

Bulbs, purchasing and planting, 40-44, 149-156.

Calendula, 81.

Calycanthus floridus, 160.

Campanula medium, 117.

Candytuft, planting, 46.

Cannas, 48, 120, 122.

Canterbury bells, 117, 190.

Cardinal Flower, transplanting, etc., 32.

Centaurea, see Cornflower.

Chrysanthemums, 43, 99.

Clayey soil, lightening, 16.

Clematis paniculata, 27.

Climbing roses, 27, 131.

Columbines, 41. Planting, 41. Sowing, 93.

Coreopsis, 98.

Cornflowers-- Blooming, etc., 81. Planting, 46.

Cosmos, sowing, 81.

Cost, see Expense.

Creepers, see Vines.

Crocuses, 150.

Daffodils, 41, 152-154.

Dahlias, 120, 121. Cost, 47. Planting, 45. Storage, 47, 48.

Delphiniums, 96.

Digitalis, 117.

Double yellow daffodils, 152-154.

"Dowels," 197.

England-- Gardening seasons, etc., 19. Gardens, small plots, 37.

English ivy, 25.

Everblooming roses, 127, 134.

Evergreen shrubs, 167.

Exchange of plants, 98, 99.

Expense-- Border planting, 40-44. Front beds, 47.

Fall work in the garden, 70-72.

Ferns-- Border of, 29. Maidenhair haunts, 31. Planting, 32. Transplanting, 32. Watering, 173, 174.

Flowers-- Annuals, see that title. Gathering, extract from English book, 77. Perennials, see that title. [See also names of flowers.]

Flower garden-- Small plots of ground, 23, 37.

Foxgloves, 117-120.

France, small plots, 37.

Front of the house, planting bed, 45.

Funkia cærulea, 142.

Funkia subcordata, 142.

Gaillardias, 104.

German iris, 104.

Gladioli, 120, 122, 126. Purchasing, 43. Storing, 47.

Gloves for gardening, 198.

Golden Glow, 46, 47, 111.

Grandiflora, 98.

Grass walks, 175-177.

Graveled walks, 174-175.

Ground, see Soil.

Hansoni, 142.

Hardy roses, 127, 130. List of roses blooming in June and September, 133.

Hedges-- Beauty of, as fences, 50. Preparing ground for, 50. Quick screens, 67. Varieties, 50-51. [See also names, Privet, etc.]

Hellebore, 192.

Hemlock spruce, 50.

Henryi, 27.

Hibiscus, 98.

Hollyhocks, 94. Planting, 28, 68. Seeding, 58.

House-- Painting, 25-27. Plan of garden to suit style of house, 21. Vines, see that title.

Hyacinths, 40, 154.

Hybrid perpetual roses, 127. List of roses blooming in June and September, 133.

Hydrangea paniculata, 160.

Insects and insecticides, 189. Asters destroyed by beetle, 14, 81. Bordeaux mixture, 190. Hellebore, 192. Kerosene emulsion, 191. Paris green, 192. Slug-shot, 192. Tobacco water, 193. White spider on box, 194.

Iris, 104, 173, 174.

Ivy-- Boston ivy, 25. English ivy, 25.

Jackmani clematis, 27.

Japanese barberry, 51, 160.

Japanese iris, 104, 173, 174.

Japanese lily, 142.

Japanese tree peonies, 106.

Japanese vines, planting, 28.

Kerosene emulsion, 191.

Laying out a garden-- Beds in front of vines, 28. Borders, see that title. North side of house, 29. Plan of garden, suiting to style of house, 21. Soil, see that title. Vines, see that title. [See also names of flowers, etc.]

Lilac, 164.

Lilies, 139-146. Auratum lily, see that title. Border planting, 42. Planting, etc., 144-146. Watering, 173. [See also names, Lilium, etc.]

Lilium auratum, see Auratum lily.

Lilium Canadense, 142.

Lilium candidum, 140.

Lilium longiflorum, 141.

Lilium speciosum album, 141.

Lilium speciosum rubrum, 141.

Lily-of-the-valley, 143.

London Pride, 110.

Lychnis, 110.

Maidenhair fern, haunts of, 31.

Mai Glöcken, 143.

Marigolds, 82.

Meadow lily, 142.

Monkshood, 110.

Moonflower, Japanese, 28.

Morning-glory, Japanese, 28.

Narcissus, 40, 152.

Nasturtiums, planting, 79.

Ordering plants, 65.

Oriental poppies, 102.

Painting of house and care of vines, 25-27.

Pansies, carpeting rose beds with, 84, 126.

Paris green, 192.

Peonies, 41, 105.

Perennial vines and creepers, 167.

Perennials-- Development, 52. List, with height, colour and time of blooming, 112. Planting, 49. Raising in seed-bed, 48, 57. Seed-bed, see that title. Sowing seeds, 59, 93. Transplanting, 102. [See also names of perennials.]

Pergola, 183-184.

Pests, see Insects.

Philadelphus syringa, 165.

Phlox, 82, 106, 111.

Pinks, 102.

Plan of garden, suiting to style of house, 21.

Planting, 66-74. Borders, 29, 40-44, 67. Candytuft, 46. Cornflowers, 46. Dahlias, 45. Fall work, 70-72. Ferns, 32. Hollyhocks, 28, 68. Lilies, 144-146. Perennials, 49. Roses, 126, 127. Rows, 68, 69. Small plot, 37-54. Starting a garden, 21. Transplanting, see that title.

Plants-- Exchange, 98, 99. Ordering, 65. Unpacking, 65.

Platycodon Mariesi, 96.

Poeticus narcissus, 40, 152.

Poppies, 102. Sowing, 78-79.

Privet, purchase, etc., 51.

Professional gardeners, 13, 203.

Red-hot poker plant, 104.

Rhododendrons-- Planting and care of, 29-31. Watering, 173, 174.

Rockets, 98.

Roots, purchasing, 40-44.

Rose of Sharon, 160.

Roses, 125-135. Best roses, list of, 131. Budded stock, 126. Carpeting rose bed with pansies and gladioli, 84, 126. Climbing, 27, 131. Everblooming, 127, 134. Exclusiveness, 125. Hardy, see that title. Hybrid Perpetual, see that title. List of hybrid perpetual and hardy roses blooming in June and September, 133. Planting, 126, 127. Replanting and cutting, 127, 130.

Rudbeckias, 28, 46, 47, 111.

Salvia, 121.

Scabiosa Caucasica, 109.

Scarlet salvia, 121.

Scrap-book, 198.

Screens, quick, 67.

Seed-bed-- Empty, 62. Importance and satisfaction, 48, 57. Preparing, 57.

Seeds, sowing, 58.

Setting of plants, 13.

Shirley poppies, 78, 79.

Shrubs, 159-168. Evergreen shrubs, 167. Growth from cuttings, 161, 162. List of most satisfactory shrubs, 162. Planting, 50. [See also names of shrubs.]

Slug-shot, 192.

Small plot, planting, 37-54. Borders, see that title. Front of the house, 45-48.

Snowball, blight, 159.

Snowdrops, 149.

Soil-- Beds, rules for making, 13. Clayey, lightening, 16. Manure, use of, 71-74. Preparation of, 13, 16, 20.

Sowing-- Annuals sown in seed-bed in spring, list of, 80. Seeds, 58.

Spider on box, 194.

Spring-flowering bulbs, 40-44, 149-156.

Starting a garden, 21.

Sticks, "dowels," 196.

Suburban gardens, 39.

Sunbonnet, 199.

Sun-dial, 181-183.

Sweet Peas-- Sowing, 83. Trellis, 84.

Sweet Williams, 95.

Tigrinum, 142.

Tobacco water, 193.

Tools and tool-room, 196-199.

Transplanting-- Annuals, 86. Cardinal flower, 32. Fall work, 70-72. Ferns, 32. Perennials, 102.

Tritomas, 104.

Trumpet creeper, 25.

Tulips, 41, 150.

Unpacking plants, 65.

Valerian, 99.

Veronica longifolia, 104.

Vines and Creepers-- Ampelopsis Veitchii, 25. Best annual vines, 168. Care of, 25. Clematis paniculata, 27. English ivy, 25. Henryi, 27. Jackmani clematis, 27. Japanese vines, 28. North side of house, 29. Painting of house, 25-27. Perennials, 167. Planting, 23. Roses, climbing, 27, 131. Trumpet creeper, 25. Virginia creeper, 25.

Walks, grass and graveled, 174-177.

Water supply and watering, 171-174.

Weeding, 87.

White spider on box, 194.

Yucca filamentosa, 102.

Zinnias, varieties of, 82.

F. C.

Printed in the United States of America.

* * * * * *

Transcriber's note:

Apparent typographical errors have been corrected and hyphenation standardised, e.g., sunbonnet and Sunflower are written without hyphens throughout the book.

Unusual punctuation and original spelling have been retained, receipe (recipe?) left as printed.

The 1930 date on the title page might be a misprint for 1903, although there was a 1930 edition.