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The General Arrangement Of The Garden
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Least Viewed
Terms Used By Gardeners
The General Arrangement Of The Garden
Lawn Paths Beds And Border
On The Duty Of Making Experiments
Some Neglected But Handsome Plants
The Conservatory And Greenhouse
The Tool Shed And Summer-house
Roses For Amateurs
Enemies Of The Garden
The Rockery
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The General Arrangement Of The Garden
What to go in for, and what to avoid--Brick walls--Trees, their
advantages and disadvantages, etc.
It is imperative that =a small garden=, such as one generally finds
attached to suburban or small houses, should be made the very most of.
Frequently, however, its owners seem to think that to attempt to grow
anything in such a little plot of ground is a veritable waste of time and
money, as nothing ever comes of it. The aim of this book is to show that
even the tiniest piece of land can be made pretty and even profitable, if
due attention be given it.
=WELL BEGUN IS HALF DONE.= To begin with, it is well to remember that the
tenant of a small garden should not endeavour to represent every feature
he sees in large grounds; the poverty-stricken shrubbery and pond just
about large enough for a nice bath, are too often seen, and only call
forth ridicule. Some landscape gardeners have even objected to the
presence of a lawn, where the space at disposal is very limited indeed,
but to my mind =a little turf is always advisable=, for it not onl
entices people into the fresh air for a game, but forms a good foil for
flowering plants, and above all looks so well during the winter.
=A long narrow garden= is always easier to deal with than a square plot of
land, the range of vision not being "brought up short," as it were. It is
well to take heed of this fact where there is any choice in the matter.
=Good brick walls= are a great help in gardening, though alas! in these
hurried days they are becoming much rarer, the wooden fence being run up
so quickly, and at far less expense.
As regards =the walks=, it is better to have one path wide enough for two
people abreast than several unsociably narrow ones. Each path should lead
somewhere, to the summer-house, or a gate, for instance: otherwise it
looks inconsequent.
Besides the flower-garden proper, =a nursery= for making experiments,
sowing seeds, and striking cuttings, should find a place, if possible; a
rubbish-heap is invaluable, too, where all decayed vegetable refuse,
road-scraping, soapsuds, etc., should be thrown. In autumn, all the leaves
the gardener sweeps up should be placed near by, both heaps being
frequently turned over to allow of the noxious gas escaping, and to assist
decomposition. The =rubbish corner= should be at the furthest extremity of
the garden, though it need not be unsightly if a screen is placed around
it. Privet is certainly the quickest growing shrub for that purpose, but,
as it is so common, other shrubs, such as =pyrus japonica=, =arbutus=,
=barberry=, and =pyracantha=, may be used.
=THE JOYS OF A GREENHOUSE.= If there is no greenhouse, try to obtain one;
it is such an infinite delight all through the dark months of the year,
and this without any great cost for fuel. A Rippingille oil-stove, with
one four-inch wick, will suffice to keep the frost out of a structure
measuring 16 x 10, if a lean-to (that is, attached to a dwelling-house).
Even this expense may be avoided where it is built against a kitchen wall,
though, if the wall happened to face north, only ferns and just a few
flowers would thrive. But even these would form a great interest,
especially to invalids, who often find their greatest pleasure in
pottering about under their "little bit of glass."
=A VEXED QUESTION.= The vexed question of =lopping one's neighbours'
trees= is sure to crop up sooner or later. However much detriment the
trees may be doing, by preventing the free access of sun and air, tenants
should know that the law only justifies them in cutting down those
branches which actually overhang their own domains. This being the case,
it is often the best "to grin and bear it," and lop the trees as little as
possible, for we must acknowledge that the fine form of a tree is always
spoilt when interfered with to any great extent. If the border would, in
any case be shady, so much the better; it will only require a little more
attention in the matter of watering, etc. After all, shade from the hot
summer sun is absolutely necessary if we would enjoy a garden, therefore
it is always well to hesitate over an act which takes but a few minutes to
do, but may need years to repair. Where the trees overhang a good south or
west wall the matter is more serious; it is then advisable to cut back as
far as possible, for roses, peach-trees, and, indeed, most =climbers
resent the constant drip= they are obliged to endure in wet weather. A
list of plants which do well under trees in various aspects is given in
another chapter.
=BREAKING UP.= As the eye wearies of the straight piece of lawn with
gravel path and border surrounding it, where practicable the ground should
be broken up a bit. Some wide =trellis-work=, painted dark-green, with an
arch-way on either side, helps to do this, and lends a pleasant sense of
mystery to what might otherwise be a prosaic garden. It should be covered
with all manner of creepers, such as clematis, jasmine, roses in variety,
and some of the hardy annuals. Very tender plants should not be put on a
trellis, as it does not by any means take the place of a wall, being more
draughty than the open ground, though such things as the ceanothus will
often live through several winters, and bloom beautifully every summer in
such a spot, till an unusually hard frost kills them outright. =Mulching=,
however, of which more anon (see Glossary), materially aids in preserving
them.
=In gardening it is the little things that tell.= A mere trifle often
makes the difference between failure and success. People will hardly
believe, for instance, how important it is that certain plants should only
receive =soft water=, and continue giving the water laid on by the company
when all the time gallons and gallons of =precious rain= from heaven are
running to waste. It is only a question of a tank to preserve it, which
should be in an unobtrusive situation, though easily get-at-able. Where
alpines are concerned, rainwater should be the only beverage, and this
reminds me that a =rockery= on which to grow these gems of other countries
is not such an impossibility in a town garden as might be thought by their
scarcity.
=HOW NOT TO DO IT.= The rockery, as seen in most gardens, both public and
private, is too often an example of "how not to do it." A heterogeneous
mass of clinkers, planted here and there with ivy, and exposed to the full
force of sun and wind, is not to be named in the same breath with those at
Kew, for instance. Of course, these are not made with bricks at all, but
of soft grey stone, rather difficult to obtain by amateurs. Nevertheless,
the shape and general characteristics may be copied; indeed, a day every
now and then spent in the Royal Gardens at Kew or in any other well
planned gardens, is a liberal education in such matters, and a great help
in laying out a garden to good effect, though, naturally, everything must
be considerably modified.
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