garden book2
TRANSCRIPT
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THEAMATEURGARDEN
BY
GEORGEW.CABLE
ILLUSTRATED
CHARLESSCRIBNER'SSONS
NEWYORK:MCMXIV
CHARLESSCRIBNER'SSONS
_PublishedOctober,1914_
CONTENTS
PAGE
MYOWNACRE1
THEAMERICANGARDEN41
WHERETOPLANTWHAT79
THECOTTAGEGARDENSOFNORTHAMPTON107
THEPRIVATEGARDEN'SPUBLICVALUE129
THEMIDWINTERGARDENSOFNEWORLEANS163
ILLUSTRATIONS
"Thatgardeningisbest...whichbestministerstoman'sfelicitywithleastdisturbanceofnature'sfreedom"_Frontis_
"...thatsuddenlyfallingwoodedandbrokengroundwhereMillRiverloitersthroughParadise"6
"Onthisgreenofthedryads...liesMyOwnAcre"8
"Thebeautifulmill-pondbehinditshighdamkeepstheriverfullbacktotherapidsjustaboveMyOwnAcre"12
"Afountain...whereone,--ortwo,--cansitandhearitwhisper"22
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"ThebringingofthegroveoutonthelawnandthepushingofthelawninunderthegrovewasoneoftheearlytasksofMyOwnAcre"24
"Souvenirtreeshadfromtimetotimebeenplantedonthelawnbyvisitingfriends"26
"Howthewordsweresaidwhichsomeoftheplantersspoke"28
"'Whereareyougoing?'saystheeye.'Comeandsee,'saystheroamingline"34
"Thelaneisopentoviewfromendtoend.Ithastwodeepbaysonthesidenearestthelawn"36
"...untilthehouseitselfseemsasnaturally...togrowupoutofthegardenasthehighkeynoterisesattheendofalady'ssong"48
"Beautifulresultsmaybegotonsmallestgrounds"52
"Muffleyourarchitecturalanglesinfoliageandbloom"52
Fencesmaskedbyshrubbery64
Afterthefirstfrostannualplantingsceasetobeattractive72
Shrubberyversusannuals72
Shrubsarebetterthanannualsformaskingrightangles.SouthHall,WillistonSeminary74
"...alineofshrubberyswinginginandoutinstrong,gracefulundulations"74
"Howeverenrapturedofwildnatureyoumaybe,youdoandmust
requireofhersomesubserviencyaboutyourowndwelling"84
"Plantitwhereitwillbestenjoyitself"86
"...climaxestobegotbysuperiorityofstature,bydarknessandbreadthoffoliageandbysplendorofbloombelongatitsfarend"94
"Somecleardisclosureofcharmstillremotemaybeckonandlure"96
"...tall,rectangular,three-storypiles...fullofwindowsallofonesize,pigeon-housestyle"100
"Youcanmakegardeningaconcertedpublicmovement"112
"Plantonallyourlot'sboundaries,plantoutthefoundation-linesofallitsbuildings"122
"Notchieflytorewardthehighestartingardening,buttoprocureitswidestandmostgeneraldissemination"122
"Havingwagesbiggerthantheirbodilywants,andhavingspiritualwantsnumerousandelasticenoughtouseupthesurplus"138
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"Onesuchcompetinggardenwassobeautifullastyearthatstrangersdrivingbystoppedandaskedleavetodismountandenjoyanearerview"138
"Beautycanbecalledintolifeaboutthemostunpretentiousdomicile"148
"Thosewhopaynoonetodie,plantorpruneforthem"148
"InNewOrleansthehomeisboundedbyitsfences,notbyitsdoors--sotheyclothethemwithshrubberiesandvines"174
"Thelawn...liesclean-breasted,green-breasted,fromoneshrub-and-flower-plantedsidetotheother,alongandacross"174
"Thereeightdistinctencumbrancesnarrowthesward....Inahalf-day'swork,thefairscenemightbeenhancedinlovelydignitybytheeliminationoftheseexcesses"176
"Therearwalk...followsthedwelling'sgroundcontourwithbusinessprecision--beingabusinesspath"178
"Thusmayhewonderfullyextenuate,even...whereitdoesnot
conceal,thehouse'sarchitecturalfaults"180
"...alovelystagescenewithoutahintofthestage'sunreality"182
"Backofthebuilding-linethefences...generallymorethanhead-high...are_sure_tobedraped"184
"...fromtheautumnsideofChristmastothesummersideofEaster"184
"Thesleepingbeautyofthegarden'sunlostconfiguration...keepingawinter'sshareofitsfemininegraceandsoftness"186
"ItisonlytherethatIseeanythingsostalwartasapineorsorigidasaspruce"192
MYOWNACRE
Alifelonghabitofstory-tellinghasmuchtodowiththeproductionofthesepages.
Allthemoredoesitmovemebecauseithasalwaysincluded,asperhaps
itdoesinmoststory-tellers,akeenpreferencefortruestories,storiesofactualoccurrence.
Aflower-gardentryingtobebeautifulisacharminginstanceofsomethingwhichastorytellercanotherwiseonlydreamof.Forsuchagardenisitselfastory,onewhichactuallyandnaturallyoccurs,yetoccursunderitsmaster'sguidanceandcontrolandwithartisticeffect.
Yetitwasthissamestory-tellingbentwhichlongheldmebackwhilefromtimetotimeIgeneralizedongardeningandongardensotherthan
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myown.Awell-designedgardenisnotonlyatruestoryhappeningartisticallybutitisonethatpassesthroughanewrevisioneachyear,"withtheformertranslationsdiligentlycomparedandrevised."Eachyearmyownacrehasconfesseditselfsofullofmistranslationsofthetruetextofgardening,haspromised,eachseason,somuchfairerashowinitsnextedition,andhasbeenkeptsoprolongedlybusyteachingandreteachingitsmasterwheretoplantwhat,whileastomoneyoutlayscompelledtolivesomuchmorelikeapoetthanlikeaprince,thatthebentforstory-tellingitselfcouldnothelpbutsaywait.
Now,however,thecompanytowhichthischapterlogicallybelongsisactuallyshowingexcellentreasonswhyahistoryoftheirwriter'sownacreshouldleadthem.Letme,then,beginbyexplainingthatthesmallcityofNorthampton,Massachusetts,whereIhavelivedallthelatterthree-fifthsofmyadultyears,sitsonthefirstriseofgroundwhichfromthewestoverlooksthealluvialmeadowsoftheConnecticut,ninemilesaboveSouthHadleyFalls.Closeatitsbackasmallstream,MillRiver,comingoutoftheHampshirehillsonitswaytotheConnecticut,windsthroughastripofwoodssofairastohavebeennamed--fromamuchearlierdaythanwhenJennyLindcalleditso--"Paradise."Onitstownsidethiswoodedgroundafewhundredyardswidedropssuddenlyahundredfeetorsotothemillstreamandiscutintomanytransverseravines.
Initstimbergrowth,conspicuousbytheirnumber,towerwhite-pines,whileamongthemstandonlylessloftilyaremarkablevarietyofforesttreesimperfectlylistedbyacertainhumbleauthorityas"mostlyh-oak,h-ellum,andh-ash,withalittle'ickory."
Imperfectlylisted,forthereonemayfindalsothebirchandthebeech,thelinden,sycamore,chestnut,poplar,hemlock-spruce,butternut,andmapleoverhangingsuchpleasantundergrowthsasthehornbeamandhop-hornbeam,willows,black-cherryandchoke-cherry,dogwoodandothercornels,severalviburnums,bushmaplesoftwoorthreekinds,alder,elder,sumach,hazel,witch-hazel,theshadblowandotherperennial,fair-blooming,sweet-smellingfavorites,beneathwhichliesaleaf-mouldrifewithfernsandwildflowers.
Fromitsbusinessquarterthetown'schiefstreetofresidence,ElmStreet,beginsagentlywindingwesterlyascenttobecomeanopenhigh-roadfromonetoanotheroftheseveralfarmingandmanufacturingvillagesthatusethewater-powerofMillRiver.Butwhileitisstillastreetthererunsfromitsoutherlyatarightangleastraightbitofavenuesomethreehundredyardslong--anexceptionallengthofunbentstreetforNorthampton.Thisshortavenueendsatanother,stillshorter,lyingsquareacrossitsfootwithinsomeseventyyardsofthatsuddenlyfallingwoodedandbrokengroundwhereMillRiverloitersthroughParadise.Thestripoflandbetweenthewoodsandthislaststreetistakenupbyhalfadozendwellingsofmodestdignity,whosefrontshade-trees,beingonthesoutherlyside,havebeenplacednoton
thesidewalk'sroadsideedgebutonthesidenextthedwellingsandclosewithintheirlineofprivateownership:red,whiteandpost-oakssettherebythepresentwriterwhenhenamedthestreet"Dryads'Green."Theyarenowtwenty-oneyearsoldandgiveagoodshadewhichactuallyfallswhereitiswanted--uponthesidewalk.
[Illustration:"...thatsuddenlyfallingwoodedandbrokengroundwhereMillRiverloitersthroughParadise."
Astrongwirefence(invisibleinthepicture)heredividesthe_grove_
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fromtheoldriverroad.]
Onthisgreenofthedryads,whereitinterceptsthe"avenue"thatslipsoverfromtheElmStreettrolley-cars,lies,suchasitis,myownacre;house,lawn,shrubberiesand,attherear,intheedgeofthepines,thestudy.Backtherebythestudy--whichsometimesinironywecallthepower-house--thelawnmergesintomysevenotheracres,inParadise.ReallythewholepossessionisamuchhumbleronethanIfindmyselfabletomakeitappearintheflatteringtermsoflandmeasure.ThosesevenacresofParadiseIacquiredas"wasteland."Nevertheless,ifIweresellingthat"waste,"that"holeintheground,"itwouldnothurtmyconscience,suchasitis,todeclarethatthebirdsonitaloneareworthmorethanitcost:wood-thrushesandrobins,goldenorioles,scarlettanagers,blackbirds,bluebirds,oven-birds,cedar-birds,veeries,vireos,song-sparrows,flycatchers,kinglets,theflicker,thecuckoo,thenuthatch,thechickadeeandtherose-breastedgrosbeak,nottomentionjaysorkingfishers,swallows,thelittlegreenheronorthatcockofthewalk,theredsquirrel.
Speakingofwalks,itwaswiththem--andonedrive--inthisgrove,thatImademyfirstventuretowardtheartisticenhancementofmyacre,--acrethistimeintheoldsensethatignoresfeetandrods.Iwasquitewillingtomakeitamatterofasmanyyearsasnecessarywhenpursuedasplay,notwork,ontheleastpossiblemoneyoutlayandhaving
foritsendagardenofjoy,notofcare.BynoinbornsagacitydidIdiscoverthistobethetruefirststep,butbythetrainedeyeofanhonoredanddearfriend,thatdistinguishedengineerandfamousstreetcommissionerofNewYork,ColonelGeorgeE.Waring,wholosthislifeinthesanitaryregenerationofHavana.
[Illustration:"Onthisgreenofthedryads...liesMyOwnAcre."
Thetwoyoungoaksinthepicturearepartoftherowwhichgivesthestreetitsname.]
"Contourpaths"wasthewordhegaveme;pathsstartingfromthetopofthesteepbrokengroundandbendinginandoutacrossandaroundits
ridgesandravinesatauniformdeclineof,say,sixinchestoeverytenfeet,untilthedesiredterminusisreachedbelow;muchas,initslargerway,arailwayoraqueductmight,orascattledowhentheyroaminthehills.Thus,bytheslightestpossibleinterferencewithnaturalconditions,thesepathsweregivenawindingcourseeverystepofwhichwaspleasingbecausejustifiedbythenecessitiesofthecase,traversingthemaininequalitiesofthegroundwiththeeaseoflevellandyetwithoutdiminishingitssuperiorvarietyandcharm.AndsowithcontourpathsIbegantofind,rightatmybackdoorandonmyownacre,innerve-tiredhours,anoutdoorrelaxationwhichIcouldbegin,leaveoffandresumeatanymomentandwhichhasneverstaledonme.ForthiswasthegenesisofallIhavelearnedordoneingardening,suchasitis.
Myappliancesforlayingoutthegradesweresimpleenough:aspirit-level,astifften-footrodwithaneighteen-inchlegnailedfirmlyononeendofit,atwelve-inchlegontheother,ahatchet,andabasketofshortstakeswithwhichtomarkthepoints,tenfeetapart,wherethelongerleg,infrontonalldowngrades,restedwhenthespirit-level,strappedontherod,showedtherodtobeexactlyhorizontal.Trivialinequalitiesofsurfacewerearbitrarilycutdownorbuiltupandcoveredwithleavesandpine-strawtodisguisethefact,andwheneveratreeoranythingworthpreservingstoodinthewayhere
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cametheloadedbarrowandthebarrowist,likeapieceofartillerysweepingintoaction,andafillundistinguishablefromnaturesoonbroughtthepatharoundtheobstacleonwhathadbeenitslowerside,tomeanderonatitsunvaryingrateofriseorfallasthoughnothing--exceptthetreesandwildflowers--hadhappenedsincethevastfreshetsofthepost-glacialperiodbuiltthelandscape.Imadethedrivefirst,ofsteepergradethanthepaths;buteverynewlengthofwaybuilt,whetherwalkorroad,madethenexteasiertobuild,bymakingeasiergoingfortheartillery,theconstructiontrain.Alsoeachnewpathhasmadeiteasiertobringup,forthelawngarden,sand,clay,orleaf-mould,orforhearthconsumptionallthewoodwhichthegrove'snaturalmortalityeachyearrequirestobedisposedof.Thereisasuperiorspiritualqualityinthewarmthofafireofh-oak,h-ash,andevenh-ellumgatheredfromyourownacre,especiallyiftheacreisverysmallandhascontourpaths.Byafireofmyownacre's"deadanddown"Iwritetheselines.Ineverbuycordwood.
Onlyhalfthegrovehasrequiredthesepaths,theotherhalfbeingdownontheflatmarginoftheriver,traversedbyacart-roadatleasthalfacenturyold,thoughusedbywheelshardlytwiceayear;butinthethreeacreswhereliethecontourpathsthereisnowthree-fifthsofamileofthem,notarodofwhichissuperfluous.AndthenIhavetwoexamplesofanotherkindofpath:pathswithsteps;pathswhichforgoodandlawfulreasonscannotallowyoutimetogoaroundonthe"fiveper
cent"gradebutmustcutacross,takingasingleravinelengthwise,tovisititsthreefish-pools.
Thesesteps,andtwoshortretainingwallselsewhereinthegrove,aremadeofthefieldstonesoftheregion,uncut.Allarelaid"dry"liketheordinarystonefencesofNewEnglandfarms,andthewallsarebuiltwithasmartinwardbattersothatthewinterfrostsmayheavethemyearafteryear,heaveandleavebutnottumblethemdown.Igotthatideafromabook.Everythingworthwhileonmyacreisfrombooksexceptwhattwoorthreeprofessionalfriendshavefromtimetotimedroppedintomyhungryear.Bothmyearshavegoodappetites--forgardenlore.
Abouthalfamilefromme,downMillRiver,standsthefactoryofa
prizedfriendwhomorethananyothermanhelpsbypersonaldailycaretopromoteNorthampton's"People'sInstitute,"ofwhosehome-gardenworkIhavemuchtosayinthechaptersthatfollowthisone.Forfortyyearsormorethisfactoryhasbeenknownfarandwideasthe"HoeShop"becauseitmakesshovels.Ithasnevermadehoes.Ituseswater-power,andthebeautifulmill-pondbehinditshighdamkeepstheriverfullbacktotherapidsjustabovemyownacre.Inwinterthisisthefavoriteskating-pondofthetownandofSmithCollege.Inthegreenerseasonsofcollegetermsthegirlsconstantlypassupstreamanddownintheirprettyrowboatsandcanoes,makingacharmingeffectasseenfrommylawn'srearedgeattheheadofthepineandoakshadedravinewhosefish-poolsaregaybyturnswithelder,wildsunflower,sumach,iris,water-lilies,andforget-me-not.
[Illustration:"Thebeautifulmill-pondbehinditshighdamkeepstheriverfullbacktotherapidsjustaboveMyOwnAcre."
Thisisthe"HoeShop."Thetowerwasruinedbyfiremanyyearsago,andbecauseofitsunsafetyisbeingtakendownatthepresentwriting.]
Thisravine,themiddleoneofthegrove'sthree,isaboutahundredfeetwide.WhenIfirstbegantoventurethehumantouchinit,itaffordednoopenspotlevelenoughtoholdacamp-stool.Fromthelawn
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abovetotheriverroadbelow,thedistanceisthreehundredandthirtyfeet,andthefall,offifty-fivefeet,ismostlyattheupperend,whichisthereforetoosteep,aswellastoofullofvariedundergrowth,foranygoingbutclimbing.Inthenextravineonitslefttherewasaclear,coldspringandintheoneonitsrightrananaturalrivuletthattrickledeveninAugust;butthismiddleravinewasdryormerelymoist.
Hereletmesaytoanywhowouldtryanamateurlandscapeartontheirownacreattheedgeofagrowingtown,thatthetown'sgrowthtendssteadilytodiminishtheamountoftheirlandscape'snaturalwatersupplybycatchingonstreetpavementsandscoresandhundredsofroofs,lawnsandwalks,andcarryingawayinsewers,therainandmeltingsnowswhichforagesfilteredslowlythroughthesoil.Smallwonder,Ithink,that,wheninthesquarequarter-milebetweenmyacreandElmStreetfifty-threedwellingsandthreeshortstreetstooktheplaceofanoldfarm,mygrove,bysheerwaterfamine,lostseveralofitsgiantpines.Wondertomeisthattheharmseemsatlengthtohaveceased.
Butaboutthatravine:onedaythenatureofitsgrowthandsoil,especiallyitsalders,elders,andwillowsandashowofclayandgravel,forcedonmynoticethelikelihoodthathere,too,hadoncebeenaspring,ifnomore.Iscratchedatitsheadwithastickandoutcameanimprisonedrilllikearecollectedwordfromthescratchedheadofa
schoolboy.Happilythespotwasjustatthebottomoftheimpassablysteepfallofgroundnexttheedgeofthelawnandwasalmostinthecentreofthosefouracres--oneofsward,threeofwoods--whichIproposedtoholdundermoreorlessdiscipline,leavingtherest--awoodedstriprunninguptherivershore--whollywild,ascollegegirls,forexample,wouldcountwildness.Inbothpartsthewealthoffoliageontimberandunderbrushalmosteverywhereshuttheriveroutofviewfromthelawnandkepttheeyerestlessforaglint,ifnomore,ofwater.AndsothereIthoughtatoncetogivemyselfwhatIhadallmylifemostabsurdlywishedfor,afish-pool.IhadneverbeenabletolookuponanaquariumandkeepthetenthCommandment.Ihadnevercaughtafishwithoutwantingtotakeithomeandlegallyadoptitintothefamily--atendencywhichonceledmysontosay,"Yes,hewouldbe
pleasedtogofishingwithmeifIwouldonlyfishinasportsmanlikemanner."Whatabeautifullymarkedfishisthesun-perch!Once,inboyhood,Ikeptsixofthose"pumpkin-seed"inacistern,andmysmilehasneverbeenthesamesinceIlostthem--oneofmywarlosses.
Iresolvedtoimpoundthewatersofmyspringintheravineandkeepfishatlast--withoutsalt--tomyheart'scontent.YetIrememberedcertainrestrainingprecepts:first,thatlawofartwhichcondemnsincongruity--requireseverythingtobeinkeepingwithitsnaturalsurroundings--andwhichtherefore,foronething,makesanAmericangardenthebestpossiblesortofgardentohaveinAmerica;second,thattwinartlaw,againstinutility,whichdemandsthateverythinginanartisticschemeservetheuseitpretendstoserve;third,aprecept
ofColonelWaring's:"Don'tfoolwithrunningwaterifyouhaven'tmoneytofoolaway";and,fourth,thatbestofallgardeningrules--lookbeforeyouleap.
However,onsecondthought,andtenth,andtwentieth,onethoughtadayfortwentydays,Ifoundthatifwaterwastobeimpoundedanywhereonmyacreherewasthestrategicpoint.Downthisravine,asIhavesaid,wasthelawn'sonegoodglimpseoftheriver,andakindredgleaminterveningwouldtend,ineffect,todrawthosefartherwatersinunderthetreesandintothepicture.
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themherselffrommeandthanksmeforthesuggestion.
Pleaseobservethatofgreatgardens,orofcostlygardenswhethergreatoronlycostly,weheresaynothing.Ourthemeissuchagardenasahouseholdermayhimselfmakeandkeeporforwhich,atmost,heneedsprofessionaladviceonlyinitsfirstplanning,andforitsupkeeponegardener,withoneoccasionalhelperinpressingseasonsorinconstructionalwork.
Constructionalwork.Dams,forexample.IntwoofmydamsIbuiltcoresofconcreteandthusmadeacquaintancewiththatinterestingmaterial.LaterIpressedtheacquaintanceship,madegardenandgroveseats,atableortwo,averymodestfountainforasinglejetofwaterinmyhighest,smallestfish-pool,andevenaflightofstepswithapairofgane-shapedpedestals--suggestedbyasculptorfriend--attheirtop.TheexedraImentionedjustnowisofconcrete.Thestuffisatemptationtobewaryof.Theordinarygraysort--Ihavetouchednoother--isahumblemedium,andpretentiousdesignsinhumblematerialsareoneoftheworst,andoldest,ofgardenincongruities.InmyventureswithconcreteIhavestudiedforgraceinformbutgracesubordinatedtostability,andhaveshunnedembellishment.Embellishmentforitsownsakeistheeasiestandcommonestsinagainstgoodartwhereverartbecomesself-conscious.Itishavingariotoustimejustnowinconcrete.Ihaverarelyseenacommercialconcretegarden-seat
whichwasnotmoreornatethanIshouldwantitformyownacre.Ihappentohavetwoorthreearticlesinmygardenwhichareatrifleelaboratebuttheyareofterra-cotta,arenothome-madeandwouldbeplainercouldIhavefoundthemso.
Agardenneedsfurnitureonlylessthanahouse,andconcreteisaboonto"natural"gardening,beinginexpensive,rustic,andimperishable.IfancyachiefreasonwhythereissuchinconsideratedearthofseatsandstepsinourAmericanamateurgardensistheoldfashion--sowellgotridofatanycost--ofrusticcedarandhickorystairsandbenches."Havenoneofthem,"wasColonelWaring'sinjunction;"theyareforeveroutofrepair."
ButIfearanotherreasonisthatsooftenourgardensareneitherforprivateeasenorsocialjoy,butforpublicdisplayandareplannedmainlyforstreetexhibition.Thatisthewaywecommonlytreatgardenfountains!Wemakeasmugshowofunfenced,unhedged,universalhospitalityacrossasidewalkboundarywhichneverthelessweholdinviolate--sometimesbymeansofapaintedsignorgas-pipe--andneversay"Haveaseat"tothedearestfriendinanysecludednookofourshrubberies,ifthereissuchanook.Howmanyofusknowafountainbesideanemboweredseatwhereone,--ortwo,--withorwithoutthebookofverses,cansitandhearitwhisperorwatchthemoonlightcoveritwithsilentkisses?InmylimitedexperienceIhaveknownofbuttwo.Oneisbytheoncefavoritethought-promotingsummerseatofAugustusSaint-GaudensonhisownhomeacreinVermont;theotherIneednot
particularizefurtherthantosaythatitisoneofthethingswhichinterlockandunifyacertaingardenandgrove.
[Illustration:"Afountain...whereone,--ortwo,--cansitandhearitwhisper."
Theravineofthethreefishpools.Thereisadropofthirtyfeetbetweentheupperandthelowermostpool.]
Thebringingofthegroveoutonthelawnandthepushingofthelawnin
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underthegrovewasoneoftheearlytasksofmyownacre.Whenthehousewasbuiltitslotandothersbackeduptoahard,straightrearlinewheretheoldfieldhadhaltedatitsfenceandwherethewoodsbeganongroundthatfelltotheriveratanangleoffromfortytofiftydegrees.Heremygiftedfriendandadvisergavemeapreceptgotfromhisearliergiftedfriendandadviser,FrederickLawOlmsted:thatpassingfromanypartofapleasure-groundtoanypartnextitshouldbeentirelysafeandeasyorelseimpossible.BytheapplicationofthismaximIbroughtmylawnandgrovetogetherinoneofthehappiestofmarriages.ForIproceeded,byfillingwithearth(andfurnaceashes),tocarrythelawnin,practicallylevel,beyondtheoldfencelineandunderthechestnutsandpinessometimessixfeet,sometimestwelve,untilthedifficultandunsafefortyorfiftydegreesofabruptfallwerechangedtoanimpassablesixtyandseventydegrees,andeveryone'sinstinctivechoiceofwaywasthecontourpaths.
Atthesametimethishaspreserved,andevenenhanced,theplace'swildness,especiallythewildflowersandthelow-nestingbirds.Sometimesafewyardsofretaining-wall,nevercemented,alwayslaidupdryandwithastronginwardbatter,hadtobeputintoavoidsmotheringtherootsofsomegreattree;for,aseverybodyknowsandnearlyeverybodyforgets,roots,likefishes,musthaveair.Inoneplace,acrossthefilledheadofaravine,thewall,thoughbutascantyardhigh,isfiftyfeetlong,andthereisanotherplacewherethere
shouldbeonelikeit.Inthisworknotreewassacrificedsaveonenobleoakdonetodeathbyayouthwhoknewbutforgotthatrootsmusthaveair.
Nottomaketheworkexpensiveitwaspursuedslowly,throughmanysuccessiveseasons;yetbeforeevenitseasy,firsthalfwasdonethelawnwasinunderthegroveonanapparentlynatural,irregularcrestline.Moreoverthegrovewasoutonthelawnwithanevenmorenaturalhaphazardborderingline;foranotheroperationhadbeencarriedonmeantime.Trees,souvenirtrees,hadfromtimetotimebeenplantedonthelawnbyvisitingfriends.Mostofthemaresetcloseenoughtothegrovetobecomeapartofit,standinginacarefulirregularitywhichhasalreadyobliterated,withoutmolesting,thetreelineoftheancient
fence.
[Illustration:"ThebringingofthegroveoutonthelawnandthepushingofthelawninunderthegrovewasoneoftheearlytasksofMyOwnAcre."
Atthepointwherethepartyisdrinkingtea(thesiteoftheIndianmound)theoverlapofgroveandlawniseighty-fivefeetacrosstheoldfencelinethatoncesharplydividedthem.]
Youngsenatorsamongtheirseniors,theystillhavemuchgrowthtomakebeforetheycanenterintotheirfullforestdignity,yetHenryWardBeecher'selmisnearlytwofeetthroughandhasaspreadoffifty;Max
O'Rell'swhite-ashisafootindiameterandfiftyfeethigh;EdwardAtkinson'sissomethingmore,andFelixAdler'shemlock-spruce,themapleofAnthonyHopeHawkins,L.ClarkSeelye'sEnglishash,HenryvanDyke'swhite-ash,SolSmithRussell'slinden,andHamiltonWrightMabie'shorse-chestnutareallaboutthirty-fivefeethighandcastagoodlyshade.SirJamesM.Barrie'selm--hisandSirWilliamRobertsonNicoll's,whoplanteditwithhimlaterthantheplantingsaforementioned--has,bysomevirtueinthesoilorinitsownenergies,reachedaheightofnearlysixty-fivefeetandadiameterofsixteeninches.Othersouvenirsareahorse-chestnutplantedbyMinnieMaddern
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Fiske,aginkgobyAliceFreemanPalmer,abeechbyPaulvanDyke,ahorse-chestnutbyAnnaHempsteadBranch,anotherbySirSidneyLee,yetanotherbyMaryE.Burt,acatalpabyMadelaineWynne,aColoradobluespruce--fitlyplacedaftermuchlaborofmind--bySirMosesEzekiel,andaKentuckycoffee-treebyGeraldStanleyLeeandJennetteLee,ofourowntown.AmongtheseshouldalsostandthemapleofSirArthurConanDoyle,butitwaskilledinitssecondwinterbyanundetectedmouseatitsroots.ExceptSirMoses,alltheknightsherenamedreceivedtheaccoladeaftertheirtreeplantings,butIdrawnomoral.
[Illustration:"Souvenirtreeshadfromtimetotimebeenplantedonthelawnbyvisitingfriends."
TheBeecherelm,firstofthesouvenirtrees.]
Woulditwerepracticabletotransmittothosewhomayknowthesetreesinlaterdaysthescenesoftheirsettingoutandtotelljusthowthewordsweresaidwhichsomeoftheplantersspoke.Mr.Beecher,loverofyoungtreesandyoungchildren,straightenedupafterpressingthesoilabouttherootswithhandsaswellasfeetandsaid:"Icannotwishyoutoliveaslongasthistree,butmayyourchildren'schildrenandtheirchildrensitunderitsshade."SaidFelixAdlertohishemlock-spruce,"Vivat,crescat,floreat";andasentimentmuchlikeitwasimpliedinSolSmithRussell'swordstothegrove'smasterasthey
finishedputtinginhislindentogether--forhewasjustthenproposingtoplayRipVanWinkle,whichJosephJeffersonhadfinallydecidedtoproducenomore:"Here'stoyourhealt',undtderhealt'ofallyourfamily;mayyouliflongundtbrosper."
We--thefirstpersonsingulargrowstiresome--wemighthavenow,onouracre,atreeplantedbyJosephJeffersonhadwethoughtintimetobeprovidedwithasapling,growing,inatub.Haveyourprospectivesouvenirtreealreadytubbedandwaiting.ThisideaIgotfromAndrewCarnegie,withwhomIhadthehonortoplantanoakatSkiboCastleandfromwhomI,likesomanyothers,havehadotherthingsalmostasgoodasideas.Haveyourprospectivesouvenirtreetubbedandthetubsunkintheground,ofcourse,toitsrim.Thenthedearfriendcanplantitat
anytimethathemaychancealongbetweenMarchandDecember.Butletnosouvenirtree,howeverplanted,betreated,afterplanting,asotherthanalivingthingifyouwouldbejusttoit,toyourfriend,ortoyourself.Cultivateit;coaxiton;anditwillgrowtwoorthreeorfourtimesasfastasiflefttofightitsdailybattleforlifeunaided.Anddonotforbeartoplanttreesbecausetheygrowsoslowly.Theyneednot.Theydonot.Withalittleattentiontheygrowsoswiftly!Beforeyouknowityouaresittingintheirshade.BesidesSirArthur'smapletheonlysouvenirtreewehavelostwasatulip-treeplantedbymyfriendofhalfalifetime,thelateFranklinH.Head.
Somuchformygrove.Iwriteofitnotinself-complacency.Mymanyblunders,someofthemyettobemade,areagoodinsuranceagainst
that.Iwritebecauseofthecountlessacresasgoodasmine,inthisgreat,dearAmerica,whichmightnowbegivingtheirownersallthehealthfulpastime,privatesolace,orsolitaryorsocialdelightswhichthisoneyields,yetwhichareonly"wastelands"or"holesintheground"becauseunavailableforhouselotsortillage.
[Illustration:"Howthewordsweresaidwhichsomeoftheplantersspoke."
PresidentSeelyeofSmithCollegeplantingatree.--Amajorityofthe
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companypresentwereSmithCollegestudentsandothersengagedintheworkofthePeople'sInstitute.ThetreeontheleftisBarrie'selm.Thetreedirectlybehindthesmallsaplingwhichisbeingplanted,andonalinewithit,isMaxO'Rell's.Thehemlock-sprucebetweenthemisFelixAdler's.]
Andnowastothesingleacrebymeasure,oflawn,shrubs,andplants,closearoundmyhouse;forthereasonthatitwasandismyschoolofgardening.Therewasnogardenhere--Iwritethisinthemidstofit--whenIbegan.TenstepsfromwhereIsittherehadbeenasmallIndianmoundwhichsomeonehadcarefullyexcavated.Ifoundstonearrowchipsonthespot,andonewholearrow-head.Soherenooneelse'searlierskillwasinevidencetopointmycourseorimpedeit.ThiswasmycleannewslateandatthattimeIhadnever"doneasum"ingardeningandgotanythinglikearightanswer.
Itisemphaticallyanamateurgardenandabookgarden:agardenwhichtome,astomostofus,wouldhavebeenimpossibleinanybutthesedayswhenthewholeartofgardeninghasbeenprintedinbooksandnoamateurisexcusablefortryingtogardenwithoutreadingthem,orforsayingafterhavingreadthemthathehasplannedandworkedwithoutprofessionaladvice.Thebooks_are_theprofessionaladvice,withfewdrawbacksandwiththegreatadvantagethattheyareourstrulyanddonotevenhavetobe"'phoned."Ishouldratherhaveinmylibrarymy
Bailey's"AmericanCyclopediaofHorticulture,"thananytwogardenperiodicalsonceamonth.These,too,Ivalue,but,forme,theyareover-apttocarrytoomuchdeckloadoftheadviceandgentlevauntingsofotheramateurs.Ihaveanamateur'sabhorrenceofamateurs!TheCyclopedia_knows_,andwillalwayssendmetotherightbooksifitcannotthreshamatteroutwithmeitself.BeforeBaileymyfountofknowledgewasMr.E.J.Canning,lateofSmithCollegeBotanicGardens;aspringstillfarfromdry.
Asthebooksenjoin,Ibeganmybook-gardeningwithaplanonpaper;nottheelaboratethingonepaysforwhenhecangivehisgardenmoremoneythantime,butalightsketch,amerefundamentalsuggestion.Thiscameprofessionallyfromalandscape-architect,MissFrancesBullard,of
Bridgeport,Connecticut,whohadjustfinishedplottingthegroundsofmyneighbor,thecollege.
Itellofmyowngardenforanotherreason:thatitshows,Ithink,howmuchcanbedonewithhowlittle,ifforthedoingyoutaketimeinsteadofmoney.Allthingscometothegardenthatknowshowtowait.Minehasacquiredatleisureagroupofeffectswhichwouldhavecostfromtentotwentytimesasmuchifgotinahurry.Gardenforten-yearresultsandgetthemfornexttonothing,andatthesametimeyoumayquickenspeedwheneveryourexchequersmilesbroadlyenough.Ofcoursethisargumentischieflyforthosewhohavethetimeandnotthemoney;forbytimewemeanplaytime,timewhichismoneylostifyoudon'tplay.Thegardenthatgivesthemostjoy,"JoyousGard,"asSir
Launcelotnamedhis,isnottobebought,likeaCircassianslave;itmustbebroughtup,likeadaughter.Howmuchoflifetheycanmisswhocanbuywhatevertheywantwhenevertheywantit!
ButItellfirstofmyowngardenalsobecauseIbelieveitsummarizestotheeyeanumberofprimarybook-rules,authoritative"don'ts,"bytheobservanceofwhichamultitudeofamateurgardenersmaygetbetterresultsthanityetshows.Nevertheless,Iwillhardlydomorethannoteafewexceptionstothesegroundrules,whichmaygivetherulesamoreconvincingforce.Firstofall,"don't"letanyofyourplanting
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cutorsplityourplaceintwo.Howmanyasmallhouse-lotlawnweseesplitdownthemiddlebyarowofornamentalshrubsorfruit-treeswhichmightaseasilyhavebeensetwithinafewfeetofthepropertyline,whoserigidity,moreover,wouldhavebestexcusedtherigidityoftheplantedline.Butsuchglaringinstancesaside,therearemanysubtleronesquiteasunfortunate;"don't"betoosureyouarenotunwittinglyfurnishingone.
"Don't"destroytheopennessofyourswardbydottingitwithshrubsorpatternflower-beds.TothisruleIdoubtifaplausibleexceptioncouldbecontrived.Itissosweepingandsoprimarythatwemightwellwithholditherewerewenotseekingtostateitsartisticreasonwhy.Whichis,thatsuchplantingsaremereeruptionsofindividualsmartness,withoutdignityandwithnopartinanygeneralunity;chirpinguplikepertchildreninacompanypresumablytryingtoberational.
Ontheotherhand,Ihopemyacre,despiteallitsunconsciousorunconfessedmistakes,showspleasantlythatthebestopennessofalawnisnottobegotbetweenunclothed,right-angledandparallelbounds.Themoreitsverdure-cladbordersswinginandoutthelongertheylook,notmerelybecausetheyarelongerbutalsobecausetheyinterestandluretheeye."Whereareyougoing?"saystheeye.
"Comeandsee,"saystheroamingline.
"Don't"plantinstifflinesexceptincloserelationtoarchitecturalorlegalbounds.AstraighthorizontallineNaturescarcelyknowssaveinherrocksandonavasterscalethanweherehavetodowith.Yetstraightlinesingardeningareoftengoodandfineifonlytheyarelinesofrealneed.Where,whenandinwhatdegreeitisgoodtosubordinateutilitytobeautyorbeautytoutilitydependsontime,placeandcircumstance,butwhenindoubt"don't"pincheithertopettheother.Oppressionisnevergoodart.Yet"don't"crywar,war,wherethereisnowar.Atruebeautyandaneededutilitymaybristleonfirstcollisionbuttheysoonmakefriends.WasitnotRuskinhimselfwho
wantedtobutttherailway-trainoffthetrackandpawuptherails--somethinglikethat?Butevenbetweenthemandthelandscapethereisnowanententecordiale.IhaveseenthehandofJosephPennellmakebeautifulpeacewithbillboardsandtelegraph-polesandwires.
TherailwaypointsustothefactthatalongthegroundNatureisasinnocentofparallellines,howeverbent,asofstraightones,andthatinlandscape-gardeningparallelsshouldbeavoidedunlesstheyarelinesofutility."Don't"layparallellines,eitherstraightorcurved,whereNaturewouldnotandutilityneednot.Yetmyownacrehastaughtmeamodificationofthisrulesomarkedastobealmostanexception.OneachsideofmenextmynearestneighborIhaveaturfedalleybetweenacontinuousbedoffloweringshrubsandplantsnextthedivisionline,
andasimilarbedwhosemeanderingsbordermylawn.AtfirstIgavethesetwoalleysasinuouscourseincorrespondencewiththewindingsofthebedborderingthelawn--fortheywerepurelywaysofpleasureamongtheflowers,andaloiteringcourseseemedonlyreasonable.Butsinuouslinesprovedasdisappointinginthealleysastheyweresatisfyingoutonthelawn,andbyandbyIsawthatwhereasthebendingsoftheopenlawn'sbordersluredandrewardedtheeye,thesamecurvesinthealleysobstructedandbaffledit.Theshowoffloralcharmswaspiecemeal,momentaryandthereforetrivial."Don't"betrivial!
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[Illustration:"'Whereareyougoing?'saystheeye.'Comeandsee,'saystheroamingline."
Thisplantingconcealsoneofthealleysdescribedonpage34.Inthealleyaconcretebenchbuiltintoaconcretewalllooksacrosstheentirebreadthofthegardenandintothesunset.]
Butacurewaseasy.Ihadtostraightenbutonesideofeachalleytorestoretheeye'sfreedomofperspective,andnothingmorewaswanting.TheAmericaneye'sfreedomofperspectiveisoneofourgreatliberties.
Oh,say,canyou_see_--?
Imadethischange,ofcourse,onthesidenearestthestraight,property-divisionbound,whererananinvisiblewirefence.Thusthebedonthatsidewassetbetweentwostraightparallels,whilethebedonthelawnsideremainedbetweenwavingparallels.Thisgavethebestsimplicitywiththeleastartificiality.Andthusthetwolanesareopentoviewfromendtoend,yeteachhastwodeepbaysonthesidenearestthelawn,bayswhichremainunseentilloneactuallyreachesthemintraversingthelane.Insuchabayoneshouldalwayshave,Ithink,somefloralrevelationofspecialcharmworthyoftheseclusionandthesurprise.Butthisthoughtisonlyoneofahundredthattellme
mygardenisnotafinishedthing.Toitstrueloveragardenneveris.
Anothersortofbay,thesortresultingfromaswiftretreatofalineofshrubberiespursuedbythelawnandthenswingingroundandreturninguponthelawninacounterpursuit,IthoughtIhadlearnedfrombooksandMissBullardandhadestablishedonmyownacre,untilIsawthecollegegardensofOxford,England,andthelandscapeworkinHydePark,London.OnmyreturnthenceImadehastetogivemyowngarden'sin-and-outcurvestwicetheboldnesstheyhadhad.AnddoublingtheirboldnessIdoubledtheirbeauty."Don't"everletyouracre's,orhalforquarteracre's,groundlinesrelaxintofeeblenessorshrinkintopettiness."Don't"everplanalayoutforwhosefreeswingyourlimitsarecramped.
[Illustration:"Thelaneisopentoviewfromendtoend.Ithastwodeepbaysonthesidenearestthelawn."
Thestraightlineofhighgrowthconcealsinthemidstofitsfoliageawiredivisionfence,andmakesaperfectbackgroundforbloomingherbaceousperennials.]
"Don't"ever,ifyoucanhelpit,saysanotherofmyoldmistakestome,letyouracreleadyourguesttoanypointwhichcanbedepartedfromonlybyretracingone'ssteps.Suchnecessitiesinvolvealapse--nottosaycollapse--ofinterest,whichmakesfordulnessandlossofdignity.Lackwhatmyownacremay,Ihaveitnowsothatbyitsalleys,lawns
andcontourpathsingardenandgrovewecanwalkandwalkthrougheverypartofitwithoutoncemeetingourowntracks,andthatisnotallbecauseofthepleasantfactthatthewalks,wherenotturfed,arecoveredwithpine-straw,ofwhicheachnewSeptemberdropsusafreshharvest.
Agarden,wesay,shouldnevercompelustogobackthewaywecame;butintruthagardenshouldnevercompelustodoanything.Itsdon'tsshouldbelaidsolelyonitself.Thoseapplicabletoitsmaster,mistress,orguestsshouldallbeimpossibilities,notrequests.
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"Privategrounds,nocrossing"--takethataway,please,whereveryoucan,andplantyourmarginssothattherecanbenocrossing.Wirenettingshiddenbyshrubberiesfromallbuttheshamelesstrespasseryouwillfindfarmoreeffective,morepromotivetobeautyandmorecourteous."Don't"makeyourgardenagardenofdon'ts.
Fornogardenisquiteagardenuntilitis"JoyousGard."Letnotyoursorminebeagardenfordisplay.Thenourrhododendronsandlikesplendorswillnotbeatthefrontgate,andourgroundsbelessandlessworthseeingthefartherintothemwego.Norletyoursorminebeagardenofpride.Thewaysofsuchagardenarenotpleasantnessnoritspathspeace.Andletusnothaveagardenoftiringcareorauserupofprecioustime.Thatisnotgoodcitizenship.Neitherletushaveanold-trousers,sun-bonnet,blackfinger-nailsgarden--especiallyifyouareawoman.Agardenthatmakesawife,daughterorsisteradowdyishardly"JoyousGard."Neitherisonewhichmakesitselfamaniatoherandanafflictiontoherfamily.Letusnotevenhave,youorme,awondergarden--ofarborealorfloralcuriosities.PerhapsbecauseIhavenottravelledenoughIhaveneverseenagardenofexoticsthatwasarealgardeninanygoodartsense;inanyway,thatis,lastinglypleasingtoanoblespirit.Letyourgarden,andletmine,bethegardenofjoy.Fortheonlywayitcanbethat,onandon,yearin,yearout,istobesogoodinartandsofinelyhumaninitspurposesthattohaveitanddailykeepitwillmakeusmoreworthwhiletoourselvesandto
mankindthantogowithoutit.
THEAMERICANGARDEN
AlmostanygoodAmericanwilladmitittobeapartofournationalsocialscheme,Ithink,--ifwehaveasocialscheme,--thateverybodyshallaspiretoalltherefinementsoflife.
Particularlyisitourtheorythateveryoneshallproposetogiveto
hishomeallthejoysandgraceswhichareanywhereassociatedwiththenameofhome.Yetuntiloflatewehaveneglectedtheartofgardening.Nowandthenwesee,ormorelikelywereadabout,somegardenofwonderfulbeauty;buttheveryfameofitpointsthefactthatreallyartisticgardeningisnotdemocraticallygeneralwithus.
Ourcitiesandtowns,withoutnumber,havethearchitectandtheengineer,forhouseandforlandscape,forsky-scrapersandallmannerofpublicworks;wehavethenurseryman,theflorist;wehaveparks,shadedboulevardsandriversideandlakesidedrives.Underprivateownershipwehaveavastmultitudeofexactlyrectilinearlawns,extremelybareorelseverybadlyplanted;andwehavehundredsofthousandsofbeautifuldamesandgirlswho"loveflowers."Butourhome
gardens,ourhomegardeners,eitherprofessionaloramateur,wherearethey?Oursmallercitiesbyscoresandourtownsbyhundredsarefullofhome-dwellerseachprivatelypuzzledtoknowwhyeveryoneofhisneighbors'houses,howeverrespectableinarchitecture,staresathimandafterhimwithavacant,deaf-muteairofhavingjustlandedinthiscountry,withoutfriends.
Whatailsthesedwellingsislargelylackoftruegardening.Theywillneverlooklikehomes,neverlookreallyhumanandbenign,thatis,untiltheyaresetinagardeningworthyofthem.Foragardenwhich
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functionshouldbetodelightitshouse'sinmates(andintimates)inthingsofnaturesorefinedastoinspireandsatisfytheirhappiestmoods.Thereforenogardenshouldcost,norlookasifitcost,anoutlayofmoney,timeortoilthatcrampsthehouse'sownabilitytoministertothegenuinebodilyneedsandspiritualenlargementsofitsindwellers;andtherefore,also,itshouldneverseemtocost,initsfirstmakingorinitsdailykeeping,somuchpainsastolack,itself,agarden'ssupremeessential--tranquillity.
So,then,tothosewhowouldincitewholestreetsofAmericantownstobecomeflorallybeautiful,"formal"gardeningseemshardlythesorttorecommend.Aboutthepalatialdwellingsofmenofprincelyrevenueitmaybeenchanting.Thereitappearsquiteinplace.Forwithallitsexquisiteartificialityitstillisnearertonaturethanthestatelyedificeitsurroundsandadorns.Butforanylesscostlyhomesitcoststoomuch.Itisexpensiveinitsfirstoutlayanditdemandsconstantlythegreatestcareandthehighestskill.OurordinaryAmericanlifeistoobusyforitunlessthegroundisquitehandedovertothehiredprofessionalandopenlybetraysitselfasthatveryunsatisfyingthing,a"gardener'sgarden."
[Illustration:"...untilthehouseitselfseemsasnaturally...togrowupoutofthegardenasthehighkeynoterisesattheendofalady'ssong."
OntherightofthispictureyoumayseethepiersofoneofthefrontgatesofMyOwnAcrestandingunderHenryWardBeecher'selm.Theurnformssurmountingthemareofconcrete,andtheurnsarecastfromearlierformsinwood,whichwereagiftfromHenryvanDyke.Ontheleftthetopsofthearborvitandamagnoliaarebendinginthewind.]
OurordinaryAmericanlifeisalsotoonearnaturefortheformalgardentocomeinbetween.Unlessourformalgardeningisofsomeinexpensivesortourmodestdwelling-housesgiveusananticlimax,andthereisnoinexpensivesortofformalgardening.ExceptinthefarsouthourAmericanclimateexpatriatesit.
Averygoodpracticalrulewouldbefornoneofustoventureuponsuchgardeninguntilheiswellabletokeepupanadequategreenhouse.Aformalgardenwithoutagreenhouseortwo--orthree--isagloriousarmyonawarfooting,butwithoutabaseofsupplies.Itislargelyhisgreenhouseswhichmakethepublicgardenerandthecommercialfloristsomisleadinganexampleforthecottagertofollowinhisprivategardening.
Tobebeautiful,formalgardeningrequiresstatelyproportions.Withouttheseitisalmostcertaintobepettyandfrivolous.InthetinygardensofBritishandEuropeanpeasants,itistrue,acertainformalityofdesignisoftenpractisedwithpleasingsuccess;butthesegardensareaby-productofpeasanttoil,andinAmericawehavenojoy
incontemplatinganAmericanhomelimitedtotheaspirationsofpeasantlife.Insuchgardeningthereisaconstraint,alackofnaturalfreedom,adistancefromnature,andacertaincontentedsubserviency,whichmakesit--howeverfortunateitmaybeunderothersocialconditions--whollyunfittoexpressthebuoyant,nottosayexuberant,complacenciesoftheAmericanhome.Forthesewewant,whatwehavenotyetquiteevolved,theAmericangarden.Whenthiscomesitmustcome,ofcourse,unconsciously;butwemaybesureitwillnotbemuchlikethegardensofanypoliticallyshut-inpeople.No,notevenofthosesupremeartistsingardening,theJapanese.Itwillexpressthetraitsofour
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Americandomesticlife;ourstrongindividualityandself-assurance,oursenseofunguardedsecurity,ouraffabilityandunexclusivenessandourdisliketohigh-walledprivacy.Ifwewouldhastenitsdaywemustmakewayforitalongthelinesofthesetraits.
Ontheotherhand,ifinfollowingtheselineswecancontrivetoadherefaithfullytotheworldwidelawsofalltrueart,whoknowsbutourverygardeningmaytendtocorrectmorethanoneshortcomingorexcessinournationalcharacter?
InourNorthamptonexperimentithasbeenourconvictionfromthebeginningthatforaprivategardentobewhatitshouldbe--tohaveahappyindividuality--acountenanceofitsown--oneworthytobeitsown--itmustinsomepracticalwaybethefruitofitshouseholder'sownspiritandnotmerelyofsomehiredgardener's.Ifonecanemployalandscape-architect,allverywell;butthemostofuscannot,andafterall,thetruelandscape-architect,theartistgardener,worksonthisprincipleandseekstoconveyintoeverygardendistinctivelythesoulofthehouseholdforwhichitspringsandflowers.
"Sincewhenitgrowsandsmells,Iswear,Notofitselfbutthee."
FewAmericanhouseholders,however,haveanyenthusiasmforthistheory,
whichmanywouldcallhigh-strung,andasweinNorthamptoncannotundertaketocounselanddirectourneighbors'hiredhelps,weenrollinthemainbranchofourcompetitiononlythosewhogardenforthemselvesandhirenolabor.Tosuchthetwenty-oneprizes,rangingfromtwodollarsandahalfuptofifteendollars,areastrongincentive,andbysuchtheadviceofvisitingcommitteesiseagerlysoughtandfollowed.Thepubliceducativevalueofthemovementisprobablylargestundertheselimitations,forinthiswayweshowwhatbeautifulresultsmaybegotonsmallestgroundsandwiththeleastoutlay.Itsprivateeducativevalue,too,isprobablylargestthus,becausethuswedisseminateasahomedelightapracticalknowledgeofstheticprinciplesamongthosewhomayatanytimefinditexpedienttobecomewage-earninggardenersonthehomegroundsofthewell-to-do.
[Illustration:"Beautifulresultsmaybegotonsmallestgrounds."
Thisishalfofabackyard,thewholeofwhichisequallyhandsome.TheplacetowhichitbelongstookacapitalprizeintheCarnegieFlowerGardenCompetition.]
[Illustration:"Muffleyourarchitecturalanglesinfoliageandbloom."
Aninvisiblefaultofthisplantingisthatitwassettooclosetothebuildingandtendedtogiveanimpression,probablygroundless,ofpromotingdampness.Alsoitwasaninconveniencetomechanicsinpaintingorrepairing.]
Thecompetinggardensbeingkeptwhollywithouthiredlabor,ofcourseourconstantadvicetoallcontestantsistoshunformalgardening.Itisapitythatinnearlyallourcitiesandtownsthemostnotableexamplesofgardeningarefoundintheparks,boulevards,andcemeteries.Bytheseflaringdisplaysthousandsofmodestcottagerswhomighteasilyprovide,ontheirsmallscale,lovelygardensabouttheirdwellingsatvirtuallynocostandwithnoburdensomecare,getanotionthatthis,andthisonly,isartisticgardeningandhencethatahomegardenforoneselfwouldbetooexpensiveandtroublesometobethought
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of.Ontheotherhand,afewaretemptedtomimicthemonapettyscale,andsospoiltheirlittlegrass-plotsandamuse,withoutentertaining,theirnotmoretastefulbutonlylessaspiringneighbors.InNorthampton,inourCarnegieprizecontest--socalledforaverysufficientandpleasantreason--ourcounselistoavoidallmimicryingardeningaswewouldavoiditinspeechoringait.Sometimeswedonotmindbeingrepetitious."Ingardening"wesay--asifwehadneversaiditbefore--"almosttheonlythingwhichcostsunduly--inmoneyorinmortification--isforonetotrytogivehimselfsomebodyelse'sgarden!"Oftenwesaythistwicetothesameperson.
Oneofthereasonswegiveagainstitisthatitleadstotoygardening,andtoygardeningisofallsortsthemostpitifulandridiculous."Notrueart,"wesay,"cantolerateanymake-believewhichisnotinsomewayfinerthantherealityitsimulates.Inotherwords,imitationshouldalwaysbeinthenatureofanamiablecondescension.Whateverfalseness,pretensionorevenmerefrailtyorsmallness,suggeststotheeyetheineffectualityofatoyisoutofplaceinanysortofgardening."Wedonotactuallyspeakallthis,butweimplyit,andweoftenfindthatthemereutteranceoftheoneword,"toygardening,"hasamagicaleffecttosuggestalltherestandtooverwhelmwithcontritionthebadtasteandfrivolityofmanyamisguidedattemptatadornment.Atthatwordofexorcismjointsofceruleansewer-pipecrestedwithscarletgeraniums,rowsofwhitedcobblesalongthewalkor
drivelikeacannibal'sskullsaroundhishut,purplepaint-kegsofpetuniasonthescantydoor-steps,crimsonwash-kettlesofverbenas,ant-hillrockeries,andwell-sweepsandcurbswherenowellsare,stealmodestlyandforeverintooblivion.
Now,whenwesopreachwetryalsotomakeitveryplainthatthereisnotonesetofrulesforgardeningonasmallscaleofexpenseinasmallpieceofground,andanothersetforgardeningonalargerscale.Forofcoursetheverythingwhichmakesthesmallgardendifferentfromthelarge,therichman'sfromthepoorman's,theScotchorItalianpeasant'sfromtheAmericanmechanic's,orthepublicgardenfromtheprivate,istheuniversalandimmutableonenessofthegreatcanonsofart.Oneofourcompetitors,havinghonestlypurgedhersoulofevery
impulseshemayeverhavehadtomimicthegardeningofthecemeteries,plantedherdooryardwithatruenessofartwhichmadeitthejoyofallbeholders.Onlythenwasitthatapassingadmirerstoppedandcried:"Uponmesoul,Mrs.Anonyma,yirgyairdenlooksjoostloikeapooblicpairk!"Hemeant--withoutknowingit--thatthespotwaslovelyfornottryingtolooktheleastbitlikeapublicpark,andhewasright.Shehadkeptwhatitwouldbewellforthepublicgardenerstokeepmuchbetterthansomeofthemdo--theMoralLawofGardening.
*****
Thereisamorallawofgardening.Nogardenshouldevertellalie.Nogardenshouldeverputonanyfalsepretence.Nogardenshouldever
breakapromise.Tothepresentreadertheseproclamationsmayseemverytrite;itmayseemverytritetosaythatifanythinginorofagardenismeantforadornment,itmustadorn;butwehavetosaysuchthingstomanywhodonotknowwhattritemeans--whothinkitissomethingyoubuyfromthebutcher.Athingmeantforadornment,wetellthem,mustsotrulyandsufficientlyadornastobeworthalltheroomandattentionittakesup.Thoushaltnotletanythinginthygardentakeawaythyguest'sattentionwithoutrepayinghimforit;itisstealing.
Alady,notinourcompetitionbutoneofitsmostvaluedpatronesses,
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latelyproposedtoherselftoplaceinthecentreofawide,ovallawnasun-dialandtohavefourpathscrossthegrassandmeetthere.Butonreflectionthequerycametoher--
"Inmyunformalgardenofsimplestgroveandswardwillasun-dial--posinginanofficeitneverperformedthere,andwillneveragainbeneededforanywhere--acabinetrelicnow--willa_posed_sun-dialbeinterestingenoughwhenitisarrivedattojustifyaspecialjourneyandfourkept-uppathswhichcutmybeautifulgrass-plotintoquarters?"
Withthatshechangedhermind--athingthegoodgardenermustoftendo--andappointedthedialtoaplacewhereonecomesuponitquiteincidentallywhilemovingfromonemainfeatureofthegroundstoanother.Itisnowapleasing,mildsurpriseinsteadofatamefulfilmentofashowypromise;pleasing,afterall,itmust,however,beadmitted,tothetoy-lovingspirit,sincethesun-dialhaslongbeen,andhencefortheverwillbe,anutterlyuselessthinginagarden,onlytruetoartwhenitstandsinanoldgarden,agenuinehistoricalsurvivalofitsdayoftrueutility.Onlyinsuchacasedoesthesun-dialbelongtothegoodmoralsofgardening.Butmaybethisisanoverstrictruleforthemajorityofuswhoaremuchtoofondofembellishmentsanddisplay--therougeandpowderofhighart.
Ontheotherhand,wegotoquiteasmuchpainstosaythatthoughagardenmaynotlienorsteal,itmayhaveitsconcealments;theyareasrightastheyarevaluable.Oneofthefirststepsinthemakingofagardenshouldbetodeterminewhattohideandhowmostgracefullytohideit.Agardenisahouse'sgarments,itsfig-leaves,aswemaysay,andthegarden'sconcealments,likeitsrevelations,oughtalwaystobeintheinterestofcomfort,dignity,andcharm.
Weoncehadaverybumptiousmemberonourboardofjudges."Mydearmadam!"heexclaimedtoanaspirantfortheprizes,theunderpinningofwhosedwellingstoodoutunconcealedbyanysprigoffloralgrowth,"yourhouseisbarefooted!Nobodywantstoseeyourhouse'sunderpinning,anymorethanhewantstoseeyourown!"
Itisnotgoodtobesobrusqueaboutnon-penitentiaryoffences,butskilfulandlovelyconcealmentsingardeningwerehishobby.Toanotherhewhispered,"Mydearsir,tellyourprettyhouseherpetticoatshows!"andtoyetanother,"Takeallthoseshrubsoutofthemiddleofyourlawnand'plantout'withthemeveryfeatureofyourhousewhichwouldbeofnointeresttoyouifthehousewerenotyours.Yourhouse'smoralsmaybeallright,butitsmannersareinsufferable,ittalkssomuchaboutitselfanditsfamily."Toafourthhesaid:"Inagardeningsenseyourhousemakestoomuchnoise;youcanhearitsrightangleshittheground.Mufflethem!Muffleyourarchitecturalanglesinfoliageandbloom.Upintheairtheymaybeeversocorrectandfine,butdowninthegardenandunclothedtheyareheinous,heinous!"
Anotherpreceptwetrytoinculcateinourroundsamongthegardens,anothercommandmentinthemorallawofgardening,isthatwithallagarden'sworthyconcealmentsitshouldnever,andneednever,befrivolousorbelackingincandor.Iknowanamateurgardener--andtheamateurgardener,liketheamateurphotographer,sometimesrankshigherthantheprofessional--whoisatthismomentalteringthelocationofasidewalkgatewhichbyanearlierownerwasarchitecturallymisplacedforthesolepurposeofmakingapathwithcurves--andsuchcurves!--insteadofastraightandhonestone,fromthestreettothe
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kitchen.Whenapathissentonaplainbusinesserranditshouldneverloaf.Andyetthoselinesofagarden'slayoutwhicharedesignednotforbusinessbutforpleasure,shouldneverbehaveasthoughtheywereonbusiness;theyshouldloiterjustenoughtomaketheirguestsfeelatease,whilenotenoughtowastetime.Howlikeaperfectlady,oraperfectgentleman,is--howeverhumbleorexalteditsrank--agardenwithcourtlymanners!
Astomanners,ourincipientAmericangardenhasalreadydevelopedonetraitwhichdistinguishesitfromthosebeyondtheAtlantic.ItisahabitwhichremindsoneofwhatsomebodyhaslatelysaidaboutAmericansthemselves:that,whoevertheyareandwhatevertheirmannersmaybe,theyhavethistotheircredit,thattheyunfailinglydesireandproposetobepolite.ThethingwearehintingatisourAmericangardens'excessiveopenness.Ourpeoplehave,oruntiljustnowhad,almostabolishedthefenceandthehedge.Agard,yard,garth,garden,usedtomeananenclosure,aclose,andimpliedaprivacytoitsownersuperiortoanyheenjoyedoutsideofit.Butnowthatwenolongerhaveanymilitaryneedofprivacywearetempted--arewenot?--tooverlookitsspiritualvalue.Weseemtoenjoypublicitybetter.InourAmericaneagernesstopublisheverythingforeverybodyandtoeverybody,wehavepublishedourgardens--publishedtheminpaperbindings;thatistosay,withtheirboundariesvisibleonlyonmapsfiledwiththeRegistrarofDeeds.
Foreignerswhotravelamonguscomplainthatwesooverdoourgood-naturedenduranceofeverypublicinconveniencethatwehavemadeitanationalmisfortuneandarelosingoursenseofourpublicrights.Thisobliterationofprivateboundariesisaninstance.Ourpublicspiritandoutimperturbabilityareflatteredbyit,butourgardens,exceptamongtherich,havebecomeAmericanbyceasingtobegardens.
Ihaveaneighborwhoeveryyearplantsagardenofannuals.Hehasnofence,buttwoofhisneighborshaveeachasetterdog.Thesedogsarerarelyconfined.OnemorningIsawhimputintheseedofhislovelyannualsandleavehissmoothlyrakedbedsalreadyapleasantshowandaprophecyofdelightwhileyetwithoutasprayofgreen.AnhourlaterI
sawthosetwosetterdogswrestlingandsprawlingaroundinjoyouscirclesalloverthosegardenbeds."Gay,guiltlesspair!"Whatisonetodoinsuchacase,inalandwhereeverybodyisexpectedtotakeeverythinggood-naturedly,andwhereafenceissignofasourtemper?Ofcoursehecandoasothersdo,andhavenogarden.Buttohavenogardenisadistinctpovertyinahouseholder'slife,whetherheknowsitornot,and--supposeheverymuchwantsagarden?
Theywerethewell-to-dowhobeganthisabolitionmovementagainstenclosuresandIhaveanideaitneverwouldhavehadabeginninghadthereprevailedgenerally,democratically,amongusasentimentforrealgardening,andaknowledgeofitspracticalprinciples;forwiththissentimentandknowledgeweshouldhavehadthatsweetexperienceof
outdoorprivacyforlackofwhichweloseoneofthenoblestcharmsofhome.Thewell-to-dostartedthefashion,itcostlessmoneytofollowthantowithstanditandpresentlythelandlordsofthepoorutilizedit.
Thepoorman--thepoorwoman--needstheprotectionofafencetoadegreeofwhichthewell-to-doknownothing.Inthecommoninterestofthewholecommunity,ofanycommunity,thepoorman--thepoorwoman--oughttohaveagarden;butiftheyaregoingtohaveagardentheyoughttohaveafence.WeinNorthamptonknowscoresofpoorhomes
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whosetenantsstriveyearafteryeartoestablishsomefloralbeautyaboutthem,andfailforwantofenclosures.Theneighbors'children,theirdogs,theircats,geese,ducks,hens--itisuseless.Manyrefusetomaketheeffort;some,Isay,makeitandgiveitup,andnowandthensomeonewinsasurprisinganddelightfulsuccess.Twoorthreesuchhavetakenhighprizesinourcompetition.Thetwochiefthingswhichmadetheirtriumphpossiblewere,first,aninvinciblepassionforgardening,and,second,poultry-netting.
Agreatnewboontothehomegardenertheyare,thesewirefencingsandnettings.Withthemeversomanythingsmaybedonenowataquarterortenthofwhattheywouldoncehavecost.Ourold-fashionedfencesweresometimesveryexpensive,sometimesveryperishable,sometimesboth.Alsotheywereapttobeveryugly.Yetinsteadofconcealingthemwemadethemadisplay,whiletheshrubberywhichshouldhavemaskedtheminleafandbloomstoodscatteredoverthelawn,eachlittlenewbushbyitself,visiblyifnotaudiblysaying--
"You'dscarceexpectoneofmyage----"
etc.;theshrubsorphaned,thelawndestroyed.
Iftheenclosurewasahedgeithadtobeatightoneorelseitdidnotenclose.Nowwirenettingcharmsawaytheseembarrassments.Yourhedge
canbeaslooseasyoucaretohaveit,whileyourenclosuremayberigidlyeffectiveyetbehiddenfromtheeyebyundulatingfence-rows;andaswenowhavedefiniteboundsandcornerstoplantout,wedonotsooftenasformerlyneedtoberemindedofFrederickLawOlmsted'sfavoritemaxim,"Takecareofthecorners,andthecentreswilltakecareofthemselves."
[Illustration:Fencesmaskedbyshrubbery.
OnestraightlineofWillistonSeminarycampus,theeffectofwhoseironfencebeforeitwasplantedoutwithbarberrymaybeseeninthetwopanelsofitstillbareontheextremeright.]
Herethereisawordtobeaddedintheinterestofhome-lovers,whosetastesweproperlyexpecttofindmorehighlytrainedthanthoseoftheaveragetenantcottager.OurAmericanloveofspaciousnessleadsustofancythat--notto-dayorto-morrow,butsomewhereinanearfuture--wearegoingtouniteourunfencedlawnsinaconcertedparktreatment:asortofweehorticulturalUnitedStatescomprisedwithinafewcitysquares;buteverourAmericanindividualismstandsbroadlyintheway,andourgardensalmostneverrelatethemselvestooneanotherwiththatintimacywhichtheirabsenceofboundariesdemandsinordertotakeonanyspecialbeauty,nobility,delightsomeness,ofgardening.Thetruegardener--who,ifheisreadingthis,mustbegettingverytiredofourinsistenttriteness--carefullykeepsinmindthelawsoflinearandofarialperspective,nomatterhowlargeorsmallthegarden.The
relativestatureofthings,bothactualandprospective;theirbreadth;thebreadthorslenderness,darknessorlightness,opennessordensity,oftheirfoliage;thesplendorordelicacyoftheirflowers,whetherinsizeorincolor;theseasonoftheirblooming;thecontourofthegrounds--allthesepointsmustbetakenintoaccountindeterminingwherethingsaretostandandhowbegrouped.Oncethefenceorhedgewastheframeofthepicture;butnowourpictures,onalmostanystreetofunpalatial,comfortablehomes,touchedgetoedgewithoutframes,andthereasontheydonotmaroneanother'seffectsisthattheyhavenoparticulareffectstobemarred,butliesidebysideasundiscordantly
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assomanystringinstrumentswithoutstrings.Letushopeforatimewhentheywillriseininsurrection,resolvedtobeeitherpartsofaprivatepark,oreachoneawholeprivategarden.
InourCarnegieprizecontestnothingyieldsitsjudgesmorepleasurethantoinculcatethegardenrulesofperspectivetowhichwehavejustreferredandtoseetheblissfulcomplacencyofthosewhosuccessfullycarrythemout.Ihavenowinmymind'seyeagardentowhichwasawardedthecapitalprizeof1903.Acottageofmaybesixsmallroomscrownsahighbankonacornerwheretworuralstreetscross.Thereareafewsquareyardsoflawnonitsfront,andstillfewer(scarcelyeightorten)onthesidenextthecross-street,butontheothertwosidesthereisnearlyaquarterofanacre.Onthesetwosidesthelimitstouchothergardens,andallfoursidesareentirelywithoutfencing.Fromthefrontswardhavebeentakenawayanumberofgoodshrubswhichoncebrokeitintoineffectualbits,andthesehavebeengroupedagainsttheinwardandoutwardanglesofthehouse.Thefrontporchisgarlanded--notsmothered--withvineswhoseflowersareallwhite,pink,blueorlightpurple.Aboutthebaseoftheporchandofallthehouse'sfront,bloomflowersofthesesamedelicatetints,thetallestnearestthehouse,thelesserattheirkneesandfeet.Theedgesofthebeds--gentlewavesthatneverdegeneratetostraightness--arethicklyborderedwithmignonette.Notanaudaciousthing,notaredblossomnorastrongyellowone,noronebroadleaf,noranymassofdenseordark
foliage,comesintoviewuntilonereachesasideofthedwelling.Butthereatoncehefindsthesecondphaseinacrescendooffloralcolors.Thebaseofthehouse,andespeciallythoseemptyeye-sockets,thecellarwindows,areveiledinexultantbloom,yellowspredominating.Thenatthebackoftheplacecomesthefullchorus,andredflowersovermastertheyellow,thoughthedelicatetintswithwhichtheschemebeganarestillpresenttopreservethedignityandsuavityofall--theladiesofthefeast.Thepathsareonlyoneortwoandtheyneverturnabruptlyandaskyoutokeepofftheircorners;theyhavenone.Neitherhavetheflower-beds.Theyflowwideninglyaroundthehardturningsofthehousewiththegraceofarivulet.Outonthetwowidersidesofthelawnnothingbreaksthesmoothgreenbutawell-situatedtreeortwountilthelimitsofthepremisesarereached,andthere,inlinesthat
widenandnarrowandwidenagainandhidethesurveyor'sangles,theflowersriseoncemoreinafinalburstofinnumerableblossomsandsplendidhues--akindofsunsetofthegarden'sown.
Whenthisplace,fiveseasonsago,firstenteredthecompetition,itcouldhardlybecalledagardenatall.Yetitwasalreadysuperiortomanyrivals.Inthosedaysitseemedtousasthoughscarcelyoneofourworkingpeopleinahundredknewthatagardenwasanythingmorethanabedofflowerssetdownanywhereandanyhow.Itwasacommonexperienceforustobeledbyanunkeptpathandthroughapatchofweedsoracrossanungrasseddooryardfullofrubbish,inordertoreachaso-calledgardenwhichhadneverspokenacivilwordtothehousenorgotonefromit.Now,theunderstandingisthateverypartofthe
premises,everyoutdoorthingonthepremises--path,fence,truck-patch,stable,stable-yard,hen-yard,tennisorcroquet-court--everythingiseitherapartofthegardenorissoreasonablyrelatedtoitthatfromwhateverpointoneviewstheplacehebeholdsasinglesatisfactorypicture.
This,Isay,istheunderstanding.Idonotsaythatevenamongourprize-winnersanybodyhasyetperfectlyattainedthis,althoughafewhavecomeverynearit.Withthesethemainsurvivingdrawbackisthattheartisticeffectiseachseasonsolongcomingandpassesawayso
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soon--comethupasaflowerandpresentlyhaswithered.
Oneofourmostgiftedliterarycriticsawhileagopointedoutthepoeticcharmofevanescence;pointeditoutmoreplainly,Ifancy,thanithaseverbeenshownbefore.Butevanescencehasthispoeticcharmchieflyinnature,almostneverinart.Thetransitorinessofasunsetglory,orofhumanlife,isrifewithpoeticpathosbecauseitisatransitorinesswhich_cannotbehelped_.Thereinlaythecharmofthatpoeticwonderandmarvelofitsday(1893)theColumbianExposition's"WhiteCity";itwasanarchitecturaltriumphandglorywhichwecouldnothaveexceptonconditionthatitshouldvanishwiththeswiftnessofanaurora.Evenso,therewouldhavebeenlittlepoetryinitsevanescenceif,throughbadworkmanshiporanyobviousfolly,ithadfailedtofulfilthetransientpurposeforwhichitwaserected.Theonlypoeticevanescenceistheevanescencethatisinevitable.Anunnecessaryevanescenceinthingswemakeisbadart.IfIrememberthestorycorrectly,itwastoaRomanladythatBenvenutoCellinitooktheexquisitewaxenmodelofsomepieceofgoldsmithingshehadcommissionedhimtoexecuteforher.Sodelightedwasshewiththismeremodelthatshelongedtokeepitandcalledittheperfectionofart,orsomesuchword.ButBenvenutosaid,No,hecouldnotclaimforitthehighnameofartuntilheshouldhavereproduceditingold,thatbeingthemostworthymaterialinwhichitwouldenduretheuseforwhichitwasdesigned.
UnlessthegreatItalianwasinerror,then,agardenoughtnottobesolargelymadeupofplantswhichperishwiththesummerastobe,attheirdeath,nolongeragarden.Saidthatharsh-spokenjudgewhomwehavealreadyonceortwicequoted--thatshepherd's-dogofajudge--atoneoftheannualbestowalsofourCarnegiegardenprizes:
"Almostanyplantingaboutthebaseofabuilding,fenceorwallisbetterthannone;butforthispurposeshrubsarefarbetterthanannualflowers.Annualsdonotsufficientlymaskthehard,offensiveright-anglesofthestructure'scornersorofthelinewhenceitstartsupfromtheground.Andevenifsometimestheydo,theytakesolongtogrowenoughtodoit,andaresosoongonewiththefirstcoldblast,
thatthethingstheyaretohideareforthemostoftheyearnothidden.Besideswhich,evenattheirbestmoments,whenundoubtedlytheyareverybeautiful,theyhavenotasufficientlysubstantiallooktobegoodcompanyforthesolidstructuretheyaresetagainst.Sweetly,modestly,yetobstinately,theyconfesstoeverypasser-bythattheydidnotcome,butwereputthereandwereputthereonlylastspring.Shrubs,contrariwise,giveafeelingthattheyhavesprungandgrownthereinthecourseofnatureandoftheyears,andsoconveytothehousewhatsomanyAmericanhomesstandinwantof--aquietairofbeinglongmarriedandamotherofgrowingchildren.
"Floweringshrubsofwell-chosenkindsareinleaftwo-thirdsoftheyear,andtheirleaflessbranchesandtwigsareapleasingrelieftothe
structure'scoldnakednesseventhroughthewinter.Ihaveseenahouse,whosemistresswastooexclusivelyfondofannuals,standwaitingforitsshoesandstockingsfromOctoberclearroundtoAugust,andthenbarefootedagaininOctober.Insuchgardeningthereistoomuchoflove'slaborlost.Ifone'sgroundsaresosmallthatthereisnobetterplacefortheannualstheycanbeplantedagainsttheshrubs,astheshrubsareplantedagainstthebuildingorfence.Atanyratetheyshouldneverbebeddedoutinthemidstofthelawn,andquiteasemphaticallytheyshouldnever,alone,besettomarktheboundarylinesofaproperty."
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[Illustration:Afterthefirstfrostannualplantingsceasetobeattractive.]
[Illustration:Shrubberyversusannuals.
Thecontrastinthesetwopicturesisbetweentwosmallstreetplantingsstandinginsightofeachother,oneofannualswithadecorativeeffectandlastingthreemonths,theotherwithshrubberiesandlastingninemonths.]
Itishopedthesesayings,quotedorotherwise,mayseemthemoreinplaceherebecausetheycontemplatetheaspectslikelytocharacterizetheAmericangardenwheneverthatgardenfullyarrives.Welikelargeness.Therearemanyotherqualitiestodesire,andtodesireevenmore;butifwegivethemalsothelikingwetrulyowethemitisrightforustolikelargeness.Certainlyitisbettertolikelargenessevenforitself,ratherthansmallnessforitself.Especiallyisitrightthatweshouldlikeourgardenstolookaslargeaswecanmakethemappear.Ourcountlesslawns,nakedclearupintotheirrigidcornersandtotheirdividinglines,arenakedinrevoltagainsttheearlierfashionofspottingthemoverwithshrubs,theeasiestaswellastheworstwayofmakingaplacelooksmall.Butanakedlawndoesnotmakethepremiseslookaslarge,nordoesitlookaslargeitself,asitwill
ifplantedinthemannerweventuretocommendtoourNorthamptonprize-seekers.Betweenanytwopointsalineofshrubberyswinginginandoutinstrong,gracefulundulationsappearsmuchlongerthanastraightone,becauseitislonger.But,overandabovethis,itmakesthedistancebetweenthetwopointsseemgreater.Everybodyknowstheoldboastofthelandscape-architects--thattheycanmakeonepieceofgroundlooktwiceaslargeasanotherofthesamemeasure,howeversmall,bymerelygradingandplantingthetwooncontraryschemes.Thepresentwriterknowsonesmallstreetinhistown,astreetoffairdwellings,onwhicheverylawnisdiminishedtotheeyebyfaultygrading.
[Illustration:Shrubsarebetterthanannualsformaskingrightangles.
SouthHall,WillistonSeminary.(See"WheretoPlantWhat.")]
[Illustration:"...alineofshrubberyswinginginandoutinstrong,gracefulundulations."
Thestraightplantingonthispicture'sleftmasksthebackyardsofthreeneighbors,andgivesthemaprivacyaswellasMyOwnAcre.Thecurvedplantingshowsbutoneofthreebends.ItwasherethatIfirstmadethemistakeofplantingasinuousalley.(See"MyOwnAcre,"p.34.)]
Forthishehasnooccasiontomakehimselfresponsiblebuttherearecertainemptylotsnotfarfromhimforwhoseaspectheis
answerable,havinggradedthemhimself(beforeheknewhow).Hehasrepeatedlyheardtheirdepthestimatedatninetyfeet,neveratmore.Infactitisonehundredandthirty-nine.However,hehassomewhattodoalsowithagardenwhosegradingwasquiteasbad--identical,indeed--whosefaulthasbeencoveredupanditsdepthmadetoseemactuallygreaterthanitis,entirelybyacorrectiveplantingofitsshrubbery.
Oneofthehappiestthingsaboutgardeningisthatwhenitisbadyoucanalways--youandtime--youandyearafternext--makeitgood.Itis
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veryeasytothinkoftheplants,bedsandpathsofagardenasthingswhich,beingonceplaced,muststaywheretheyare;butitisshortsightedanditisfataltoeffectivegardening.Weshouldlookuponthearrangementofthingsinourgardenverymuchasahousekeeperlooksonthearrangementofthefurnitureinherhouse.Exceptbuildings,pavementsandgreattrees--andnotalwaysexceptingthetrees--weshouldregardnothinginitaspermanentarchitecturebutonlyasfurnishmentanddecoration.Atfavorablemomentsyouwillmakewhateverrearrangementmayseemtoyougood.Ashrub'smerebeinginacertainplaceisnofinalreasonthatitshouldstaythere;ashruboradozenshrubs--nextspringorfallyoumaytransplantthem.Ashrub,orevenatree,maybelongwhereitisthisseason,andthenextandthenext;andyetinthefourthyear,becauseofitsexcessivegrowth,ofthemoredesiredgrowthofsomethingelse,orofsomerearrangementofotherthings,thatspotmaybenolongerthebestplaceforit.
Veryfewshrubsareinjuredbycarefulandseasonable,eventhoughrepeated,transplanting.Manyarebenefitedbyoneoranothereffectoftheprocess:bytherootpruningtheyget,bythe"division,"bythechangeofsoil,bychangeofexposureorevenbybacksetingrowth.Transplantingispartofagarden'sgooddiscipline.Itisalmostasnecessarytothebestresultsaspruning--onwhichgravesubjectthereisnoroomtospeakhere.TheownerevenofanAmericangardenshouldrulehisgarden,notberuledbyit.Yetheshouldrulewithout
oppression,anditwillnotbetrulyAmericanifitfailstoshowataglancethatitisnotovergardened.
Thusdoweproposetoexhortournextseason'scompetitorsasthisfallandwintertheygatheratourprojectedindoorgarden-talks,oraswegoamongthemtooffercounselconcerningtheirgroundsplansfornextspring.Andwehopenottoomittosay,aswehadalmostomittedtosayhere,inbehalfofthekindofgardenwepreach,thatshrubs,themostofthem,requirenogreatenrichmentofthesoil--animportantconsideration.Andweshalltakemuchcaretorecommendtheperusalofbooksongardening.Oncethisgentleartwaslargelykeptaclosesecretofcraftsmen;butnowallthatcanbeputintobooksisinbooks,andthebooksarenon-technical,briefandinexpensive;orifvoluminousand
costly,assomeofthebestneedsmustbe,areinthepubliclibraries.Intheirpagesareahostoffacts(indexed!)whichoncehadtobeburdensomelyremembered.Foronepreoccupiedwithothercares--aseveryamateurgardeneroughttobe--thesebooksarenomeanpartofhisequipment;theyareasnecessarytohisbestgardeningasthedictionarytohisbestEnglish.
Whatadaily,hourly,unfailingwonderarethemodernopportunitiesandfacilitiesbywhichwearesurrounded!Ifthepresentreaderandthepresentwriter,andmaybeafewothers,willbutrespondtothemworthily,whoknowsbutwemayourselveslivetosee,andtoseeasdemocraticallycommonastelephonesandelectriccars,theAmericangarden?Ofcoursethereiseverandeversomuchmoretobesaidabout
it,andthepresentwriterisnotatallweary;buthehearshisreader'sclocktellingthehourandfeelsverysureitiscorrect.
WHERETOPLANTWHAT
Oftenone'shandsaretooheavilyveneeredwithgardenloamforhimto
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gotohisbookstoverifyaquotation.ItwasthegreatJefferson,wasitnot,wholaidintothefoundationsofAmericandemocracytheimperishablemaximthat"Thatgardeningisbestwhichgardenstheleast"?Myrenditionofitmaybemoreaparodythanaquotationbut,whateveritsinaccuracy,tomeitstillsoundsJeffersonian--JosephJeffersonian.
Whetherwereadit"garden"or"govern,"ithasthisfinemarkofamasterfulutterance,thatitmakesnoperceptibleefforttoprotectitselfagainstthecavillerorthesimpleton;frommen,forinstance,whowouldinterpretitasmeaningthattheonlyperfectgovernment,orgardening,isnoneatall.Speakingfromthepointofviewofagarden-lover,Isupposethetruesignificationisthatthebestgovernmentisthegovernmentwhichprocuresandpreservesthenoblesthappinessofthecommunitywiththeleastenthralmentoftheindividual.
Now,Ihopethatasworld-citizensandevenasAmericanswemaybearinmindthat,whilethismaximmaybewhollytrue,itisnotthereforethewholetruth.Whatmaximis?Letuseverkeepasweet,self-respectingmodestywithwhichtoconfrontandconsortwiththosewhoseethescienceofgovernment,orartofgardening,fromthestandpointofsomeotherequallytruefractionofthewholetruth.AllweneedheremaintainforourJeffersonianmaximisthatitswidedominationinAmericansentimentexplainsthelargerpartofallthemeritsandfaults
ofAmericangovernment--andAmericangardening.ItaccountsfornearlyallourAmericanlawsandordinances,manners,customs,andwhims,andinthegreatdiscussionofWheretoPlantWhat(inAmerica)nooneneedhopetoprevailwhodoesnotrecognizethatthishighprincipleofAmericandemocracyisthebestruleforAmericangardening.Thatgardeningisbest,formostAmericans,whichbestministerstoman'sfelicitywithleastdisturbanceofnature'sfreedom.
Hencetheinitialquestion--aquestionwhicheveryamateurgardenermustanswerforhimself.Howmuchsubserviencyofnaturetoartandutilityisreallynecessarytomyownandmyfriends'andneighbors'bestdelight?For--benotdeceived--howeverenrapturedofwildnatureyoumaybe,youdoandmustrequireofher_some_subserviencycloseaboutyour
owndwelling.Youcannottherepersistentlyenjoythewolfandthepanther,themuskrat,buzzard,gopher,rattlesnake,poison-ivyandskunkinfullswing,asitwere.Howmuch,then,ofnature'ssubserviencydoestherangeofyourtastesdemand?Also,howmuchwillyourpurseallow?Foritisastrueingardeningasinstatecraftthat,yourgovernmentbeingoncegenuinelyestablished,themoreofityouhave,themoreyoumustpayforit.Ingardening,asingovernment,thecostoftheschemeisnotinproportiontothegoodnessorbadnessofitsart,buttoitsintensity.
ThisiswhythegeneralandverysaneinclinationofourAmericanpreferencesisawayfromthatintensesortofgardeningcalled"formal,"andtowardthatratherunfairlytermed"informal"methodwhichhere,at
least,Ishouldliketodistinguishas"free-line"gardening.Afreepeoplewhogovernlenientlywillgardenleniently.Theirgardeningwillnotbeavexingtaxuponthemselves,uponothers,oruponthegarden.Whateverfreedomittakesawayfromthemselvesorothersorthegardenwillbenomorethanisrequiredforthenoblestdelight;andwhateverfreedomremainsuntaken,suchgardeningwillhelpeverybodytoexerciseandenjoy.
Thegardenoffreelines,providedonlyitbearealgardenunderarealgovernment,is,tomyeye,anangel'sprotestagainsteveryspeciesand
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degreeoftyrannyandoppression,andsuchagarden,howeversmallorextensive,willcontainalargeproportionoffloweringshrubbery.Becauseagardenshouldnot,anymorethanmylady'sface,haveallitsfeatures--nose,eyes,ears,lips--ofonesize?No,thatistrueofallgardeningalike;butbecausewithfloweringshrubberyourgardeningcanbemorelenientthanwithannualsalone,orwithonlyherbaceousplantsandevergreens.
[Illustration:"Howeverenrapturedofwildnatureyoumaybe,youdoandmustrequireofher_some_subserviencyaboutyourowndwelling."
AfrontviewofthethreeolderbuildingsofWillistonSeminary.]
So,then,ourproblem,WheretoPlantWhat,maybecomeforamoment,WheretoPlantShrubbery;andtheresponseofthefree-linegardenwillbe,ofcourse,"Remember,concerningeachseparateshrub,thatheorshe--orit,ifyoureally_prefer_theneuter--isyourguest,andplanthimorheroritwhereitwillbestenjoyitself,whilepromotingthewholecompany'sjoy."Beforeithasarrivedinthegarden,therefore,learn--andcarefullyconsider--itslikesanddislikes,habits,mannersandaccomplishmentsanditsfriendlyorpossiblyunfriendlyrelationswithyourotherguests.Thisdone,determinebetweenwhomandwhomyouwillseatit;betweenwhatandwhatyouwillplantit,thatis,soasto"drawitout,"aswesayofdiffidentorreticentpersons;ortouseit
fordrawingoutothersoflesssocialaddress.Buthowmanyalovelyshrubhasarrivedwhereitwasurgentlyinvited,andfoundthatitshostorhostess,orboth,hadactuallyforgottenitsname!Didnotknowhowtointroduceittoanyfellowguest,orwhetheritlovedsunorshade,loam,peat,clay,leaf-mouldorsand,wetnessordryness;andyetshouldhavefoundallthatoutintheproperblue-book(horticulturaldictionary)beforeinvitingthepoormortifiedguestatall.
"Oh,praybeseated--anywhere.Plantyourselfaloneinthemiddle.ThisisLibertyGarden."
"Itisnosuchthing,"saysthetear-bedewedbeautytoherself;"it'sAnarchyGarden."Yet,liketheladysheis,shestayswheresheisput,
andgetsalongsurprisinglywell.
NewEnglandcallsNorthamptononeofhermostbeautifultowns.Butitsbeautyliesinthenaturallandscapeinandaroundit,intherise,fall,andswingoftheseatonwhichitsits,thegracefulcurvingofitsstreets,thenoblespreadofitsgreatelmsandmaples,thegreenandblueopennessofgroundseverywhereaboutitsmodesthomesanditshighlypicturesqueoutlookupondistanthillsandmountainsandinterveningmeadowsandfields,withtheConnecticutwindingthrough.Itsarchitectureisinthreeorfourinstancesadmirablethoughnotextraordinary,and,asinalmosteverytowninourvastAmerica,therearehardlyfivehouseholdersinitwhoarereallyskilledflower-gardeners,eitherprofessionaloramateur.
[Illustration:"Plantitwhereitwillbestenjoyitself."
Thesewildrosesareintwoclumpswithasix-footopenwaybetweenthem.Theyareawildrose(_RosaArkansana_)notmuchinusebutworthyofmoreattention,asindeedallthewildrosesare.ThesunlittreefarthestontherightisSolSmithRussell'slinden.]
Asthepresentcenturywascomingin,however,theopportunity,throughprivateflower-gardening,todoubleorquadruplethetown'sbeautyand
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todoitwithoutgreattroubleorexpense,yetwithgreatindividualdelightandsocialpleasure,cametothelivelynoticeofanumberofus.Itis,then,forthepromotionofthisobjectthroughoutallourbounds,andnotfortheperfectionoftheartforitsownsake,thatwemaintainthiscompetitionandawardthese"Carnegie"prizes.Hencecertainfeaturesofourmethodthevalueandnecessityofwhichmightnotbecleartothecasualinquirerwithoutthisexplanation.
MayIrepeatit?Nottorewardtwoorthreepersonsyearlyforreachingsomedizzypeakofartunattainablebyordinarytasteandskill,nortorewardonepartofthetownoroneelementofitspeopleforgardeningbetterthananother,nortopromotetheproductionofindividualplantsorflowersofextraordinarysplendor,noreventoincitechildrentoraisepatchesofflowers,isourdesign;buttomakethemodestanddemocraticartofWheretoPlantWhat(anart,nevertheless,quitebeyondthegraspofchildren)sowellknownandsovaluedthatitspracticaladoptionshalloverrunthewholetown.
Tothisendwehavedividedourfieldintosevendistricts,ineachofwhichthenumberofgardensisaboutthesame.Ineachofthesesevendistrictsonlythreeprizes(outoftwenty-one)maybetakeninanyoneseason.Consequentlythreeprizes_must_falltoeachdistricteveryyear.Yetthebestgardenofallstillcarriesoffthecapitalprize,thesecond-bestmaywinthesecond,andcannottakealowerthanthe
third,andthelowestawardsgointothedistrictshowingthepoorestresults.Eventhisplanissomodifiedasfurthertostimulatethosewhostriveagainstoddsoflocationorconditions,fornodistrictisallowedtoreceivetwoprizesconsecutiveinthelist.Thesecondprizecannotbebestowedinthesamedistrictinwhichthefirstisbeingawarded,thoughthethirdcan.Thethirdcannotgointothesamedistrictasthesecond,thoughthefourthmay.Andsoontothetwenty-first.Moreover,agardenshowingmuchimprovementoverthepreviousseasonmaytakeaprize,asagainstabettergardenwhichshowsnosuchimprovement.Alsonogardencantakethecapitalprizetwicenorevertakeaprizenothigherthanithastakenbefore.Thetwenty-oneprizesareforthosewhohirenohelpintheirgardening;twoothersareforthosewhoreservethelibertytoemployhelp,andstillanothertwo
areexclusivelyforpreviouswinnersofthecapitalprize,competingamongthemselves.Ineachofthefivedistrictsacommitteeofladiesvisitsthecompetinggardens,inspecting,advising,encouraging,sometimeslearningmorethantheyteach,andreportingtoheadquarters,thePeople'sInstitute.Attheseheadquarters,ontwoacresofgroundintheheartofthecity,wehavebroughtgraduallyintoshape,onaplanfurnishedbyFrederickLawOlmsted'sSons,LandscapeArchitects,ofBoston(Brookline),aremarkablyhandsomegardenofflowersandshrubberydesignedasamodelfortheguidanceofthoseinthecompetitionwhoseektocombineartisticbeautywithinexpensiveness.Fromtimetotimewehavegivenattheseheadquarterswintercoursesoflecturesonpracticalflower-gardening.
Asaresultwehaveimproved,andarestillimproving,theaspectofentirestreetsandareinterestingthewholecity.
Buttoreturntoourdiscussion.Hereisashortstoryoftwoladies.Theyarenotinourcompetition,thoughamongitsmostardentwell-wishers.Afriendhadgivenoneofthemabitofgreen,woodygrowthsometwofeethighandhalfaninchthick.Shehadaweesquarebitoffrontgrass-plotsomethinglargerthanatable-cloth,butcertainlynotlargeenoughforagameofmarbles.Inthecentreofthisbitofgrasssheplantedherfriend'sgift.Thencameourotherlady,
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makingacall,andwithherbestsmileofhumorouscommendation,saying:
"Mydear,youhaveviolatedthefirstruleofgardening.You'veplantedyourbushwhereyouwantedit."
Thedelightedgardenerwentinthestrengthofthatwitticismforfortyweeksoratleastuntilsomefiendofcandor,abrother,likeasnot,said:
"Yes,trulyyouhaveviolatedthefirstruleofgardening,foryouhaveputyourwillow-tree--that'swhatitis--whereaminute'srealreflectionwouldhavetoldyouyou'dwishyouhadn't."
WheretoPlantWhat!Plantitwhereyou--andyourfriends--yourfriendsofbestgardeningtaste--willbegladyouplanteditwhenallyourthingsareplanted.Pleasethosewhoknowbest,andsobestpleaseyourself.Nevertheless,beware!Watchyourself!Dosospeciallywhenyouthinkyouhavemasteredthewholeart.Watcheventhosewhoindisputablyknowbetterthanyoudo,foreverybodymakesmistakeswhichheneverwouldhavedreamedhecouldmake.OnlytheotherdayIheardanamateursaytoadistinguishedprofessionalgardener:
"Didyouplantthoseshrubsofgorgeousflowerandbroad,darkleafoutonyourstreetfrontpurelyasamatterofartistictaste?"
"Idid,"hereplied."Iwantedtoputmybestfootforemost.Wouldn'tyou?"
"WhyshouldI?"askedtheamateur."Iwouldn'tbeginasongwithmyhighestnote,noragamewithmystrongestcard,noranaddresswithmymostimpassioneddeclaration,norasonnetwithitsmostpregnantline.IfIshould,whereweremyclimax?"
Certainlytheamateurhadthebestofit.Agardenisadiscourse.Agardenisaplay.Seewithwhatcareboththedramatistandthestage-manageravoidputtingthebestfootforemost.Seehowwarilytheyholdbackthesupremestrengthofthefourorfiveactpieceforthe
lastactbutone.Thereisacharminglyinstructiveanalogybetweenagardenandadrama.Ineachyouhavepreparation,progress,climax,andclose.Andthen,also,ineachyoumusthaveyourlesserclimaxesleadingmasterfullyuptothesupremeone,andafinalquietonetoletgratefullydownfromthegiddyheight.
InNorthamptonnearlyallofourhundredsofgardenscontestingforprizesareplaysofonlyoneortwoacts.Imeantheyhaveonlyoneortwobuildingstogardenuptoandbetweenandaroundandawayfrom.Yetitisamongtheseone-actplays,theseone-housegardens,thatIfindthearttruthmostgracefullyemphasized,thatthebestfootshouldnotgoforemost.Inalargegardenafalsestartmaybeatonedforbybetterartfartheronandin;butinasmallgarden,formerewantofroomand
thechancetoforget,abadstartspoilsall.No,bethegardenaprince'soracottager's,theclimaxestobegotbysuperiorityofstature,bydarknessandbreadthoffoliageandbysplendorofbloombelongatitsfarend.Evenintheone-housegardenIshouldliketoseetheclimaxespluraltotheextentoftwo;oneimmediatelyatthebackofthehouse,theotherattheextremerearoftheground.AtthefarendofthelotIwouldhavethefinalstormofpassionandriotofdisclosure,andthencloseabouttherearofthehousethereshouldbethethingsofsupremerichness,exquisitenessandrarity.
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Thissoft-voicedechoansweringbackoutoftheinmostheartofthewholedemesnegivesgenuinenessofsentimenttotheentirescheme.Toplantaconflagrationofcoloragainstthebackfenceandstoptherewouldbeworsethanmelodramatic.Itwouldbetoclosetheplaywithabang,andevenaworthyone-actplaydoesnotclosewithabang.Thebackofthelotisnottheabsoluteendofthegarden-play.Likethestage-play,thegarden-playbringsitsbeholderbackattheverylast,byasweetreversion,tothepointfromwhichitstarted.Thetruegarden-lovergardensnotmainlyforthepasser-by,butratherforhimselfandthefriendswhocometoseehim.Evenwhenhetreadshisgardenpathsaloneheisapleasedandwelcomevisitortohimself,andshowshisgardentohimselfastoavisitor.Hencethereisalwaysatlastaturningbacktothehouseortothefrontentrance,and_this_istheplay'sfinallines,thelastgroupingoftheplayers,thereliefofalltensionandthedescentofthecurtain.
[Illustration:"...climaxestobegotbysuperiorityofstature,bydarknessandbreadthoffoliageandbysplendorofbloombelongatitsfarend."
Everythinginthisphotographwasplantedbytheamateurgardenerexceptthepine-treesinperspective.]
Onepointfartherinthisdirectionandwemaygiveourhard-worked
analogyarespite.Itisthis:asthosewhomakeandpresentaplaytakegreatpainsthat,byflashesofrevelationtoeyeandtoear,thesecretsmostunguessedbythecharactersinthepieceshallbeearlyrevealedtotheaudienceandpersistentlypresseduponitsattention,soshouldtheplantingofagardenbe;that,asifquitewithoutthegardener'sorthegarden'sknowledge,always,totheeye,nostrilorear,somecleardisclosureofcharmstillremotemaybeckonandlureacrosseasyandtemptingdistancesfromnooktonookofthesmallgarden,orfromalleytoalleyandfromgladetogladeofthelargeone.WheretoPlantWhat?Plantitasfarawayas,accordingtotheforceofitscharacterorthesplendorofitscharms,itcanstandandbeckonbackwithbestadvantageforthewholegarden.
[Illustration:"Somecleardisclosureofcharmstillremotemaybeckonandlure."
FromaphotographtakenonMyOwnAcre,showinghowIpulledthelawninunderthetrees.Thebigchestnutsinthemiddleareontheoldfencelinethatstoodontheveryedgeoftheprecipitouslyfallingground.Allthegroundinsightinthepictureisafill.]
Thuswegeneralize.Andaslongasonemaygeneralizeheiscomparativelysafefromhumiliatingcriticism.Itisonlywhenhebeginstonamethingsbynameandsaywhatisbestforjustwhere,thathetouchesthenakedeyeball(orthefunny-bone)ofotherswhosecrotchetsarenotidenticalwithhis.YetinNorthamptonthisiswhatwehaveto
do,andsincethecompetitorsforourprizesalwayshavetheWherebeforetheyaremovedtogetandplacetheWhat,wefindourwhere-and-whatproblemeasiesttohandlewhenweliftit,sotospeak,bythetail.Thenitis"WhattoPlantWhere,"andforanswerwehavemadeashortlistoffamiliarfloweringshrubsbestsuitedtoourimmediategeographicallocality.Wenameonlyfourteenandwesodescribeeachastoindicateclearlyenough,withoutdictating,whereaboutstoputit.Webegin:
"Azalea.Ourcommonwildazaleaisthefloweringbushbestknownas
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'swamphoneysuckle.'Thetwoazaleaslistedhere,_A.mollis_andtheGhentvarieties,areoflarge,beautifulandluxuriantbloom,andexceptthe'swamphoneysuckle'aretheonlyazaleashardyinwesternMassachusetts.Mollisisfromtwotosixfeethigh,threetosixfeetbroad,andbloomsinAprilandMay.Itsblossomsareyellow,orangeorpink,singleordouble.Itssoilmaybesandyorpeaty,andmoist,butanygoodgardensoilwillserve;itspositionpartlyshadedorinfullsunlight.TheGhentsaresomewhattallerandnotsobroadinproportion.TheybloomfromMaytoJuly,andtheirblossomsarewhite,yellow,orange,pink,carmine,orred,singleordouble.Soilandpositionaboutthesameasformollis.
"Berberis.Berberisisthebarberry,sowellknownbyitsbeautifulpendentberries.Itisoneofthebestshrubstousewhereathornybushiswanted._B.vulgaris_,thecommonsort,andoneofthemostbeautiful,growsfromfourtoeightfeethigh,withabreadthoffromthreetosixfeet._B.Thunbergii_,orThunberg'sbarberry,isthewell-knownJapanesevariety,adense,droopingbushfromtwotofourfeethighandsomewhatgreaterbreadth.Itspale-yellowblossomscomeinAprilandMay,anditssmall,slender,bright-redberriesremainonthesprayuntilspring.Adrysoilisthebestforit,thoughitwillgrowinany,andneedslittleshadeornone._B.purpurea_isavarietyofvulgarisandisashandsomeasthecommon.Itanswerstothesamedescription,exceptthatitsfoliageispurple,whichmakesitvery
temptingtonewgardeners,butveryhardtorelateingoodartistictasteamongtheothershrubsofthegarden.Fewsmallgardenscanmakegooduseofpurplefoliage.
"_Deutziagracilis._Thegracilisisoneofthemostbeautifulofallthedeutzias.Itsdelicatefoliageofratherlightgreen,itssnowyflowersanditssomewhatbendingform,makeitoneofthefairestornamentsofthehomegrounds.Itsheightisthreefeet,itsbreadthfromtwotofourfeet.ItbloomsinMayandJune.Itssoilmaybeanywell-drainedsort,anditspositionanyslightlyshelteredaspect."
Sowehurrydownthealphabet.Thelistisshortforseveralgoodreasons,onebeingthatitiswelltogiveotherlistsfromseasonto
season.Nodoubtourinaccuracieswoulddistressabotanistorscientificgardener,butweconveytheinformation,suchasitis,toourfellowcitizens,andtheyuseit.Inthelasttenyearswehavefurnishedtoouramateursthousandsofshrubsandplants,atthesamereducedratesforafewspecimenseachwhichwepayforthembythehundred.
Butofthereallygoodsortsarethereshrubsenough,youask,toaffordnewlistsyearafteryear?Well,forthecampusofacertainpreparatoryschoolforboys,withtheplantingofwhichthepresentwriterhadsomewhattodoafewyearsago,thelistofshrubssetroundthebasesoffourlargebuildingsandseveralhundredyardsoffencenumberedseventy-fivekinds.Toendthechapter,letussaysomething
aboutthatoperation.Onapictorialpageortwowegiveourselvesthepleasureofshowingtheresultsofthisundertaking;butfirst,bothbypicturesandbyverbaldescriptionletmeshowwhereweplantedwhat.Ofcoursewemadesundrymistakes.Eachthingwedidmaybevulnerabletocriticism,andourownlargesthopeisthatourresultsmaynotfallentirelybeneaththatsortofcompliment.
Thiscampuscoverssomefiveacresinthemidstofasmalltown.Alongthreeofitsboundariesoldmaplesandelms,inordinarysingle-fileshade-treelines,towerandspread.Onthefourthline,therearbound,
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aboardfencedividesthegroundfromtheveryunattractivebackyards,stablesandshedsofanumberoftownresidents.Thefrontliesalongthemainstreetoftheplace,facingtheusual"shop-row."Theentireareahasnearlyalwaysbeengrassed.NotwhatanEnglishmanwouldcallso,butturfedinastutteringfashion,impetuousandabashedbyturns,andveryeasytokeepoff;mostrankupagainstthegraniteunderpinningsofthebuildings,andmanagingsomehowtowrithetoallthefences,ofwhichthoseonthestreetfrontsareofiron.Parallelwiththefrontfenceandsomefiftyfeetbehindit,threeoftheinstitution'sbuildingsstandabreastandaboutahundredfeetapart.Allthreearetall,rectangularthree-storypilesofoldredbrick,ongranitefoundations,andfullofwindowsallofonesize,pigeon-housestyle.ThemiddleonehasafairlygoodGreek-pillaredporch,ofwood,onthemiddlehalfofitsfront.
[Illustration:"...tall,rectangular,three-storypiles...fullofwindowsallofonesize,pigeon-housestyle."
MiddleHall,WillistonSeminary,facingthemainstreetofthetown.]
Amongthesebuildingswebeganourplanting.Wehaddrawn,ofcourse,agroundplanofthewholeplace,toscale,showingeachground-floordoorandwindow,sothatwemightrespectitscustomaryorprojecteduse.Agreatpoint,that,inWheretoPlantWhat.Ionceheardofaschool
whosesmallboyswereaccusedofwantonlytramplingdownsomenewlysetshrubsontheplayground."Well,"demandedonebraveurchin,"whatmade'emgoandplantalotofbushesrightonfirstbase?"Andnoonewasreadywithananswer,forthereissomethingmorallywrongaboutanygardenthatwillrobaboyofhisrights.
Withthisgroundplanbeforeuswedecidedindoorswheretoplantwhatoutdoorsandcalculatedarithmeticallythenumberofeachsortofshrubweshouldneedfortheparticularintervalwedesignedthatsorttofill.Ourschemeofarrangementwasacrescendooffoliageandflowereffects,beginningonthefrontsofthebuildingsandrisingtowardtheirrears,whileatallpointsmakingmoreoffoliagethanofbloom,becausethebloomshowsforonlyamonthorless,whiletheleafremains
forsevenormore.Beginningthuswithourquietestnote,theinterestofanyonelookingin,orcomingin,fromthepublicfrontissteadilyquickenedandprogressivelyrewarded,whilethecrowningeffectsattherearofthebuildingsarereservedforthecrowningmomentwhenthevisitormaybesaidtobefullyreceived.Ontheotherhand,iftheapproachisareturningonefromtherearoftheentirecampus,--wherestandstheinstitution'sonlyotherbuilding,alargetall-toweredgymnasium,alsoofredbrick,--thesesuperlativeeffectsshowoutacrossanopengrassydistanceoffromtwohundredtothreehundredfeet.
Wherefore--andhereatlastweventuretobringnamesofthingsandtheirplacestogether--atthefrontsofthenorthernmostandsouthernmostofthesethree"Halls"wesetfavoritevarietiesof
white-floweringspireas(_Thunbergia,sorbifolia_,_arguta_,_VanHouttei_),thepearl-bush(_exochorda_),pinkdiervillas,andflowering-almonds.Afterthese,onthesouthernsideofthesouthernmostbuilding,forexample,followedlilacs,whiteandpurple,againstthemasonry,--thewhiteagainsttheredbrick,thelilactintwellawayfromit,--withtamariskandkerriaoutside,abreastofthem,andthenpinkandredspireas(_Bumaldi_anditsdwarfvariety,_AnthonyWaterer_).Ontheothersideofthesamehousewesetdeutzias(_scabra_againstthebrick-workand_Lemoynei_and_gracilis_outside).Inawingcorner,wheremeltingsnowscrashdownfromaroof-valley,weplacedthe
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purple-flowered_Lespedezapenduliflorum_,whicheachyeardiestothegroundbeforethesnow-slidescome,yeteachSeptemberbloomsfromthreetofourfeethighindroopingprofusion.Thenfromthatangletotherearcornerweputinamassofpinkwildroses.Lastly,onthetall,doorless,windowlessrearend,weplantedthecrimson-ramblerrose,andunderitagoodhundredoftheredrugosas.
I