INTRODUCTION

How often it is that Fate places us amongst people whose characters, pursuits, and tastes we do not know! We hesitate how best to melt that barrier of icy reserve and shyness behind which we English remain frozen. How can we speedily break through the reserve which rises up between us and the stranger near us? There is at least one subject of conversation which usually calls forth a response—it is gardening.

Whether our neighbour be politician, soldier, architect, or painter, he will surely listen with interest to the mention of a garden. He will tell us of some newly-discovered plant, a flower show that he went to see, or he will expatiate upon the beauties of South African bulbs. We may be sure that if he himself is no gardener, he has someone dear to him who is a lover of flowers. After a hard day’s work in the City, he will gladly turn his thoughts to the peace and quiet of a walled-in country garden, where the hum of beesand the scent of sweet briar or rosemary bring happiness and contentment.

It is the same with country people, who live in our quiet English villages that are as yet unspoilt by the dust of motors and the noise of holiday-makers. A little chat over the garden wall in the cool of evening, about the luxuriant growth of the peas, the beauty of madonna lilies gleaming white against the dark timber of the cottage, or the special size of this year’s roses, will often make a lasting friendship. No make-believe pastime is gardening with them; it is their true recreation. Their lives have been passed amidst fields, trees, beautiful hedgerows, and consequently they look upon these objects as friends. Surely this love of Nature is wholesome both to body and mind, and greatly to be encouraged by all who wish for the well-being of England and her Colonies.

Are we not shown the vast importance of keeping our rural population away from towns? Do we not thus endeavour with every means in our power to improve the cultivation of our land? County Council lectures, flower shows, cottage-garden competitions, Nature-study courses, training colleges are provided for this purpose. But, perhaps, the surest way of all is to make our boys and girls fond of bee-keeping, fruit growing, gardening and all other industries of country life. Itis with them that future success lies, and by teaching them to tend small gardens of their own, and compete for prizes in tidiness and artistic arrangement of flower plots, we shall continue a love for the country in future generations. To keep them away from the gloom, squalor, and temptations of large towns is what we all wish to achieve. Well-tilled, wisely-worked farms, orchards, gardens, bring us prosperity; but we gain a love of Nature, too, from contact with such things. This must soften people. It brings us nearer God.

“A garden is a lovesome thing, God wot!Rose plot,Fringed pool,Ferned grot—The veriest schoolOf peace; and yet the foolContends that God is not—Not God! in gardens! when the eve is cool?Nay, but I have a sign;’Tis very sure God walks in mine.”[1]

“A garden is a lovesome thing, God wot!

Rose plot,

Fringed pool,

Ferned grot—

The veriest school

Of peace; and yet the fool

Contends that God is not—

Not God! in gardens! when the eve is cool?

Nay, but I have a sign;

’Tis very sure God walks in mine.”[1]

[1]From “My Garden,” one of the collected poems of T. E. Brown. By kind permission of Messrs. Macmillan and Co.

It is not alone amongst our village people that we hope for steady development in the cultivation of our soil. They unconsciously assimilate much from what they see carried out in the vicarage garden, the manor-house orchard, and the largepark. These must set the example both in tidiness, artistic arrangement, and well-grown produce. Education in taste, as well as scientific knowledge, is required for the heads of these gardens. We know that in Japan gardening and flower arrangement have attained wonderful perfection. There it is necessary to learn for seven years before a requisite amount of skill is acquired. Not only are artistic effects studied, but flowers are used as modes of expression. Different colours and combinations convey distinct meanings.

Surely we Western races should also look upon a garden as of the same artistic value as a beautiful picture, or a many-coloured, skilfully wrought piece of embroidery? In short, so ancient a craft should be as intelligently and carefully studied as any Fine Art. A garden is a living picture. The painter having found a subject, studies each detail. Surroundings, background, the position it should occupy upon the canvas, what portion is to be accurately depicted, which objects are to be omitted or only faintly indicated: all these points are considered before he takes up his brush. A gardener must do likewise. Sometimes, when ground is not yet laid out, he must do more. He then has to think some years ahead and imagine what this bare piece of meadow will be when plants have grown in it. The lay of the land, the characterof the soil, the relation of the house with the garden—all have to be weighed before planting is commenced. Therefore, our gardeners must be artists as well as successful cultivators of plants.

True gardening gives scope for much sympathy and feeling. There is a soft repose in grey and pale pink. An arbour with such colouring invites thoughtfulness, quiet contemplation; whereas orange or bright yellow may, in some sad moments, be obtrusive, or jar upon our feelings. A brilliant bed of scarlet poppies, if put in the right natural surroundings, are gay withjoie de vivre, whilst gentle pansies appear to look with melting human kindness as they raise their little faces appealingly towards us. Good effects have been gained by planting large, bold clumps of Pampas grass in empty spaces. The situation must be very carefully selected or it is apt to strike a discord. In the solemn graveyard it soothes; the waving plumes seem to bow down in sympathy with the mourners.

A real artist gardener not only has aptitude for placing right lines, and forming rich, telling colour effects, but he also understands the personality of flowers, the sentiments of colours and scent. A painter’s instinct tells him where the varied colours of a mixed border are allowable, and how elsewherea touch of strong, brilliant colour is wanted to lead again to a shaded path of mystery.

In order to successfully accomplish this Fine Art gardening, which we in England are now ambitious to have, artistic, well-educated, refined head gardeners are needed. From our Colonies, too, comes a cry for skilled and well-instructed “heads.” There they have plenty of hands to do mechanical work, numbers of “coolies” to do menial jobs, but they want more intelligent directors and guides to industry. Again, in our schools, we require for the children those who sympathise with school garden work and Nature-study.

These, then, are the ambitions of lady gardeners. They do not wish to supplant able, clever men head-gardeners, nor even to compete with them. They do desire, however, to assist as far as their strength allows, by lending intelligence, good taste, refinement, towards securing better cultivation of our great country. What they lack in physical strength they endeavour to compensate by other equally important, yet softer, womanly qualities.

This book has two objects in view. It hopes, by means of practical advice—in fact, by some it may be considered somewhat Spartan counsel—to draw attention to what is required of lady gardeners. The other aim is to show employers whatwould be gained by appointing them; at the same time to disarm any mistaken illusion which may have arisen that ladies wish to supplant men gardeners. They merely intend to supplement and increase the good work which men are doing for our land.

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