Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-12-31
MANAGEMENT OF SMALL GARDENS.

We have been requested to give seme hints
on the management Of small gardens, and
cheerfullY comply, for there Is no subject OF
more Importance In its bearing upon the future
Of American Horticulture. It Is not few g ne
places that show the horticultural taste of a
country this is better exhibited in the small
gardens Of the million When we enter a vii.
lsge for the first time, we AT once form an Opin-
ion Of the taste of the people from the condition
Of the little gardens that meet the view on
every side, and not from one or two aristoeratic
establishments. The most zealous improvers
of the day, the men who are doing most for the
dittus ion of taste for gardening, are the resi-
dents Of country towns and villages with their
half acre and quarter acre lots, their small and
nicely kept lawns, adorned with Towering
shrubs, with borders Of herbaceous flowers and
beds Of bulbs and snnuals, and a kitchen
garden that furnishes an abundant supply of
the common vegetables, grown in the best pos
sible manner. A few such gardens in village
exert an influence for good. Imitators soon
arise, and the character Of the people and the
appearance of the town is soon changed. We
might specify and show when and where cem-
plete revolutions have been effected in this way
by few humble yet intelligent and jealous
horticultural workers. Let one farmer in a
town where fruit culture has been sadly
neglected, commence the work in earnest, plant
the choicest varieties, and give bis trees the
proper care, and how long will it be before he
has dozen imitators?
The first hint needed by all who are about to
improve a small place is not to attempt too
much. The pleasure Of gardening is not in
having great variety, but in growing every
thing we'll and yet almost every one at the
commencement is anxious TO obtain everything
that is considered valuable, and particularly
all that is new. This course causes great
trouble, some expense, and in the end little
satisfaction. The true way is to get a few
good and tried plants, and to add to the
number as circumstances may make it con-
venient and proper.
First Of all, however, see that the soil is In
the proper condition, well drained mellow and
r1ch. All the money expended on a proper
preparation Of the soil is well spent. 1t is
hardly possible to do too much in this way.
1t is the foundation Of all after good culture
An error in this respect can never be repaired
at least, without destroying all that has been
done and commencing anew. Ii is like the
foundation TO building,-if this is faulty, it
matters little how fne the superstructure may
be, disappointment and lost is the only result
In small garden the soil may be got in a
proper condition without much expense. If
very light and sandy, ashes, plenty Of manure,
and little clay will effect change if cold
and heavy, drainage, ashes, manure, sand and
lime will produce a wonderful amelioration
good mellow loan at frs, but this cannot be
always obtained in the desired situation
One great error often committed in planting
small gardens is to put out trees of too large a
growth and too many Of them, so that in a few
years the garden looks like young forest. 1t
Is difficult to realize when we plant small trees
from four to six feet in height, that in a few
years they will monopolize the ground for
twenty feet In each direction, and so we plant
trees with reference to what trees are, and not
what they will become. Half a dozen apple
trees and the same number Of horse chestnuts
will fill a common garden, and give no satisfac,
ton. Such trees should be discarded at least
one is enough. So Of the Norway Spruce, a
beautiful evergreen, and one on a lawn is a
magnificent object, but we often see a dozen
planted where there is only sufficient space for
one. For the front of the house there is no.
thing so neat at all seasons as lawn, and this
should not be filed, but embellished merely
with few Of the towering shrubs and small
growing trees. like the Mountain Ash, the
Magnolia, the Chinese Arborvite, and il space
enough, Norway Spruce.
The fruit garden should be planted with
dwarf trees and the small fruits. supply of
winter apples can always be obtained of
farmers and fruit-growsrs The cultivstOr ofs
small garden should, therefore, plant summer
and fall varieties sf apples, pears, cherries,
plans, currants, gooseberries, raspberries,
straw berries, &c, that can seldom be obtained
in the markets 10 perfection, and his garden
will afford not only pleasure but profit, and an
exceeding large amount Of good living -
Rurdi Nstc YORKER.