against the
devices of Nature; but when the forces of man and the forces of Nature
come into conflict Nature wins every time. Nature has decreed that
certain plants shall be hardy, and therefore suitable to suburban
amateur gardeners; the suburban amateur gardener persists in trying to
grow quite other plants, and in despising those marked out by Nature for
his use. It is to correct this tendency that this article is written.

The greatest standby to the amateur gardener should undoubtedly be the
blue-flowered shrub known as "plumbago". This homely but hardy plant
will grow anywhere. It naturally prefers a good soil, and a sufficient
rainfall, but if need be it will worry along without either. Fowls
cannot scratch it up, and even the goat turns away dismayed from its
hard-featured branches. The flower is not strikingly beautiful nor
ravishingly scented, but it flowers nine months out of the year;
smothered with street dust and scorched by the summer sun, you will find
that faithful old plumbago plugging along undismayed. A plant like
this should be encouraged--but the misguided amateur gardener as a rule
despises it.

The plant known as the churchyard geranium is also one marked out by
Providence for the amateur; so is Cosmea, which comes up year after year
where once planted. In creepers, bignonia and lantana will hold their
own under difficulties perhaps as well as any that can be found. In
trees the Port Jackson fig is a patriotic one to grow. It is a fine
plant to provide exercise, as it sheds its leaves unsparingly, and
requires the whole garden to be swept up every day.

Your aim as a student of Nature should be to encourage the survival
of the fittest. There is a grass called nut grass, and another called
Parramatta grass, either of which holds its own against anything living
or dead. The average gardening manual gives you recipes for destroying
these. Why should you destroy them in favour of a sickly plant that
needs constant attention? No. The Parramatta grass is the selected of
Nature, and who are you to interfere with Nature?

Having decided to go in for strong, simple plants that will hold their
own, and a bit over, you must get your implements of husbandry.

The spade is the first thing, but the average ironmonger will show you
an unwieldy weapon only meant to be used by navvies. Don't buy it. Get a
small spade, about half-size--it is nice and light and doesn't tire the
wrist, and with it you can make