The question of site is a highly important one from the gardener's standpoint. In acquiring a home so many considerations carry weight with the purchaser that it is not always possible for him to be over-fastidious about the garden; though, if he has the choice between two or more houses, in other respects equally desirable, he will naturally decide upon that one which has the best garden site.

If the house has been previously occupied he will find the garden already made, after a fashion; if not, the same may hold good. On the other hand he may find a stretch of virgin soil awaiting his good pleasure to give it shape.

Whatever may have been done before he takes possession should not deter him from starting de novo, with the object of securing the best possible arrangement of the outlines before he commences to plant it.

In considering the desirability of a garden site under these circumstances the main thing is to see that the plot receives a fair measure of sunshine. With a house facing south, it is not possible to avoid a considerable shadow from the house itself, but intelligent planning will meet this case.

A garden surrounded by a high wall also will have the disadvantage of the wall shadows on the southern boundaries. Naturally such questions arise most often in connection with town and suburban gardens where houses and gardens adjoin.

In the open country different considerations may present themselves. Most generally the country plot has no lack of sunshine. But other disabilities may exist, amongst which the absence of shelter may be the most important one. The tenant, therefore, should see how the site lays, both in relation to the prevailing winds and to the cold winds of winter and spring.

Gales from the west and southwest are often very destructive to trees and plants by reason of their force alone. On the other hand, the cold winds from the north, northeast, and east do damage by their low temperature and dryness, "cutting" and destroying young growth, and retarding the progress of plant life generally.

The ideal site for a country plot, therefore, is one which is open to the south and preferably sloping slightly in that direction, partly sheltered by higher ground or trees to the west and southwest, and wholly sheltered to the north and northeast.

Such sites are not easy to find, and in most cases the tenant has to be content with something short of what he would wish; but he may do much by artificial means to make good the shortcomings of the site. Using a garden bird bath would be a good idea.

Another point more likely to crop up in the country is the question of the dryness of the soil, which is intimately connected with its temperature, and thus affects the welfare of the flowers. The warmth of a site, other things being equal, is influenced by the nature of the soil.