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Even in the smallest garden a wide range of microclimatic conditions exists. These can be used to control the amount of sunlight, water and wind coming into contact with plants, which determines their health. For instance, the way plants are grouped creates a microclimate, since the proximity of one plant may reduce the water, sun and wind received by its neighbour.

The existence of olives as food is the result of sheer chance combined with a stroke of genius. Present-day olive trees are apparently descended from a wild tree of Greek origin. The first such individual must have been the result of a chance mutation, some time as far back as 3000 B.C., and all the olive trees raised nowadays are its offspring, multiplied by man.

If we were given a choice of growing only one species from the large genus Alliurn the decision would be very difficult, but many persons would doubtless choose chives. Chives can be easily grown, not only in the garden but also in a windowbox or in a pot on the window sill.

The next priority is to decide how much space - if any - you want to devote to food growing, and to work out exactly where to site the vegetable plot and herb garden, if you want these areas.

Suckers coming up from the roots should always be cut off right to their base, while in the summer the strong lateral growths are broken back by about half their length with the back of the knife- blade. This is known as bruiting. By leaving the ends of these laterals rough (that is why they are broken off and not cut) secondary growths are discouraged.

Quinces make a nice ornamental tree in any garden. They bear 4 large white flowers in May or June, and the leaves, with their silvery down underneath, are most attractive.

There is no doubt at all that the best time to plant is November, and the earlier the better.Bush-shaped trees are best bought as two-year-olds but fan trees may be three years old.

Bush trees can be grown in two different ways: (a) in grass which must be kept constantly mown with the grass clippings allowed to remain each time as a mulch, thus helping to build up the necessary potash content of the soil; (b) on the straw mulching system by applying the straw all round the trees to the depth of a foot or so, and then using dried blood at 3 oz. to the sq. yard as a top dressing each February.

Like all the flowering plants, trees reproduce and spread naturally by seeds. Some species and garden varieties also produce suckers or shoots directly from the roots, e.g. aspen and some of the elms. Seeds are the sexual means of propagation, formed by the fusion of pollen grains (male cells.) and ovules (egg or female cells).

The grey alder is primarily a tree of northern Europe. In central and southern Europe it grows in the mountains, mainly in the region of the Alps and Carpathians. It attains a height of only 15 to 20 metres and has smooth grey bark even in old age, its life span being a maximum of 60 to 100 years. The flowers appear in spring about fourteen days before those of the black poplar, the cones and seeds maturing in late September. The seed is light brown with a broad, encircling wing. The grey alder has a shallow root system, and is marked not only by vigorous production of stump suckers, but also by root suckers, especially in the northern parts of its range.