118 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



Many Pseonies, both ligneous and herbaceous, are to be found in 

 commercial catalogues ; but, as in the case of all flowers of which the 

 varieties are numerous, one has to restrain one's choice to those 

 among them which are most perfect, rejecting those which are 

 inferior. 



TOWN GAEDENS. 



EGETATIOX is affected by influences in to-wns which do not exist in the 

 country. Smoke and dust tend directly to choke the stomates, or pores 

 of the leaves of plants, just as they corrode the bronchial tubes of the 

 lungs of animals ; and respiration, both in the plant and the animal, is 

 less perfectly performed where smoke and dust prevail than where the 

 air is pure. But the air of towns is far less injurious to plants than is commonly 

 supposed ; and, in exemplification of this assertion, we invite our readers to com- 

 pare at any time, but more especially in autumn, when the growth of the season is 

 complete and fresh, the evergreen shrubs in villa gardens in the suburbs of towns, 

 with plants of the same kind growing some miles distant in the open country. The 

 town trees will be found the most luxuriant in growth, and their leaves will, without 

 any exception, be of a richer and deeper shade of green than the country trees. It 

 was said (perhaps in fun) that the '' dash of sewage in Thames water made it excel- 

 lent for beer, and fattening to the human subject." But the writer of this avers 

 that a certain amount of coal smoke diffused in the atmosphere is beneficial to 

 vegetation, and he can back this assertion with proof when needful. There 

 are, however^ some forms of vegetation to which smoke in small quantities is 

 inimical, and these will be referred to presently ; all that is intended by our 

 defence of smoke for the present is to comfort the suburban gardener with the 

 assurance that, if he makes his selections wisely, the smoke will be his 

 friend. He need not be discomfited by the assertion that if he makes 

 his selections unwisely, the smoke will be his enemy ; but still be may as well 

 take warning so far. Another of the evils incident to the suburban garden is 

 defect of light. Many delicate alpine plants refuse to live in town gardens ; they 

 want purer air, but they also require intense light. In their native sites they are 

 neither shaded by walls and trees, nor is the intensity of the light subdued by the 

 thick veil of smoke which covers the heavens perpetually in the neighbourhood of 

 towns. Much has been written about town gardens, but this particular point has 

 not been sufficiently elucidated ; the sort of light diffused in towns is well adapted 

 for some plants, and quite insufficient for the wants of others. It has frequently 

 been found that plants which refused to thrive on the common level of a town 

 garden grew luxuriantly, and were preserved in perfect health, when placed on 

 raised banks or mounds above the general level. How shall we explain this ? Pro- 

 bably the explanation should be that, in the first instance, they were planted in 

 exhausted and ill-conditioned soil ; but when banks were made for them, fresh soil 

 of the best quality was obtained, and the elevated position insured them more per- 

 fect drainage, and a fuller exposure to solar light. 



When you are looking for a residence in the suburbs, and purpose to derive 

 some pleasure from the garden, cast your eyes about the district, and if you find 

 plenty of big trees and really well furnished grass plots, you may be sure the soil 

 is good. Where elms, poplars, limes, and willows thrive, you may plant roses with 

 safety. In districts wheie the trunks of trees and the tops of old walls are clothed 

 with green mosses and orange lichens, you may hope to grow many delicate her- 

 baceous plants that do not usually thrive in town gardens. The comuion spruce is- 

 met with everywhere in suburban gardens ; make use of it as a pilot tree. If you 

 see all the spruces in a district with clean leaders— that is to say, if they are healthy 

 and vigorous at the extreme summit — you may be sui-e that the subsoil is as good 

 as the top crust, and you may grow many choice trees, and especially fruit-trees, 

 that would not live long on a wet, ( r gravelly, or ferruginous subsoil. As for that 

 matter, the topmost branches of trees may always be regarded as the counterparts 

 of their deepest roots, and if their heads are sound, you may safely conclude their 



