THE FLORIST. 267 



Petunias ; in fact, all the varieties met with in the best cultivated 

 gardens. The pillars and arches of the verandah were covered with 

 Tropaeolum canariense, which, blending with the tall flowering plants 

 of scarlet Geraniums, produced a beautifully brilliant effect. Now 

 they were not merely grown and flowered, but they could not be 

 surpassed for vigorous health or abundance of bloom. It was the 

 more striking to us to witness the display made in this instance, and 

 many others in its immediate neighbourhood, because we well remem- 

 ber it from the days of our boyhood, and can recollect what was 

 called a garden, not far from the spot alluded to, which scarcely 

 produced a flower beyond bunches of the white Pink. It must be 

 remembered that this part of Dover lies open to the south ; but still 

 it so closely adjoins the sea, that winds from that quarter must be 

 loaded with saline particles ; indeed, in high tides and strong breezes 

 the spray itself must be carried over the plants. We write these 

 lines in a place quite as favourable for the cultivation of a few flowers 

 as the one we have remarked upon ; but with the exception of a 

 starved Fuchsia, and one or two other varieties, the whole length of 

 sea-front, about a mile, could not produce a decent nosegay ; and no 

 doubt if we were to ask the reason of the residents or visitors, the 

 universal answer would be, " It is too near the sea." To this we 

 should reply, " Look at No. 38 Marine Parade, Dover." 

 Ramsgate, Sept. 17, 1849. 



RAMBLING THOUGHTS BY A RAMBLING WRITER. 



To a person employed in city occupations during the whole day, 

 nothing is more grateful than a return to his garden ; and happily the 

 facilities afforded by railway travelling and third-class trains enable 

 me to reside at a sufficient distance from the great Babylon to avoid 

 the poison of its smoke ; for poison indeed it is to many of our old 

 favourite florists' flowers, as well as the Rose, and other beautiful 

 objects of our gardens. Being an old-fashioned fellow, an old- 

 fashioned house is no objection in my eyes, particularly as the rent 

 is moderate, and the garden good of its kind ; besides, I have abund- 

 ance of conveniences, which most old places afford, — such as a coach- 

 house, which serves for my store, where I keep my pots, mats, sticks, 

 and all similar articles ; and if my greenhouse, or rather vinery, is 

 also of ancient character, it supplies me with some grapes for my table 

 in the autumn, and serves to protect my bedding-out plants in the 

 winter months. I am little given to paying or returning visits, 

 though I am on such good terms with all my neighbours, that they 

 accept my invitations to visit my garden without ceremony, and 

 indulge me with a patient ear whilst I point out the peculiar charms 

 of my various flowers. I often detect a pretty girl or two quietly 

 quizzing me, and, as they think, unobserved by myself, whilst, on the 

 contrary, I am not only aware of it, but rather enlarge the oppor- 



