130 THE FLORIST. 



from Java, as well as the Sikkim ones, a trial in such parts of the 

 country as seem to hold out the greatest chance of their succeeding 

 out ot doors. In inland districts Sikkim species do not thrive 

 well, or the last extraordinary dry summer may not suit them. 

 Cornwall, Devon, South Wales, and the south part of Ireland, 

 which districts enjoy an immunity from very severe frost, and with 

 an atmosphere more loaded with moisture than in inland situations, 

 are therefore more suitable for their growth; to their well 

 doing both extreme cold and atmospheric dryness appear hurtful, 

 as indeed their semi-alpine character might lead us to conclude 

 would be the case. 



TOWN GARDENING! 



In a very recent number of the Gardeners' Chronicle was given a 

 leading article containing much relative to the subject chosen as the 

 title of this communication ; and as it has been my misfortune for 

 20 years to garden under many, if not most of the difficulties therein re- 

 counted, I may, from the experience thereby gained, do some service 

 to others similarly situated ; and trust that, by giving my actual modus 

 operandi, in connection with a wide range of most difficult subjects, 

 other growers may thereby profit, both by the nature of their plants 

 and the reward awaiting them when blooming season may come round. 



To very many of the readers of the Florist the locale of Wace 

 Cottage may be famihar, — scarcely three miles from the centre of Lon- 

 don, and in a direct line to receive the full influence of the "smoke 

 nuisance " during the south-west winds proverbially prevailing at least 

 nine months of each year ; then the subsoil is a most tenacious cold clay, 

 perfectly water tight, as I may hereafter show ; further, the situation 

 was a swamp until quite lately, being without any effectual sewerage ; 

 its want of elevation is foretold by its nomenclature Holloway, in 

 contradistinction to the adjoining village, yclept Highgate. 



Year by year, with the growth of all suburban districts, have the 

 difficulties increased, and with them the chances of good gardening 

 decreased, unless the more perseveringly counteracted by those necessary 

 means and appliances, which but few of us possess, and still fewer in 

 the aggregate have sufficient of to bid defiance to smoke, soil, and 

 situation. 



Dr. Lindiey, in bis usual skilful way, divides the difficulties of 

 town gardening under three heads — firstly, coal smoke; secondly, dryness 

 of atmosphere ; and lastly, sterility of the soil ; these it is my wish to 

 discourse upon, and which I shall endeavour to do as briefly as each 

 topic will admit. 



Coal smoke, and its attendant soot, are of a nature to absorb that 

 moisture so necessary to the progress of plants, by robbing the foliage of 

 the means to fulfil the functions with which they are so largely 

 endowed. With this arose the first question, how to remedy the evil ; 

 my plants were diety, begrimed by soot ; then, thought I, wash them. 



