MAY. 131 



and so betook myself to the water-pot, and by daily well cleansing them 

 I soon discovered that my stock gave ample evidence of relishing 

 their treatment. Thus did I insist that my Gooseberry bushes, 

 Raspberry canes, and even my plantations of Cabbages, should 

 periodically receive the benefits which my Pansies, Pinks, Dahlias, 

 Roses, &c., seemed to cherish. If I had to undertake to reclaim the very 

 worst of our London squares, even Leicester Square around the great 

 globe itself, my first act would be that water should be laid on, and at 

 such a strength of pressure that the whole area could be subjected to 

 the only " cure " for soot and dirt, — that of "cold water." Florists, 

 think this no idle dictate ; whether you luxuriate in the glories of a pure 

 and spotless atmosphere, or labour under the clouds of obscurity (soot), 

 fail not to strengthen your plants by absolute and frequent washings ; 

 whatever the labour, sure are you of reward. 



I shall have little need to advance aught under the second head — dry- 

 ness of the atmosphere, if those who, relying on my recommendation for 

 the cure of soot, act up to request therein given, that remedy being of 

 two-fold value. 



Soil ! Here, indeed, is there a gigantic difficulty. The learned 

 editor of the Gardeners' Chronicle states that "we take our wretched 

 London squares to be gardens of a peculiar kind. In the course of 30 

 or 40 years, during which we have known them, we never remember to 

 have seen a single load of manure carted into even the best of them ; " 

 the italics are not in the original. Town gardeners ! good friends ! 

 bear with me awhile. I grew for years 2000 pairs of Carnations and 

 Picotees, as many Pinks, perhaps half as many Pansies, not less than 

 300 standard Roses, and about 180 to 200 Dahlias, to say nothing 

 of Tulips, &c., alas Tulips! (see advertisement) and these not merely 

 for decorative purposes, but strictly for exhibition against many a more 

 favoured antagonist, with what general success I will not here recite. 

 This was not alone achieved by the daily overhead waterings ; that 

 formed but part of the grand whole. My Carnations were annually 

 grown in maiden loam, leaf-mould, two-year-old manure, with the 

 necessary sand, in the whole about six single horse-loads. The second 

 year this was used in my beds of Pinks and Pansies. These beds, being 

 annually so replenished, had to be cleared out at least one spit deep, 

 which was taken on to my Dahlia and Rose quarters, where also were 

 deposited an average of fifly loads of manure, consisting of stable dung 

 and slaughter-house refuse, of both of which I had an absolute un- 

 limited supply. Never was there a bed, border, or quarter dug over 

 without receiving a full dressing of manure, be it even three or four 

 times in a year. How does this contrast with the too true assertion of 

 the talented editor just quoted ! Here, then, brother florists, are the 

 grand secrets by which I may claim to have earned some little notoriety, 

 even though conducted in what might positively be termed a town garden. 



Even the drainings from the manure was set to account, for, being 

 collected in a clay-well adjoining the heap, the same was dispensed, afler 

 ample dilutions, in the form termed liquid manure, and I may further 

 state that we seldom ground-watered our strong-growing plants, such as 

 Dahhas, Chrysanthemums, &c., with other than this liquid. 



K 2 



