32 



THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



like fiction than truth. However, true 

 it is that the three separate boxes of 

 flowers came to us as fresh as if just 

 gathered from our own garden, a 

 few with enough weather stains to 

 prove that they were genuine outdoor 

 specimens. So the flowers themselves 

 told the whole story, and the kindness 

 of the friend who furnished our break- 

 fast table on Christmas morning with 

 a true summer garland had a fit ex- 

 pression in the freshness of the gift, for 

 the roses, violets, and coltsfoots filled 

 the room with their delicious fra- 

 grance, and made us reflect upon the 

 cheapness of happiness for those who 

 have some true love for things that 

 gratify only the sense of beauty, and 

 that put to sliame every sordid 

 thought. But here is the list: — 



Florvers cfathered from ilie open 

 ground at Torquay, Dec. 24, 1862. — 

 Ageratum mexicanum, Alyssum sax- 

 atile, Arabis alpina, Arbutus unedo. 

 Auricula, Aubretia purpurea, Berberis 

 Darwinii, fine racemes of vividly- 

 coloured orange blossoms ; Centran- 

 thus coccineus, Coronilla glauca, com- 

 mon coltsfoot, Chrysanthemums, Ge- 

 neral Canrobert, in fine condition, 

 Christine and two others ; Daphne 

 coUina, Escallonia floribunda, and 

 another Escallonia with rosy flowers, 

 which we do not know ; Erica her- 

 bacea, Garryaelliptica, Gazania spleu- 

 dens, as fresh as in August ; geranium 

 Commander, and two others, these a 

 little weather-stained, not by cold, 

 but wet ; Gentiana acaulis, Helle- 

 borus niger, common heartsease. Lo- 

 belia speciosa, Jasminum nudiflorum, 

 Lauristinus, Linum flavum. Marigold, 

 a charming double flower of a variety 

 we are not acquainted with ; Mignon- 



ette, Polyanthus, Sweet scabious, 

 Sweetwilliara, Roses, several, all teas, 

 and Gloii-e de Dijon in most perfect 

 condition. Stocks single and double, 

 quite fresh and fragrant, E-hodanthe 

 Manglesii, Tritoma glauca, Ulex eu- 

 ropeus fl. pL, verbenas of several kinds 

 in rather poor condition, Veronica 

 Andersonii, Vinca minor, violets in 

 profusion, variegated dead-nettle. On 

 the 10th of January we received a 

 second box, the contents of which were 

 as follows : — ■ 



Flowers (fathered from the open 

 ground at Torquay, Jan. 9, 1863. — 

 Auriculas, Anemone hortensis, Bellis 

 perennis, Coronilla glauca, Daphne 

 coUina, Erica herbaeea, Cistusalbidus, 

 Escallonia Monte-Videvensis, Hellc- 

 borus niger, Hepaticas of sorts, Phlox, 

 Polyanthus, Lynaria cymbalaria, 

 Jasminum nudiflorum, Lauristinus, 

 Pansy, Roses of five kinds, all teas, 

 scarlet Geranium, Stocks single and 

 double, Wallflower double yellow ; 

 common Primrose and double red 

 primrose, Violets in profusion, deli- 

 ciously fragrant. 



We have yet a third gift to ac- 

 knowledge. On the 16th of January 

 came a bright little bouquet of Snow- 

 drops, Violets, and Crocuses, Hepati- 

 cas, Aiiriculas, Polyanthuses^ and Ber- 

 beris Darwinii. 



We should like to write an essay 

 on these flowers. We would invoke 

 all the muses to celebrate the gift, and 

 crown with a chaplet of amaranths the 

 brow of the giver. But it is not every 

 wish that can be gratified. All we 

 can do now is to wish health, happi- 

 ness, and long life to our generous 

 correspondent, Mr. A. B. Sheppard, 

 of Torquay. 



COUNTEY ELOWER SHOW. 



" S. R." writes to ask what subjects 

 it would be prudent to include in the 

 schedule of a small exhibition of a 

 Cottage Garden Society, where the 

 exhibitors are mostly amateurs of 

 small means, and some not even pos- 

 sessed of as much glass as a cucumber 

 frame. The show is to be held in 

 September in a small country town. 

 Our reply must be brief. In the first 

 place we should give prominence to 



useful subjects, but not to the exclu- 

 sion of the ornamental. Gourds and . 

 cucumbers should take the lead to 

 make the show interesting to visitors, 

 and to stimulate the growers. We 

 would have several prizes for gourds, 

 both edible and ornamental, and a 

 special prize for the best collection of 

 both. Potatoes, onions, broccoli and 

 cabbage, celery, and turnips, parsnips, 

 carrots, mangolds, to be dealt with 



