140 



GARDENERS' CHROMCLE 



derstand tlie significance of a strange vernacular name 

 of this plant — '\\'elcome-home-husband-though-never-so- 

 drunk.' " 



Presumably the yellow stonecrop is none other than our 

 old friend Scdiim acre. It was mentioned in a preceding 

 article that this queer name was used in some districts in 

 -Maine (we think it was in Maine), and here we have it 

 cropping up again in \\'iltshire. Its use is probably 

 strictly local, for although we have spoken to many re- 

 garding it no one had had ever heard it before. It raises 

 interesting speculations as to whether some inhabitants 

 of Wiltshire County in times past emigrated to America 

 and carried this vernacular name with them. 



^^'hile on the subject of common plant names, it may 

 be remembered that Polygoiiidii oriciitalc is some- 

 times called '■kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate." Hudson in 

 this book refers to " 'kiss-me-down-at-the-garden-gate.' 

 sometimes called pansy" I Another folk name that he 

 uses is "Old Women's Nightcap" which so far we have 

 been unable to identify with any plant. 



* :■ * 



It should be most gratifying to the gardener and to 

 plant lovers in general tu notice that, according to the 

 daily press, the use of living plants in the decorations of 

 the recently refitted ".Mauretania" was considered a cheer- 

 ful "innovation'' by her passengers. The report states 

 that "Her permanent floral equipment includes 82 ]«lms. 

 30 bay trees. 100 ferns, and .^00 potted plants, blooming 

 in a great variety of color." It is doubtful if this can be 

 regarded as an innovation, however, for we seem to re- 

 member reading some time ago that the ships in the 

 Kngland-Brazil service were supplied with greenhouses 

 so that fresh flowers might be had on the dining saloon 

 tables every day. One can imagine the amazement of 

 the old-time seafarer if he could come to life and see 

 how the products of the garden are kept in a state of 

 health upon the Ijillowy ocean. 



The report concerning the "Mauretania" unfortunately 

 omits to give information on a point likely to be of great 

 interest to gardeners, namely : it says nothing whatever 

 about the methods by which the plants are cared for, 

 whether a gardener or gardeners are carried, whether the 

 plants have to be renewed every trij). or if thev maintain 

 themselves in good health indefiniteh- on the ocean. 



On our recent trip to luigland on board the "( )rbita," 

 we were struck by the healthy appearance of the plants 

 used on the dining saloon tables and in the various en- 

 trance halls. Much to our amazement, inquiry of the 

 chief steward elicited the fact that these plants had not 

 been renewed but had been placed in the ship at the 

 commencement of trans-. \tlantic service about three 

 months before. He state<l that one of the stewards was 

 entrusted with their care, and they certainly reflected 

 great credit on him. Most of these plants were of foliage 

 type, such as palms, Crotons, and ferns. There were 

 some plants of Dusty Miller (Cciitaurca caiididissi-ina), 

 growing on the center tables in the .saloon well away 

 from the port holes, that were weird and ghost-like, but 

 not unattractive in their etiolated conditiim due to lack 

 of light. 



The use of living plants in the decoration of ocean 

 liners may open up possibilities for the gardener of a 

 roving disposition who might gain much pleasure in 

 tending sea-going vegetation and from the opportunity 

 to entitle himself Head Gardener of the "Mauretania." 

 "Homeric" or "Olympic," as the ca.se might be. 



* * * 



Probably nothing in the garden at this season of the 

 year Hate .Xpril) evokes greater admiration than the 

 various spring bulbs when they are naturalized in grass. 

 This is ,-i stvlc of gardening that can lie carried out to 



greater advantage on ])rivate estates than in gardens to 

 which the general public have access, as in a private 

 garden there is less danger of vandalism and theft. Of 

 course, flowering material in private gardens is not always 

 immune. We remember that at Warley Place Gardens 

 where Xarcissi and other bulbs are naturalized in the 

 grass in enormous numbers, that elaborate precautions 

 were taken during their blooming season to jjrevent them 

 being stolen. The flowers were visible from a public 

 road, and as this garden is located only 18 miles from 

 London, it would be quite easy for persons from the 

 wicked metropolis to come out in autos. load up with 

 flowers, and dispose of them in Covent Garden market. 

 The flowers were therefore hedged about bv wires, which, 

 on being touched, would cause a gun to be fired, notifv- 

 ing the watchman of an intruder. 



In public gardens in this country, especially those near 

 the large cities, it is difficult to have anything in the way 

 of a natural plantation of such bulbs as Narcissus ami 

 Tulip, because many of the visitors jump to the conclu- 

 sion that they are "wild flowers" and consider it their 

 privilege to pluck them at their own sweet will. Apropos 

 of this subject, it is interesting to recall what a former 

 Director of the Royal Gardens, Kew — Sir William This- 

 elton-Dyer — said concerning conditions there. In his 

 preface to W. J. Bean's book. "The Royal Botanic Gar- 

 dens. Kew,'' he has words to the efi'ect that the avoidable 

 damage at Kew, even on a holiday when it is thronged 

 with peo]ile, could be covered by the ex])enditure of a 

 few pence. He explains this by saying that Kew pos- 

 sesses the "grand manner.'' which can he inherited but 

 not acquired, and implies that visitors have almost a feel- 

 ing of awe when traversing its precincts which puts them 

 on their best behavior. This may be so, but many would 

 attribute the freedom from damage to the excellent super- 

 vision exercised by the thirty or more- constables. Pos- 

 sibly when our public gardens here become mellowed with 

 time and hoary with age. the general public will have a 

 greater feeling of respect for the beauties in them and 

 not feel that their happiness is incomplete unless they 

 wantonly destroy or steal. In the meantime, educational 

 methods and adec|uate policing must he our chief reli- 

 ance. 



MY GARDEN WITH WALLS 



My lieart a garden is, a ijardcii walUil, 

 And in the wide, white space near tlie gates, 

 Grow tall and showy flowers, sunloving flowers. 

 Where they are seen of every passer-hy. 

 Who, straightway faring on, dotli hear the talc. 

 How hright my garden is, and filled with sun. 



Bnt there are .shaded walks far from the gates. 

 So far the passer-by can never see 

 Where violets grow for thoughts of those afar. 

 And rue for memories of vanished days ; 

 .\nd sweet forget-me-nots to bid me think 

 With tenderness — lest I grow cither cold 

 .\iid hard as women grow who, never weep. 



.\nd when soniotinies I fear that love is dead 

 .\nd sorrow rules as king the world's white ways. 

 I go with friends 1 love among those beds 

 Where friend and flower do speak alike to me, 

 .'sometimes with silences, sometimes with words. 



'Tis then I thank my Cod for those high walls. 

 That shut the friends within, the world without. 

 That passers-by may only see the sun. 

 That friends 1 love may share the (|uiet shade. 



—Tlu- X,iliir,'-C,ir,lcii Weekly. 



