412 



JOITRNAL OP HOETICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ November 24, 1863. 



which mns the whole length of the house on the second 

 floor, I found ahnost a greenhouse, with here and there in 

 suitable places a -flower-stand. In the large room occupied 

 diuing the day by the old women, the long south window 

 was actually fall of flower-pots, and boxes with cuttings. 

 Here was the cottage window most pleasantly brought to 

 mind. 



I noticed some disturbance of the gravel in the centre of 

 the old women's coui-t (and to the old of both sexes the 

 warmest side of the building is most properly given). I asked 

 the reason of the earth being thus distm-bed, and received 

 for answer, "Oh ! master's going to make us aflower garden." 

 So, therefore, during the long summer days the poor old 

 bodies could sit on the benches in the sun, and blink and 

 dose and enjoy theii- flower garden. Here, then, was a' source 

 of great pleasure to the poor worn-out working people (for 

 it was the same also in the old men's court), here was some- 

 thing of a home feeling brought bp.ck to them, I would fain 

 hope, by the presence of flowers. This it was too, which 

 took away fi-om my mind, to a great degree, that oppressive 

 jail-feeling which I have described above. I should also add 

 that this workhouse is built upon a piece of ground quite in 

 the country and commanding a fine view. Now, all lionoui-, 

 say I, to the kind and tasteful master of the workhouse for 

 his pains and care in making his poor inmates happier, as I 

 really believe they are made happier, by the presence of 

 flowers ; for, remember, it was not only in his own apart- 

 ments, but in all other parts of the house that flowers 

 abounded. I would also say, that while Guardians duly and 

 most properly provide the in-door paxipers with the Book of 

 Eevelation as a main source of comfort, yet the book of 

 nature is well calculated to soften and comfort sad, and, 

 humanly speaking, hopeless hearts. 



I send this little account to The Jocknai. of Horticul- 

 TXTEE, that, as thank God, in this world, bad though it be, 

 good is contagious as well as evil, some other master of 

 some other workhouse, himself a lover of flowers, may make 

 his house as attractive as the one of which I have spoken. 



Let me in conclusion remark, that the excellent chaplain 

 and visiting ladies of my workhouse have not only taken 

 care that in the different wards "admonitory and consolatory 

 texts should inscribe theu- waJls," but they have given for 

 decoration many of the gay pictures fi-om the " Illustrated 

 London News," " British Workman," and other periodicals, 

 and even in the school-room there were pictures as weU as 

 maps : so that what with flowers in the courts, passages, 

 and windows, and pictiu-es on the walls, the cold cheerless 

 criminal-look was quite gone. I felt, and fondly hope that 

 some of the better class among the inmates felt too, that 

 this workhouse was not only a dwelling, but almost a home. 

 — "Wiltshire Eectob. 



CHETSANTHEMTTMS IN THE TEMPLE 

 GAitDENS. 



Heavy rains succeeded by sharp frosts are not conducive 

 to out-door displays of Chrysanthemums, and, hardy as that 

 flower is, it could not fail to suffer under such circumstances ; 

 still the general effect of the beds in the Temple Gardens is 

 very good, though some have been touched with the frost. 



In the Inner Temple Mr. Broome's principal border, 

 about 70 yai'ds in length, is as usual covered vnth canvass, 

 except in one part where glass sashes have been used. This 

 is a great improvement, for in November days in London 

 there is no light to spare, and the transmission of what little 

 light there is is soon in a great measui'e prevented by the 

 canvass being covered by " blacks." It would be desirable 

 if the whole of the back of this main border were temporarily 

 covered with glass ; the cost would not be great, and in the 

 long run glass would, probably, be more economical than 

 canvass. 



In this main border an extensive collection of the large- 

 flowering vai-ieties is ranged, diminishing in height towards 

 the ii-ont row, which consists of Pompones. 



Among Whites — Vesta; Snowball; Beverley, a new and 

 fine cream white ; and White Formosum, seem the best. 



Of Yellows, the most worthy of remark are EtoOe Polaire ; 

 Astrolobe, a bright early kind ; ChevaUer Domage, vei-y use- 

 ful for borders ; Plutus ; Golden Queen ; Yellow Perfection ; 



Formosum ; Golden Hermine ; Cherub, a fine golden amber ; 

 and JarcUn des Planter, one of the finest of its colour, golden 

 yellow. 



In Orange and Buff we find General Slade ; Cassy, veiy 

 fine ; Orlando ; Mi'. Jay, a new reddish-orange ; Dupont de 

 rEm-e ; Antonelli, salmon orange ; and Lord Eanelagh. 



In Eeds — Eifleman, Madame Poggi, Prince Albert (crim- 

 son). Dr. Eozas, Progne, and Pio Nono are the best. 



In Lilac and Blush, &c., we have Queen of England, 

 almost white ; Alfred Salter, very large, delicate pink ; 

 Ariadne ; Hermine ; and Aimee Ferriere, white tipped with 

 rosy pink, and very beautiful. 



Of Pompones, the most striking are — Salamon, rosy car- 

 mine ; Mr. Astie, yeUow Anemone-flowered ; Diu'uflet ; Cedo 

 Nulli ; LUac and Golden Cedo Nulli, the former a sport of 

 Mr. Broome's own which answers admirably for bedding; 

 Aurore Boreale ; Argentine, silveiy white ; Helene ; Berrol, 

 a vei-y early golden yellow ; Mustapha ; St. Thais ; Bob; and 

 President Decaisne. 



Besides the main border referred to above, there ai'e two 

 others equally well filled, stretching north and south, one 

 70, the other about 96 yards in length ; and there ai-e in ad- 

 dition some two dozen small cu-cular beds fiUed with Pom- 

 pones neatly trained by means of a stake in the centre, which 

 is highest, whilst the surrounding plants are tied down. 

 This is the fourth crop which these beds have borne, the 

 first being bulbs, the second early annuals, the third bedding 

 plants of various kinds, and the present one Chrysanthe- 

 mums put out in the end of September. Thus a succession 

 of bloom has been secured throughout the season, and if 

 gai'deners took a lesson fi-om the example which Mr. Broome 

 has given, oirr flower gardens would not be gay for merely 

 some three or four months out of the year, but from the 

 time that the eai-ly bulbs peep above the snow till winter 

 comes again. 



In the Middle Temple Mi-. Dale has also a good display, 

 including remarkably fine blooms of Queen of England, Lord 

 Palmerston, Campestroni, Cherub, Little Harry, Novelty, 

 Favourite (a pleasing rosy pink), Oliver Cromwell (a new i-uby 

 of fine form and very smooth outline). Golden Hermine, 

 Plutus, and Yellow Perfection. There are several fine blooms 

 of Fleur de Marie, a large white Anemone. Vesta appears 

 to be one of the best of the Whites for lasting. Golden 

 Christine is very free in borders. The beds on the grass are 

 filled with masses of Pompones in full bloom ; the two circles 

 near the river ai'e each composed of ten varieties radiating 

 fi-om the centi-e, and present a gay appearance. 



GOLDEN-VAHIEGATED AliABIS AND 

 CENTAUEEAS. 



Mr. Eobbon will be pleased to heai- that the variegated 

 Golden Arabis lucida exists in all the golden beauty that has 

 been said of it. It is a very dwai-f compact-growing plant 

 with lanceolate leaves about 4 inches long, with a broad 

 margin of gold of the same hue as Geranium Golden Chain. 

 It is an entii-ely distinct species fi-om A. albida, having had 

 its origin from A. lucida, fi-om which it is a sport, and occa- 

 sionally it goes back to the original. A. albida variegata is 

 gro-wn here also, and is considered a very pretty and useful 

 plant -with a cream-coloured variegation, but it is altogether 

 a coarser plant than A. lucida variegata, -which latter I con- 

 sider a perfect gem for edgings, and more especially for long 

 straight lines — so much so that it is considered no longer 

 necessary to grow such gi-eat quantities of Golden Chain. 

 A. albida is a most useful spring-flowering plant on account 

 of the enormous quantity of pure white blooms which it 

 yields at that season. 



Ceutaurea argentea, as far as my experience goes, is not 

 nearly so fine a plant as C. ragusina, and the same may be 

 said of C. gymnocarpa. They ai-e graceful plants, but not 

 more so than C. ragusina, and are not nearly so white. 



I consider C. ragusina and C. candidissima to be the 

 same. We have at present specimens of this variety that 

 were planted out in May, and that are now nearly a yard 

 across, and it woidd be diflicult to imagine more beautiful 

 objects, raised as they are on knol'ls formed by blue bullets 

 fi-om the sea-beach. It is really a wonder this fine old plant 

 has not been more popular long ago. I take some pride in 



