Jtnuarj 7, 1875. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



LIBRAR 



^EW YD 



BOTANIC 



(JAROEr 



PAST AND FUTURE. 



SIT down for the eleventh time to write 

 the opening article of the volume of " our 

 Journal," beginning with a new year. I 

 might well be staggered at the thought. I 

 might remember the case of Dickens, who 

 after a few years ceased to write Christmas 

 books, at least with anything Christmas-Uke 

 in them ; but I am comforted when I recollect 

 the case of a gentleman who, at an agricultm'al 

 gathering, made for twenty years the same 

 speech, which was always well received, though addressed 

 for the most part to the same audience. Now I have an 

 advantage over that good man, for, although I have the 

 same subject, I have a different audience — at least, a 

 greater one each new year ; for I know the circulation of 

 this Journal is every year extending, and that this has 

 been the case dm'ing even the just past year, in spite of 

 its many and special opponents ; and although the new 

 little crafts — very little ones indeed some of them — start 

 alongside, yet the old ship, christened by me long ago 

 " our Journal," sails on bravely with more canvas and a 

 bigger crew, and more interested in her welfare, and de- 

 lighting in her welfare, than ever. 



I have this year entitled my New Year's piece " Past 

 and Future ;" and at the beginning of a year I hardly 

 know which we think of most, the past or the future, but 

 I rather think the former. The wish of " A merry Clu-ist- 

 mas " uttered on a Christmas morning by laughing girls 

 at a gladsome family gathering is realised, and just ex- 

 presses the present feeling. Christmas is but a day or a 

 tide, and its happiness is assured if the very day be 

 happy. In its case the present only is thought of ; but 

 it is different in regard to the New Year's wish, "A 

 Happy New Year." Of that there is a doubt, for it ex- 

 tends over 3C5 days. But apart from its uncertainty, I 

 think at the opening of a year we think fully as much, 

 or more, of the past year than of the coming one. We, 

 dehghters in the subjects dilated on in " our Journal," 

 have even in this respect an advantage over many, for 

 we are sure that our gardens and our fancies will give 

 as much pleasure to us this year as in past years. We 

 shall welcome the Snowdrop and the golden Crocus with 

 as much dehght as ever; we shall watch the spring 

 flowers, aye, and the spring chickens (not, oh ! epicure, 

 on the table, but in the poultry-yard I mean) as gladly as 

 in former years. Here we see the happiness that a taste 

 gives, and a taste for Nature's productions ia more cer- 

 tain of giving abiding pleasure than that of any art. The 

 picture may tire, the landscape never. 



Says a modern writer, " Few men who have distin- 

 guished themselves have been without a collection, or at 

 least a taste. John Selden formed a hbrary. The Duke 

 of WeUington loved music. One of the greatest living 

 statesmen is a judge of china. The first financier in 

 Europe collects enamels. The busy man finds his gi-eatest 

 relaxation in such pursuits. Without being frivolous 

 they afford relief from serious cares. Walpole and Riche- 



No. 719.— Vol. XXVIII., New Sesies. 



lieu formed galleries as refuges from affairs of state. It 

 may be a question how far education neglects this sub- 

 ject. The early development of a turn for collecting is 

 perhaps worth more consideration from those who bring 

 up children than has yet been given to it. Monograms 

 and postage stamps may in this way be among the 

 civilising agents of our time." 



Upon this subject of early developing a taste, a lady of 

 position (known only to me through "our Journal" 

 writes to me, " I began poultry-keeping for my elder boy 

 and his brother, and have succeeded in giving to both a 

 strong love for the pursuit." Thus so natural is the love 

 of living things that the turn can be given if but early 

 opportunity be afforded. The mother that gives a child 

 a garden, the father that permits a Bantam or two in the 

 stable-yard, or a few Pigeons over the stable, gives the 

 turn by allowing the opportunity of its commencement, 

 and so a life-long source of happiness is created. 



As to collections, of the making of which the author above 

 quoted speaks, there are other collections than pictures 

 or china, or monograms. There are collections of Orchids, 

 glorious to behold ; there is the northern mechanics' col- 

 lection of Auriculas, the lady's collection of Ferns. What 

 a source of pleasure I have known these to be to the 

 delicate or home-keeping ! Then there are collections of 

 choice poultry, and collections of fancy Pigeons. Oh, 

 the pleasures all these afford, and the pleasure they have 

 afforded to many of my readers in the past year, and are 

 sure to afford similar pleasure in future years ! Goethe 

 said, " You may know a man's character by what he 

 laughs at." I would rather say. You may know it by 

 what he privately dehghts in. The greatest have always 

 delighted most in Nature. The great Bacon says, "A 

 flower garden is the greatest recreation of the mind ;" 

 and he found his greatest rehef, after being busied with 

 high thoughts and projecting great works, was to be 

 found in a quiet saunter by himself amid green foHage, 

 and the unobtrusive humming of bees, and the sweet 

 perfume of the flowers. A greater even than Bacon, 

 the myriad-minded Shakespeare, turns his back on 

 London to spend the rest of his life amid the gardens, 

 and the meadows, the lanes of quiet, almost sleepy, 

 Stratford-on-Avon, again to eye with deUght 



" The pale Primrose, 



The freckled Cowslip, Burnet, and sweet Cloves. 

 Daffodils, 



They come before the swallow dares, and take 



The winds of March with beauty ; Violets dun, 



But sweeter than the lids of Juuo'a eyes 



Or Cytherea's breath; bold Oxlips, and 



The Crown Imperial." 



All of which he sang in such grand verse while living in 

 London, but remembering them in his country home in 

 Warwickshire, to which he escaped as soon as ever he 

 could, again to have his garden where doubtless he had, 

 in his own words, in late summer the fairest flowers 



" Of the season, Carnations and streaked Gillyflowers, 

 Hot Lavender, Mints, Savory, Marjoram : 

 The Marigold that goes to bed with the sun. 

 And with him rises weeping." 



Mo. 1871.— Vol, LIU., Ou> SEKna 



