A BEAUTIFUL HOME. 



387 



A Corner in Mr. Goldie's Garden 



old, and who has retired from active busi- 

 ness, took up the study of gardening, which 

 lie thoroughly mastered because it was to 

 him a labor of love. After entering on a 

 business career he still devoted much time 

 to his favorite study, until to-day he is not 

 only one of the most ardent advocates of 

 floriculture in the Dominion, but he is also 

 one of the most enthusiastic botanists. 



The artistic manner in which the grounds 

 around his fine residence are laid out with 

 the choicest of trees, shrubs and flowering 

 plants bespeaks his knowledge, his culture, 

 and his refinement. They seem truly the 

 visible expression of his inner self. To see 

 these choice and valuable plants in such a 

 variety and in such abundance surprised and 

 delighted me. 



Notable among these plants were to be 

 seen the Gentian Acaulis, an old inhabitant 

 of British gardens, but in this country very 

 rare. It grows six inches high, producing 

 tubular blue flowers, and is one of the most 

 beautiful of hardy perennials. There was, 

 also, the best collection of Primulas I have 

 seen in Ontario, and in many species and 

 varieties. The Violas or tufted pansies 

 are the finest in the Dominion. His varie- 



ties of perennials are legion. Nor have the 

 orchids been overlooked. They can be seen 

 in large clumps in select spots in the garden. 

 The lily family, too, have a place, and the 

 Retinospora plumosa, R. plumosa aurea, R. 

 obtusa and many other varieties of ever- 

 greens also seem to be at home. 



The ferns are great favorites with Mr. 

 Goldie. Among his collection may be seen 

 a large number of the rare fern, Aspidium 

 Goldieanum, one of the most beautiful na- 

 tive ferns we have. This fern was dis- 

 covered and named after John Goldie, Mr. 

 James Goldie's father, who, being a great 

 botanist, was sent out to Canada by the 

 British government before the time of trunk 

 railroads, on a botanical expedition. At 

 that time Mr. Goldie had to foot it from 

 Montreal to Albany. 



From his father Mr. Goldie has inherited 

 his love for the beautiful, and this heritage 

 he would perpetuate to all within his reach 

 for Mr. ^oldie is not content to live to him- 

 self alone in his garden of the beautiful, but 

 is ever active in trying to promote more love 

 for floriculture. He has probably imported 

 and exported at his own expense more 

 plants and seeds than any other private in- 



