98 THE CHRONICLES OF A GARDEN. 



from Madeira; these Avere sown in a flower-pot, covered 

 with a hand-glass, and only planted out when summer was 

 fairly established. I knew little about its growth, and 

 was delighted to see the progress these made when some 

 branching sprays w^ere stuck in beside them; and when, by 

 means of strings stretched horizontally, the plants grew up 

 ten or twelve feet high, covered with their Httle yellow 

 canary-bird-like flowers, we were never weary of admiring 

 them. Both this species and the common nasturtium may 

 be trained up a wall among ivy, where their gay blossoms 

 contrast beautifully with the dark glossy leaves ; indeed, 

 in all parts of a garden this mingling of bright summer 

 flowers with evergreens has a good eff'ect. Pvoses especially 

 shew well when backed by laurels ; a row of these flowers, 

 trained as pillar roses, makes a beautiful foreground in an 

 avenue of evergreens — 



" Every flower assuming 

 A more than natural vividness of hue 

 From unaffected contrast with the gloom 

 Of sober cypress and the darker foil 

 Of yew." 



The mere mention of roses must be enough ; for volumes, 

 instead of pages, would require to be dedicated to them. 

 Many of the new kinds flower on so late in autunni as 

 almost to deserve their name of perpetual roses ; but, after 

 all, the old-fashioned common Chinese rose flowers earlier 

 and lingers longer in bloom than any of the newer kinds, 

 and no garden should be without plenty of these hardy, 

 trustworthy friends. The first blow of these comes on early 



