228 POT-POURRI FROM A SURREY GARDEN 



name of the "Evergreens," to commemorate the birth 

 of his daughter, afterwards Caroline, Duchess of Marl- 

 borough; it was something more than one hundred 

 acres, and was, before that time, a rabbit-warren, pro- 

 ducing nothing but a few blades of grass, with the heath 

 or ling indigenous to the soil, and without a single tree 

 upon it. 



' In the course of a few years the Duke perceived 

 that the plantation required thinning, in order to admit a 

 free circulation of air, and give health and vigour to the 

 young trees. He accordingly gave instructions to his 

 gardener, and directed him as to the mode and extent of 

 the thinning required. The gardener paused, and hesi- 

 tated, and at length said, " Your Grace must pardon me 

 if I humbly remonstrate against your orders, but I 

 cannot possibly do what you desire ; it would at once 

 destroy the young plantation, and, moreover, it would be 

 seriously injurious to my reputation as a planter." 



< My grandfather, who was of an impetuous and 

 decided character, but always just, instantly replied, " Do 

 as I tell you, and I will take care of your reputation." 



'The plantation, which ran for nearly a mile along 

 the road leading from the market town of Woburn to 

 that of Ampthill, was, consequently, thinned according 

 to the instructions of the Duke of Bedford, who caused a 

 board to be fixed in the plantation, facing the road, on 

 which was inscribed, " This plantation has been thinned 

 by John, Duke of Bedford, contrary to the advice and 

 opinion of his gardener." ' 



1843. 'Flora Odorata: a Characteristic Arrangement 

 of the Sweet-scented Flowers and Shrubs cultivated in 

 the Gardens of Great Britain,' by Frederick T. Mott. A 

 useful, suggestive, little book, and the only one on the 

 subject that was ever printed, I believe, till the appearance 

 of a book in 1895, ' Sweet-scented Flowers and Fragrant 



