NOVEMBER 231 



plant illustrated, and the method of its cultivation. A 

 useful book, I should imagine, for head-gardeners whose 

 employers are fond of beautiful-leaved plants. 



1869. ' The Parks, Promenades, and Gardens of- 

 Paris,' by W. Robinson. This is the earliest of many most 

 interesting books that I possess by Mr, Eobinson ; a 

 book full of information, branching into many directions. 

 The third, and I believe last, edition, with the illustrations 

 much improved, was published in 1883. 



Next comes, in 1871, his ' Sub-tropical Garden, or 

 Beauty of Form in the Flower Garden.' This second title 

 refers to that which, to my mind, is the great value and 

 interest of the book, and to be attained almost entirely as 

 well by hardy plants as by sub-tropical ones. In 1871, 

 however, the idea was new, and is even now but most 

 indifferently carried out or understood in nine out of ten 

 gardens that one sees, in spite of all Mr. Robinson's 

 invaluable teaching both in this and many other of his 

 books. 



* Alpine Flowers for English Gardens.' Mine is the 

 third edition. The illustrations are popular, and inferior 

 to those in most of Mr. Robinson's books. How much 

 joy do the Alps recall to thousands of people ! Even for 

 those who do not enjoy mountain scenery, there are 

 always the lakes and the flora. 



Avec leurs grands sommets, leurs glaces eternelles 

 Par un soleil d'6t6 que les Alpes sont belles I 



Some of Mr. Ruskin's happiest lines, I think, are in 

 the * Mont Blanc revisited ' : 



mount beloved, my eyes again 

 Behold the twilight's sanguine stain 

 Along thy peaks expire ; 



mount beloved, thy frontier waste 



1 seek with a religious haste 



And reverent desire. 



