WHAT I KNOW ABOUT GARDENING. 75 



an excellent sort, &quot; The Champion of England.&quot; 

 As quick as a flash he said, 



&quot; Why don t you call them The Reverdy 

 Johnson ? &quot; 



It was a very clever bon-mot ; but I changed 

 the subject. 



The sight of my squashes, with stalks as big 

 as speaking-trumpets, restored the President to 

 his usual spirits. He said the summer squash 

 was the most ludicrous vegetable he knew. It 

 was nearly all leaf and blow, with only a sickly, 

 crook-necked fruit after a mighty fuss. It re 

 minded him of the member of Congress from 

 ; but I hastened to change the subject. 



As we walked along, the keen eye of the 

 President rested upon some handsome sprays of 

 &quot; pusley,&quot; which must have grown up since Sat 

 urday night. It was most fortunate ; for it led 

 his Excellency to speak of the Chinese problem. 

 He said he had been struck with one coupling 



