46 A BOOK ABOUT THE GARDEN. 



by " elephants; " there were Hoyas and Stephanotis, 

 whose every leaf called out, in dying pain, for 

 "Gishurst;" and all the time these helpless, hope- 

 less invalids were insulted and mocked by dirty little 

 " tallies," who persisted with bitter irony in calling 

 them "Bellas," and " Splendidissimas," " Magnificas," 

 " Grandifloras," and " Elegantissimas." 



When I see the place now, I cannot recall its 

 former appearance. The Orchids bloom, the Alla- 

 manclas, the Ixoras, the Dipladenias, the Eucharis, 

 the Stephanotis, the Gloxinias bloom, in all their 

 delicate loveliness; the Hibiscus and Passifloras 

 flower, as they rise in profusion ; and the plants of 

 variegated foliage, the Alocasia, the Cissus, the 

 Croton, are models, both in the healthfulness of their 

 growth and in the symmetrical arrangement thereof. 

 Here let us leave Mr. Chiswick, happily admiring a 

 beautiful Caladium argyrites, and pass on to another 

 member of our brotherhood. 



Ah, mine old acquaintance, the terror of my child- 

 hood, the enemy of my boyhood, the friend and 

 faithful servant of my manhood, are you the next to 

 sit for your portrait ? I must have a new piece of 

 canvas, and grind some fresh paints for you. 



