170 A BOOK ABOUT THE GARDEN. 



You need not ring the bell ; we're going." And ob, 

 bow pleased I felt when we were fairly out of his 

 park ! 



Some refuses point-blank. " We do not desire," 

 they says, very cutting and haughty, " to have our 

 gardens covered with fat cucumbers, from two feet to 

 three feet long ; or to see one bunch of grapes, which 

 we may not eat, upon a vine, instead of six which we 

 may. These flower-shows demoralize the people. 

 They make them idle, and discontented, and luxu- 

 rious." 



But there's kind folks to be found for searching, 

 and so at last perseverance wins, and there's a 

 sufficient fund, given or promised, to start the under- 

 taking. Then comes the grand meeting of subscribers, 

 " to arrange preliminaries, and to draw up a schedule." 

 And sometimes this general meeting is not unlike a 

 general engagement. Four more happy owners of 

 the finest site in Europe for a show appear upon the 

 scene, several more licensed victuallers very anxious 

 to cheer their fellow-creatures with the best of beer 

 and spirits, rival contractors, opposition printers, and 

 a new purveyor of tents. Then comes the question 

 of music. Some says Coldstreams, some says 

 Grenadiers, and some says native talent. Farmer 

 Horsman is for the Yeomanry, and Ensign Foote is 

 for the Volunteers, and Captain Port wishes to remind 

 the meeting that no regiment in the service has a 

 better bandmaster than Herr Herewig, of the Militia. 

 Next round, and it's generally a good un, is about 

 amusements. Young Mr. Joy, having previously 

 winked confidential at his friends, and pointed with 



