230 Old Time Gardens 



the new house, an old garden was ploughed deep and 

 levelled to a lawn. Every year since then the patient 

 gardeners pull up, on this lawn, in considerable 

 numbers, Mallows, Campanulas, Star of Bethlehem, 

 Bouncing-bets and innumerable Asparagus shoots, 

 and occasionally the seedlings of other flowers which 

 have bided their time in the dark earth. Traces 

 of the residence of Sir Walter Raleigh in Ireland 

 may still be seen in the growth of richly per- 

 fumed wall-flowers which he brought from the 

 Azores. The Affane Cherry is found where he 

 planted it, and some of his Cedars are living. The 

 summer-house of Yew trees sheltered him when he 

 smoked in the garden, and in this garden he planted 

 Tobacco. Near by is the famous spot where he 

 planted what were then called Virginian Potatoes. 

 By that planting they acquired the name of Irish 

 Potatoes. 



I have spoken of the Prince Nurseries in Flush- 

 ing ; the old nurserymen left a more lasting mark 

 than their Nurseries, in the rare trees and plants now 

 found on the roads, and in the fields and gardens 

 for many miles around Flushing. With the Parsons 

 family, who have been, since 1838, distributors 

 of unusual plants, especially the splendid garden 

 treasures from China and Japan, they have made 

 Flushing a delightful nature-study. 



In the humblest dooryard, and by the wayside in 

 outlying parts of the town, may be seen rare and 

 beautiful old trees : a giant purple Beech is in a la- 

 borer's yard ; fine Cedars, Salisburias, red-flowered 

 Horse-chestnuts, Japanese flowering Quinces and 



