GARDENING FOR CITIES. 209 GARDENING FOR CITIES. 



life. Without taking into consideration 

 the deadly effects arising from the diffusion 

 of smoke generated in certain factories 

 more especially chemical works which is 

 fatal in proportion to the nature of the 

 substances employed, and from which the 

 smoke is evolved, it is sufficient for the 

 gardener to have to combat smoke arising 

 from ordinary coal-furnaces and the thou- 

 sands of chimneys for domestic use which 

 surmount our crowded dwellings. Smoke 

 of this sort is generally considered to con- 

 sist of two parts gaseous exhalations and 

 certain minute particles of carbonaceous 

 matter called soot. Both these constituents 

 are capable of producing more or less injury 

 to the bark, leaves, and blossoms of what- 

 ever trees, shrubs, and plants are brought 

 into contact with them. Soot, applied as 

 a manure to the soil, is a decided fertiliser, 

 or perhaps it would be more correct to call 

 it a stimulant to vegetation ; but this is a 

 very different application of soot from that 

 with which vegetation is treated, when it 

 is found struggling for existence against 

 the dense masses of soot which are emitted 

 from the chimneys of our populous cities 

 and large towns. The gaseous vapours 

 charged with soot form a black gummy 

 coating over the stems and leaves, which 

 prevents the respiratory organs of plants 

 from performing their proper functions for 

 the support of life. Of course it would be 

 as useless as it would be foolish, under 

 such unfavourable circumstances, to attempt 

 the cultivation of all sorts of shrubs and 

 plants indiscriminately ; but it should be a 

 matter of thankfulness that some sorts will 

 grow, and that experience has pointed out 

 those which will flourish and do best. It 

 is necessary, therefore, to know what trees, 

 plants, and flowers flourish best ; and such 

 knowledge, to begin with, will be the 

 means of saving much trouble, disappoint- 

 ment, and expense. 



The following remarks are intended to 



be of service to those who are not unwilling 

 to attempt what at all times must be re- 

 garded as " gardening under difficulties '* ; 

 but with what good results the attempt may 

 be made let the Temple Gardens testify. 

 Yet we venture to affirm that the great earl 

 saw nothing half so gay around him as may 

 be now seen in the same spot, notwith- 

 standing dirt and soot. To the late Mr. 

 Broome, the intelligent superintendent of 

 these ancient gardens, all who live in 

 smoky cities, and who still love flowers, 

 owe a deep debt of gratitude. He has 

 shown what may be done, and he has also 

 left on record his own experience as to the 

 best mode of doing it. "Fresh from the 

 country," writes Mr. Broome, "having 

 received initiation into the mysteries of 

 my profession in the gardens of one of the 

 wealthiest of our nobility, I was but little 

 prepared for the difference which exists 

 between the growth of plants in the country 

 and in large towns. Those which in the 

 pure air of the former grew almost spon- 

 taneously would, notwithstanding the 

 pains bestowed upon them, barely arrive 

 at maturity in the smoky atmosphere of 

 the latter. My previous experience availed 

 me but little ; I had almost everything to 

 unlearn; however," he continues, "I set 

 about my task with diligence, coupled with 

 patience and perseverance, and have been 

 rewarded by a complete triumph over all 

 such difficulties as were not insuperable." 



Some persons, perhaps, may imagine 

 that outdoor gardening under such adverse 

 circumstances can hardly repay the trouble 

 that must be bestowed upon it, and that 

 the subject loses its interest because there 

 are not many persons who have much 

 opportunity or convenience for availing 

 themselves of it, so small a space in 

 general being alloted in most cities and 

 large towns to each house beyond the plot 

 of ground which it actually stands upon. 

 But why should even the smallest court- 



