270 IN A GLOUCESTERSHIRE GARDEN 



We can speak learnedly of the bursting of cells, and 

 the breaking up of protoplasm, but that only puts the 

 question one step further back : it explains ignotum per 

 ignotius, and no more; and until the impossible man 

 comes who can understand all mysteries and all know- 

 ledge, it will always remain a mystery, and one of the 

 chief charms of a garden is that it is a great storehouse 

 of mysteries, 



I have heard gardeners say that a plant is not worth 

 growing unless it has beauty of flower or foliage or 

 scent. I should say that many plants are worth grow- 

 ing for several other reasons, such as botanical or 

 historical interest. I would not willingly be without 

 the green rose, or the four-petalled Himalayan rose (B. 

 sericea), or the Plymouth strawberry, or the one-leaved 

 strawberry (Fragaria monophylla), for though none of 

 these have any special beauty to recommend them, 

 they have great botanical interests. But the great 

 charm of many flowers lies in their associations, which 

 of course vary with diff'erent people, but there are some 

 which are common to all. It is of these associations 

 that I wish to speak in this paper. 



Foremost among such plants I place all that have a 

 Biblical interest. I have often had the pleasure of 

 taking round my garden parties of mechanics, young 

 men's associations, school teachers, etc., the greater 



