City Squares, &c. 41 



with, ornamental berry or fruit than I am acquainted 

 with. Some of our ordinary fruit trees likewise, 

 peaches, nectarines, plums, and grapes, look well and 

 delicious as table ornaments in flower-pots in a grow- 

 ing state. 



But perhaps the most ornamental table plants ap- 

 pear there without fruit or flower. The impression 

 made on me several years ago by two native ferns 

 which, being taken from a ditch at Malahide Castle, 

 where they were growing, and being put into white 

 biscuit china vases ornamented the dinner-table in 

 the venerable oak-room, and were the first of the 

 kind I had seen, will ever be very pleasing. 



TOWN GARDENING. 



City Squares, &c. In considering improvements to 

 which we may look forward in what is called Town- 

 gardening, town and city squares, and such places, 

 may be regarded as fair ground for experiment. 



Thirty years ago and earlier, when residing in 

 Mount joy- square, I sometimes asked an experienced 

 foreman at Grlasnevin gardens would this or that 

 plant succeed in the city. " Try," he would reply ; 

 " little is yet known of town-gardening : but don't 

 hope that they will thrive there without as good soil 

 and care as they require in the country." With but 

 little money to expend or time to bestow on such 

 matters, I made occasional experiments, sufficient to 

 warrant me to persevere, and encourage others to do 

 so ; and already I have enjoyed many a plant grown 



