CHAPTER IV 



THE GARDEN-ROOM (continuea) 



DURING this Autumn I have missed Fame by a hair's 

 breadth. The matter belongs to annual climbers, and 

 may therefore be introduced upon this page. It con- 

 cerns a gourd that I brought with me from one of the 

 most beautiful gardens in Europe. When I say that 

 the gourd came from Sir Thomas Hanbury's place, 

 La Mortala, near Mentone, those who have walked 

 through that glorious scene will know all about it. 

 Sir Thomas took a slice of the Italian coast and, 

 enchanter that he is, turned it into the most wonder- 

 ful fairyland of flowers that shall be found even upon 

 the margins of the Mediterranean. There are things 

 in those gardens that make one sigh with pleasure 

 even to remember. There are plants unique in culti- 

 vation flourishing there. I say ' unique' deliberately, 

 for these specimens long ago reached that happy 

 valley, and no man now knows whence they originally 

 came. The mighty ones of Kew pay pilgrimages to 

 La Mortala, and bow down and worship at the feet of 

 the succulents there assembled. Their owner himself 

 declared to me that the flowers of some among his 

 stapelias are more amazing than any orchid. The 

 aloes flame like fire; the agaves attain proportions 



