THE GARDEN-ROOM 53 



tropical greenhouse. As a matter of fact, this is 

 far from true, and at Redruth, for instance 

 very stern winters are experienced. These Japanese 

 things acer, paeony, and a hundred of their betters 

 are perfectly hardy; and the fact that scores of 

 Gauntlett's most enthusiastic clients live in the 

 Midlands and northern England, is sufficient to 

 prove it. If by chance you take your vacation in 

 the West, and are a gardener, go to Redruth and 

 feast your eyes on the rarest and most beautiful 

 shrubs that you have probably ever seen in your 

 life. The difference between west and north in 

 this connection is merely one of position. At Kew, 

 for instance, where the awful breath of London has 

 to be fought in winter, the choice shrubs are mostly 

 trained on walls. Probably they thrive in the same 

 way elsewhere. With us they do no better, but may 

 usually be grown without the wall. Xanthoceras 

 sorbifolia, to take an example, is magnificent at Kew 

 on a wall ; here it is no finer, but does well without 

 shelter. 



