A PEEP AT THE PARIS FLOWER MARKET. 483 



together a handful of red roses, these formed the centre ; 

 around them was placed a narrow belt of mignonette ; 

 then a ring of white carnations ; next in order came a 

 band of purple pansies ; heliotrope succeeded, not regular 

 as the preceding, but scalloped ; then came a band of 

 pelargonium compactum (salmon-coloured) raised a little 

 above the other flowers ; last in order was a row of 

 dahlias and roses placed alternately ; and surrounding the 

 whole, fern leaves. While studying these manoeuvres, I 

 had resolved, if possible, to impress the knowledge thus 

 acquired more thoroughly on the mind by making there 

 and then a bouquet ; and seeing the boquetiere now little 

 occupied, I stated my wishes, and readily obtained per- 

 mission. 



My instructress being again called off, did not 

 notice my proceedings until the bouquet was nearly 

 completed, when to her astonishment she discovered a 

 fac-simile of her own. " C'est mon habitude, monsieur," 

 said she with unfeigned surprise, "c'est mon habitude/' 

 " Et moi, aussi," was my reply. " Ah !" rejoined she, 

 " c'est la mode Anglaise." Her attention being again 

 called off in another direction, I had not the opportunity 

 of undeceiving her, although the gravity with which my 

 attendant, who was in the secret, regarded the whole pro- 

 ceeding excited my risibility more than once. But the 

 pleasant hours passed in the morning air had given me 

 a keen appetite, and having purchased the bouquet, I 

 left the market. 



THE SHOWER 



[From " The Florist? June 1855, p. 164.] 



OF the many delights experienced in the pursuit of 

 gardening, no mean pleasure arises from contem- 

 plating the gradual development of the objects cultivated. 

 We sow the seed and watch with interest the springing 



