DECEMBER 133 



December 14th. — I have a large field in which we 

 have generally grown the coarser kind of vegetables — 

 Potatoes, Cabbages, Jerusalem Artichokes, etc., and such 

 things that do best in a very sunny, open place. Find- 

 ing that now, as I do not go to London, I do not require 

 such a large supply of vegetables, I am going to sow 

 and grass over half the field. It is between this and the 

 vegetable part that I have been planting the row of 

 Damson trees — half common and half cluster, by way 

 of experiment. The BuUace, a true cottager's fruit, is a 

 variety of the Damson, and not to be lightly regarded 

 for both preserving and pies. It ripens soon after other 

 Damsons, and so a succession is made. 



December 15th. — I am told some people have tried 

 and approved of my'suggestion of arranging greenhouse 

 Chrysanthemums in groups of colour instead of dotting 

 them about all mixed, one injuring the effect of the 

 other. But I have not yet had the pleasure of seeing 

 a large greenhouse so arranged, and I have not room for 

 a great number myself. One of the very best is Abra- 

 ham Lincoln, with its bushy habit, its grand bluish 

 leaves, and its strong yellow flowers, which remain a 

 good yellow at night. A charming small, but most dec- 

 orative Chrysanthemum is called 'Mrs. Carter.' It is 

 pale yellow, white at night, and its growth and appear- 

 ance are just like those of a Sweet Sultan. 



I saw the other day a little Geranium (Pelargonium) , 

 called 'New Life,' that was new to me ; the petals were 

 white and red mixed. Growing on the plant, it was not 

 especially pretty; but picked and mixed with some light 

 green it had quite an uncommon appearance. I thought 

 on first seeing it that it was a double Bouvardia. ' Mrs. 

 Leopold Rothschild ' is a most beautiful pink Carnation. 



Just now I have Several pots in full flower of an 

 orehid that never fails year after year, Lygopetalum 



