288 MORE POT-POURRI 



the smallest bird that walks. The constant fight always 

 goes on as to whether birds in a garden do good or harm. 

 Nothing convinces my gardener that we do not suffer 

 more than our neighbours from the non- killing of bull- 

 finches. Poor little things! the harm they do is terribly 

 more apparent than the good, which has to be taken on 

 faith ; and this I do. 



As I stated before, I have lately been growing Water- 

 cresses in pots and pans, with some measure of success. 

 But I never feel my ignorance without looking about for 

 some book which recounts an experience greater than 

 my own. I have found a perfectly comprehensive little 

 manual called 'Home Culture of the Watercress,' by 

 Shirley Hibberd (E. W. Allen, 1878) . Anyone interested 

 in the subject should try and get this book. The reason 

 of my comparative failure is that I did not stand the 

 pans in receptacles that would hold water. Also Water- 

 cresses are much better grown from small cuttings than 

 from seed. Mr. Hibberd says that, if kept sufficiently 

 moist and grown in his way, in about twenty days or 

 less one ought to be able to pick a nice dish of Cresses. 

 There is no garden, however small or dry, if watering 

 can be abundant, that cannot grow Watercresses in sum- 

 mer quite successfully as he recommends. The winter 

 supply requires to be kept from frost. 



From the point of view of a real Cactus lover, I am 

 but a weak-kneed disciple. I confess that a greenhouse 

 full of these plants in various stages of bumpiness and 

 without a single flower, as is often the case, leaves me 

 cold and rather depressed. But to grow a certain num- 

 ber is of very great interest to me. The power they 

 have of clinging to life is shared by few plants. This 

 accounts for the fact that some of the finest kinds may 

 be seen occasionally in cottage windows. The most 

 gratifying point about cottage -window gardening is that 



