284 A TOTJfi EOTJND MT GARDEN. 



them, do not love flowers; and be assured that it is either 

 chance or poverty which has made them collectors of flowers, 

 instead of being collectors of pictures, cameos, medals, or any- 

 other thing that might serve as an excuse for indulging in all 

 the joys of possession, seasoned with the idea that others do 

 not possess. 



I have even carried the vulgarization of beautiful flowers 

 further than this. 



I ramble about the country near my dwelling, and seek the 

 wildest and least frequented spots. In these, after clearing 

 and preparing a few inches of ground, I scatter the seeds of 

 my most favourite plants, which re-sow themselves, perpetuate 

 themselves, and multiply themselves. At this moment, 

 whilst the fields display nothing but the common red poppy, 

 strollers find with surprise in certain wild nooks of our 

 country, the most beautiful double poppies with their white, 

 red, pink, carnation, and variegated blossoms. 



At the foot of an isolated tree, instead of the little bind- 

 weed, with its white flower, may be sometimes found the 

 beautifully climbing convolvulus major, of aU the lovely 

 colours that can be imagined. 



Sweet peas fasten their tendrils to the bushes, and cover 

 them with the deliciously scented white, rose-colour, or white 

 and violet butterflies. 



It afibrds me immense pleasure to fix upon a wild rose in 

 a hedge, and graft upon it red and white cultivated roses, 

 sometimes simple roses of a magnificent gold yellow, then 

 large Provence roses, or others variegated with red and white. 



The rivulets in our neighbourhood do not produce on their 

 banks these forget-me-nots, with their blue flowers, with 

 which the rivulet of my garden is adorned : I mean to save 

 the seed, and scatter it in my walks. 



I have observed two young wild quince-trees in the nearest 

 woodj next spring I will grafb upon them two of the best 

 kinds of pears. 



And then, how I enjoy beforehand and in imagination, the 

 pleasure and surprise which the solitary stroller will experience 

 when he meets in his rambles with those beautiful flowers and 

 those delicious fruits ! 



This fancy of mine may, one day or other, cause some 



