28 TOWN AND WINDOW GARDENING 



hear what flowers were persuaded to grow in this garden 

 of difficulties, where cats and sparrows, we learn, were 

 nearly as troublesome as the smoke. 



"Tiger Lilies seemed to love us best. These grew 

 and spread and triumphed, till at times the garden glowed 

 with an orange glory. Their cousins, the White Lilies, 

 would have nothing to do with us. Naturally, bulbs 

 were the most satisfactory things, and Crocus, Narcissus 

 and Tulip were joyful, but soot-coloured Snowdrops were 

 not inspiring. We felt rich when the Lilies of the 

 Valley were in bloom — there were always enough to 

 give away. We revelled in the carpets of WoodrufFe and 

 white Periwinkle, from which sprang great clumps of the 

 yellow Trollius and the silvery stars of Astrantia. Auri- 

 culas, Double Daisies, Violas and Pansies did their best to 

 make up to us for the lack of Violets and Mignonette." 

 A good list, and there is more to follow. "Christmas 

 Roses did well, but very few bedding plants answered. 

 Various Irises, Campanulas, Monkshood, Canterbury 

 Bells, Lychnis and masses of Epilobium-Angustifolium 

 made things bright. The old pink Cabbage Rose and 

 Gloire-de-Dijon flowered well. Cornflowers and Lark- 

 spurs were happy, and one small Pear-tree yielded fruit." 

 What love and toil must have gone to give such rich 

 results, and how great the joy, can only be guessed by 

 those who have had a like experience. 



Roof-gardens are even rarer than yard-gardens. One 

 that is full of interest may be seen in Bishopsgate Street, 

 E.C., at the Home for Working Boys. Trees of quite 

 a respectable size are grown in it ; Sycamore trees twenty 

 feet high. Limes from eight to ten feet, with Nut and 

 Cedar, Chestnut, Holly, Fir, and Plane. Cats are, or 

 course, a hindrance, but the wire netting which keeps 

 them out is hidden in summer by Virginia Creeper, and 

 on the parapets and in tubs and boxes are Evergreens and 

 Orange plants, and bushes of Rose and Lilac. Eight or 



