FOLIAGE PLANTS FOR TOWNS 45 



in marketing for them. Growers are quite alive to the 

 situation, and those who can afford the luxury have nothing 

 to do but make their choice. 



Covent Garden market, that fairyland of flowers, is, I 

 suppose, at the head and front of the forward movement 

 in the sale of plants. Twenty years ago only about 

 thirty growers attended and sold plants there. Now there 

 are over three hundred ; and it is no exaggeration to 

 count the plants and flowers yearly sold by them in 

 millions. 



With cordial sympathy we note the small green painted 

 window-box on the garret window-sill of the artisan. 

 It generally consists of a neat row of palings with a realistic 

 stile or gateway in the middle, and bubbles over with 

 Creeping- Jenny and Nasturtiums ; the man in the 

 street who passes the costly window-gardens of the rich, 

 how he must sympathize with them, and revel in the 

 sights we give him ! This is the best of window-garden- 

 ing, it is such an unselfish pleasure. Every passer-by is 

 made happier by it. In the love of Nature and of 

 flowers we all join hands, meeting on common ground. 

 " Oh, the joy of the vast elemental sympathy which only 

 the human soul is capable of generating!" Few things 

 call it forth more pleasantly than the mutual enjoyment 

 of earth's fair treasures, plants and trees and flowers. 



Nowadays we have learned to expect great things from 

 the wealthy people who live in the many-windowed 

 mansions of our Capital. When spring comes back again 

 with sunshine, like an old smile, we look for the flowers out- 

 side the houses as well as those that grow in the Parks, and 

 we are not disappointed. But there are one or two districts 

 that still want waking up. Some people are content to 

 spend their money and display their taste only now and 

 then at great entertainments or on special occasions, when 

 enough is lavished in one night to furnish the whole 

 roadway for a season ! 



