230 
Old Time Gardens 
the new house, an old garden was ploughed deep and 
levelled to a lawn. Every year since then the patient 
gardeners pull up, on this lawn, in considerable 
numbers, Mallows, Campanulas, Star of Bethlehem, 
Bouncing-bets and innumerable Asparagus shoots, 
and occasionally the seedlings of other flowers which 
have bided their time in the dark earth. Traces 
of the residence of Sir Walter Raleigh in Ireland 
may still be seen in the growth of richly per- 
fumed wall-flowers which he brought from the 
Azores. The Affane Cherry is found where he 
planted it, and some of his Cedars are living. The 
summer-house of Yew trees sheltered him when he 
smoked in the garden, and in this garden he planted 
Tobacco. Near by is the famous spot where he 
planted what were then called Virginian Potatoes. 
By that planting they acquired the name of Irish 
Potatoes. 
I have spoken of the Prince Nurseries in Flush- 
ing ; the old nurserymen left a more lasting mark 
than their Nurseries, in the rare trees and plants now 
found on the roads-, and in the fields and gardens 
for many miles around Flushing. With the Parsons 
family, who have been, since 1838, distributors 
of unusual plants, especially the splendid garden 
treasures from China and Japan, they have made 
Flushing a delightful nature-study. 
In the humblest dooryard, and by the wayside in 
outlying parts of the town, may be seen rare and 
beautiful old trees : a giant purple Beech is in a la- 
borer’s yard ; fine Cedars, Salisburias, red-flowered 
Horse-chestnuts, Japanese flowering Quinces and 
