1 
NOTES UPON A FEW PLANTS SUITABLE FOR VASES. 179 
for experience teaches us tliat our footpatlis in the country are blocking up, our steps turned into tlie 
narrow lanes, and om- free range over the green fields shut out ; — property, we speak it sorrowfully 
and imploringly, gradually isolating and enclosing oui' glens, our hill-tops, and our pleasant meads, 
until the very ways of our youth are forgotten. 
We had well-nigh forgotten the Hanging-Gai'dens, of which we had proposed to ^witc : but we can- 
not quit the green banks of Trent without narrating the follomng anecdote : — Colonel Thornton, of 
sporting memory, in the days of the old regime, went over to France to ^^sit Chantilly, and there he 
could not refr-ain from expressing to its princely possessor his admiration of the verdant beauty of the 
la\vn. " Yes," said liis host, " j'ou may well admire it, for it cost a great price, and came from your 
own country. I imported the turf from the neighboiu-hood of Nottingham." Along the brow, and 
down the hill-range on which the town is built, extend the gardens of its inhabitants, wliich consist 
of small plots of gromid, divided by paths and hedge-rows, and adorned ynth all the beauty that 
anxious culture can bestow, having gates and locks to secm-e the vernal treasm-e. Happy is the 
man who obtains possession of one of these paradises, at least for a season. Himself, his wife — if he 
be so blessed — and his family, may be seen hurrying on, as if bent on mission of highest moment, 
to commence their early morning task, with some light garden tool in hand, some new plant or 
flower ; while, with a smile, the older and more experienced exclaim, as they pass, " There goes 
neighboui- Tomkins; ttef/ have caught the garden-fever ! " And garden-fever sm'e enough it is; for 
they dig and rake, weed and water, plant and transplant — in short, do everything but wait, till 
Natm-e can do her part to produce the desired result. Not so the more experienced ; theii' passion 
has cooled, and they have learned wisdom. These know that time is an element of culture ; sowing 
the seed, after many days and careful watching they expect and sweetly enjoy the harvest. Pic-nic 
and tea-parties are, as it were, the produce of these pleasant places ; and in some the substantial 
summer-house is erected, wherein we have seen a sumptuous dinner served. The view from these 
green spots is delightful, looking on to the groves of Clifton, hallowed by the muse of Henry Kirke ; 
and, altogether, whether as regards social enjoyment, healtlifid recreation, or quietude and peace, we 
have rarely seen a more charming resort than the Hanging-Gardens of Nottingham. 
m 
NOTES UPON A FEW PLANTS SUITABLE FOR VASES. 
W LTHOUGH it would be difficult to imagine a plant more suitable for vases than the Scarlet Pelar- 
^G\ gonium, yet as, for the sake of variety, it is necessary to cultivate more than one kind of plant 
for this pm'pose, perhaps the following hints may not be without interest to some of our readers. 
For early spring blooming, notliing can be more suitable than the Nemophilas, as insignis, maculata, 
atomaria, and discoidalis. These, if planted in tolerably rich but porous soil in the autumn, will 
stand thi-ough ordinary winters, and then- gay, varied flowers, trailing over the surface, and depending 
round the sides of the vases, have a very gay and interesting appearance. Next to these, CoUiusia 
bicolor and grandiflora are very desirable, the latter especially, as it forms a very gay and compact 
tuft of flowers ; while Leptosiphon densiflorus and andi-osaceus are not to be despised. For contrast of 
colom-, SxAenogyne speciosa, with its bright orange flowers, is very desfrable ; it should be sown in 
September, and be nursed through the -winter in a cold fi-ame, in 3-inch pots, in rather poor soU, and 
the plants be planted thickly in the vases in April, being pre-sdously thoroughlj^ hardened. Lupinus 
nanus, treated in the same way, is also a very beautiful plant ; while the lovely little Clintonia pul- 
chella, tm-ned thickly out of pots into the vases, wUl be found quite a gem. This plant, to grow it 
well through the winter, requires to be kept rather diy, and should be potted in soil rather rich in 
vegetable matter, or with some peat, in a rough state, mixed among the soil. Clarkia pulchella and 
pulchella alba, though rather stronger-growing plants, are very pretty, and will contrast well with 
some other things, as will also Gilia tricolor and tricolor alba. Godetia rubicunda will be admissable 
on the same principle, as will also Iberis coronaria and umbeUata, Erysimum Perofifskianum, Nolana 
atriplicifolia, and, though last not least, the lovely little Kaulfussia ameUoides. Most of these plants, 
in ordinary vrinters, ynW stand in a sheltered situation in the open borders ; but where they are 
i-equfred for vases, it will be best to make sm-e bj- keeping them in pots under the shelter of a ft-ame, 
or a mat or two. Before planting, it will always be necessary to have the plants thoroughly hai-dened 
by full exposui-e, but take care that they are in full growth, and not stunted. 
The preceding plants, ■\\'ith white, scarlet, pm-ple, and German stocks, and a few good plants of 
the double yellow and dark pm-ple Wallflowers, will keep the vases gay imtil the end of June, at 
i 
I 
