you a lime gut ot any kina mat may be agreeable. 
Will you have a five-pound note, or a watch, or a suit 
of clothes ? ” 
William did not “ beat about the bush he gave 
his mind “ right off the reel” for a suit of clothes, 
saying he and his missus would like to be married, 
and his idea of happiness was to be possessed for the 
happy day of a green plush coat, a red plush vest, 
corduroy trousers, and a white hat. At this point of 
the story we feel bound to cry “Hooray for William 
Heap ! ” better known at Middleton as Billie Yep. 
The gorgeous costume was, of course, provided, 
and William wore them once as a kind of dress re- 
hearsal preparatory to being married to his missus. 
And to complete his “ tog out ” he mounted a bright 
blue necktie, and finished off below with patent boots. 
Unlike gentlemen who wear purple and fine linen 
every day, William carried his old suit with him in a 
convenient bundle, and in due time appeared as a 
bird of finest feather on the railway platform of his 
native town. Alas ! the penalties of notoriety for 
those who are not used to it ! He was partly lionised 
and partly mobbed. The pressure of mingled admi- 
ration, sarcasm, and playful chaff, was too much for 
his serious head, and he took refuge in a very hos- 
pitable public-house, hearing, to his dismay, the 
chorus of the mob, “ Hooray for Billie Yep ! ” 
And the truth must be told, he came forth a mer- 
rier and not a wiser man. In fact, he came forth in 
the careful custody of a guardian of the peace, minus 
his white hat, his bright blue necktie all awry, and 
the lustre of the new plush dimmed a little. But 
fate fashioned a dramatic unity of his adventures. He 
had to appear before Mr. Justice Barlow, and he 
pleaded that “them cott’n handkerchers ” had done 
it, and the tender-hearted magistrate inflicted a fine, 
and at the same time paid it. Thus the curtain falls 
on the story of the English Cotton crop, and we re- 
turn to the grave question : Did it pay ? The story 
proves that it paid well, ay, a thousandfold. All 
the actors in the little drama played out their parts, 
and were satisfied with results, for even Billie was 
none the worse in the end for his ready refuge from 
the pressure of public admiration. And when fadding 
people work out their fads they have their wages and 
are satisfied. And besides, to judge the case by ma- 
terial results, Mr. Mendel still possesses a dozen 
beautiful handkerchiefs manufactured from his own 
English-grown Cotton. (From the Christmas Number 
of the Gardeners^ Magazine^ which contains a capital 
portrait of Mr, Fetch, and also one of “ Billie Yep.”) 
BULBOUS PLANTS FOR POTS. 
Foremost in value for pot cultivation are the 
Japanese Lilies, than which a finer class of plants 
are not in existence, and if the Rose had not been 
dubbed the queen of flowers that titular honour must 
of right have belonged to the Lily, for nothing can be 
more regal in the floral world than L. auratum, with its 
stately stems and magnificent blooms, so exquisitely 
marked and so deliciously scented. Then again there 
is L. candidum, unrivalled for its snowy white, and 
the spotless purity of its petals, and the lancifolium 
section, all of which are chaste and exquisitely beau- 
tiful in their soft colour and finish. For growing in 
pots the above-mentioned Lilies are invaluable, and 
the more so that they can be grown'by any one having 
only a pit or frame, as all they require is simply 
shelter, not so much from frost as rain, too much of 
which saturates the soil, injures the roots, and often 
causes the bulbs to suffer and rot. To obviate these 
evils drainage is of the first importance, and to ensure 
this being free and open the crocks should be carefully 
placed in the bottom of the pots intended to receive 
them, and then covered thinly over with moss. This 
will prevent the soil running or working down among 
the interstices, and thus ensure a free and quick passage 
for the water, which then moistens the ball and leaves 
it sweet and wholesome for the fibres to feed on. 
In the shifting of Lilies from one pot to another 
much dexterity and skill are needed in handling, as 
great damage may soon be done by bruising or 
breaking the roots, which, when at all advanced, are 
clear and MT ready to go into a size larger pot. In 
putting them in it is necessary to keep them low 
down, so as to leave room for top-dressing when the Lily 
stems are high, as then they form feeders around the 
base, and it is a great help to the plants if these have nice 
sods they can lay hold of to help them in the work of 
unfolding and perfecting their flowers. The soil that 
suits Lilies best is very turfy loam and peat in about 
equal parts, and this mixture should be used some- 
what rough, and not pressed down over-firm. When 
potted the proper situation for Lilies is a cold pit or 
frame, where they can be stood on a hard coal-ash 
bottom impervious to worms, which, if they get into 
the pots work sad mischief by getting among the 
scales and piercing and eating the bulbs. If any 
danger of these creatures entering is apprehended it 
is a good plan to stand the pots on slates, as then the 
way is blocked, and they are effectually shut out. If 
the soil at the time of potting is moderately moist, as 
it should be, no water will be required till the young 
shoots appear, and after that for some time on till 
growth becomes more active it is necessary to admi- 
nister it with caution, as the plants take little up till 
they have a fair length of stem and plenty of leafage. 
To keep them dwarf and sturdy the lights should be 
tilted whenever the weather is sufficiently mild and 
favourable, and on sunny warm days it is advisable to 
take them off altogether, which will gradually harden 
the plants and fit them for standing out in the open. 
This they will safely do by the end of May if a shel- 
tered situation be chosen, and they have a mat or a 
few evergreen branches laid on rails above them by 
night, as frost is apt to nip the young tender tops. 
If any are wanted early they may be slowly brought 
on under glass, but Lilies are impatient of heat, and 
do not bear forcing, although L. auratum will stand 
more of it than most others, but with warmth they 
must always have plenty of air, or they become etio- 
lated and weak. 
During summer, and up to the period of flowering, 
Lilies are greatly benefited by liquid manure, which, 
however, should not be given strong, but clear, weak, 
and often, as then there is no fear of injuring the deli- 
cate rootlets, the tips of which soon suffer if they 
come in contact with powerful stimulants. Next in 
importance to growing Lilies is the caring for them 
after they have done blooming— a time when they 
should be stood out, and have the balls kept just 
moist by occasional watering till the plants go quietly 
and naturally to rest, when the stems may be cut 
away, and the pots turned on their sides till they are 
taken in for the winter ready for the re-potting again. 
Next in point of merit to Lilies for pot culture are 
Gladiolus, which, dropped in among other plants on 
a stage so as t stand with their heads clear out, are 
grand and striking, especially those of the gandavensis 
section, which have tall, noble spikes, and afford great 
variety in colour. The different varieties of ramosus, 
though not so showy, are equally useful, as they come 
in much earlier, have neat, beautifully marked blooms, 
and are very valuable for cutting, as the spikes, being 
small, are just the thing for vases, and the flowers 
continue to open, and last long in water. The bulbs 
of the first- mentioned being large, and the plants 
strong, should be potted one in a pot, the most suit- 
able size being 7-inch, which is quite large enough to 
hold six of the ramosus kind, and afford the roots 
plenty of room. The most suitable soil for Gladiolus 
is one similar to that recommended for Lilies, and in 
potting it is a good plan to give each bulb a pinch 
of sand, which helps very materially in keeping them 
in a sound, healthy condition. February or March is 
quite time enough to pot the late flowering sorts, but 
the early kinds should be potted at once and stood in 
a cold frame where they can come slowly on. 
Tritonia aurea is quite unique in its way, and con- 
trasts well with the brilliant Gladiolus, with which it 
helps to make a fine show in the autumn. To have 
fine pots of this Tritonia store pots should be at 
once shaken out and the largest bulbs selected, a 
dozen or so of which will be enough to place in 
an 8-inch pot, and about half that number in one 
that is smaller. The same treatment that is requisite 
Why many fail with these is in giving them heat, 
which they will not stand, and, therefore, any 
attempt at forcing is sure to bring them up weak 
and spoil them for blooming. Where they do best 
is on shelves at the back of pits, or in houses where 
they can be stood up near the glass and have plenty 
of air, and when growing freely or flowering they 
require plenty of water and an occasional soaking of 
liquid manure. Lachenalias require a light, rich, 
sandy soil, and to be kept growing on for a time 
after they have done blooming, that the bulbs may 
reach their full size, when they should be allowed to 
ripen off gradually, and then kept dry till the autumn 
—a season when they need re-potting again. J. Y. 
CLYFFE HALL, WILTS, 
Clyffe Hall, Market Lavington, Wilts, the 
residence of the Hon. Mrs. Hay, is a small but very 
pleasant and conveniently situated estate, lying some 
six miles from Devizes, and near to what was once 
the thriving town of Market Lavington, so called as 
being a market centre, and to distinguish it from 
West Lavington. Market Lavington is not so im- 
portant a place as it was formerly, but it is large 
enough to almost rank as a small town, and not a 
great distance from the commencement in that district 
of the famed Salisbury Plain. 
The house is close to the road from Devizes to 
Lavington, and there is a belt of fine trees screening 
it from the highway. The mansion belongs to the 
Radnor family, and it bears date about 1750. It is a 
good square building of the Italian order of architec- 
ture, and stands in somewhat restricted though 
pleasant pleasure grounds. The gardens, gardener’s 
residence, and homestead, are all contiguous ; and 
Mr. James Lye, the well-known Fuchsia raiser and ex- 
hibitor, is both gardener and steward. In the grounds 
are very fine examples of Limes, Beech, Scotch Fir, 
Oak, and Elm, the last two very fine ; Horse Chest- 
nut, &c. A portion of the park, perhaps the best 
part of it, is situated on the other side of the public 
highroad from the mansion, close to the Manor House, 
which is in the occupation of the Right Hon. E. P. 
Bouverie. The pleasure-grounds are small, but there 
are a few good coniferous plants dotted about on the 
lawns, also a fine specimen or two of the evergreen 
Oak. On the left of the drive is a raised border agains t 
one of the walls of the kitchen garden, containing a 
good assortment of hardy plants and annuals, of a 
bright and effeclive character. Behind the plants is a 
line of trained Plum and other fruit trees. There 
is an old-fashioned flower garden in front of the 
mansion, which Mr. Lye keeps very gay with bedding 
plants ; and there are pretty creeping and other plants 
against the verandah to the house. It is a charming 
spot, quiet, secluded, and peaceful, full of the beauties 
of the country which abound on every hand. 
The kitchen garden is on the right of the mansion, 
and is enclosed with walls on the east, south, and 
west sides ; buildings on the homestead making up 
the northern boundary line. Pears, Plums, Cherries, 
and Apricots, do well on the walls, but not Peaches 
and Nectarines. There is a small Peach-house in 
which some good fruit is produced ; and a good lean-to 
plant-house, in which Mr. Lye grows his fine specimen 
Fuchsias, Petunias, zonal Pelargoniums, &c. The 
kitchen garden is well cultivated, and good crops of 
several kinds of vegetables are found therein. As a 
raiser and cultivator of Potatos, Mr. Lye is already 
known, his Favourite and Wiltshire Snowflake being 
leading exhibition kinds ; the last named is an excel- 
lent main-crop variety of the Victoria type. Several 
seedlings are being grown, and they are of a decidedly 
promising character ; one, named Paragon, the result 
of a cross between Peach Blow and Red Emperor, is 
a round variety, with a red skin banded with white, 
handsome in appearance, early, of a dwarf habit of 
growth, and a good cropper. Wiltshire Giant is a 
fine looking red kidney, raised between Bountiful and 
Late Rose, but with the rich colour of the former 
parent, white flesh, large, good cropper and quality. 
01 23 4 56789 10 Missouri 
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