128 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ August 10, 1893. 
neighbours ; this variety is by some preferred to the larger-bloomed 
A. L. major. Masses of the yellow Aquilegia chrysantha, a remarkably 
interesting plant, and perhaps still the best of the Columbine family, were 
quite charming. Asphodelus luteus and ramosus are showy and quaint. 
Astrantias are generally neglected plants in private gardens, but large 
batches of them are grown to meet the demand, as their merits are 
appreciated. By far the best of the perennial Cornflowers is the soft 
yellow variety ruthenica, the flowers being useful for cutting. 
Chelone barbata, one of the most distinct and showy of hardy 
plants, is represented by spikes of bloom from 3 feet to 4 feet high. 
The merits of Chrysanthemums maximum and the later flowered variety 
latifolium are here thoroughly recognised, large batches of both are 
cultivated to meet the increasing demand. The present is not a good 
year for Delphiniums, the flower spikes being rather poor. Thousands 
of seedlings are raised annually, selected from approved strains, and 
these small plants withstood the unfavourable weather well. Dictamnus 
fraxinella is a showy plant, not nearly enough grown. 
Gypsophila paniculata is a plant growing in favour, it is so useful 
for cutting and mixing with other flowers. A very pretty dwarf growing 
white flowered Galega was noticeable, its compact habit rendering it 
worthy of culture. Huge masses of Helenium pumilum were in gorgeous 
array, the rich yellow flowers were so freely produced at this early 
date. Hyacinthus candicans was throwing up numerous flower spikes, 
the bulbs having withstood the sharp frost of the last winter quite 
unharmed. In heavy soil the bulbs refuse to live over one year with me. 
Linum campanulatum grandiflorum has flowers like the old blue 
perennial variety in form, but much larger, and being yellow it is a 
striking plant, growing near 2 feet high. The drooping point of the 
pure white spikes of Lysimachia clethroides at once arrests attention of 
hardy plant lovers. This is of vigorous growth, a single root quickly 
spreading a long way. Michauxia campanulata is well worth attention, 
the bluish white, bell-shaped flowers are distinctly attractive. A very 
pretty early flowering and dwarf growing Phlox is Penge, the individual 
flowers being quite round, pure white, except the oculated eye, height 
2 feet. The Evening Primroses, (Enothera riparia and speciosa, are 
charming plants, the former for the rockery, where its freely produced 
bright yellow blossoms are most conspicuous. The latter has large pure 
white flowers growing 2 feet high. The somewhat rare Onosma taurica 
appears to succeed well, its pure yellow, drop-like flowers are decidedly 
attractive. Poppies are extensively grown, especially noteworthy 
being pilosa, a dwarf growing variety with terra cotta coloured 
flowers. 
Mr. Ladhams devotes much time to the cultivation of border Pinks, 
having raised many seedlings, the best of which is Ernest Ladhams, 
certificated last year. He has crossed some with the ordinary type of 
Dianthus chinensis in the hope of producing richer colouring. Nelly, a 
clearly marked variety, is highly prized. This is one of the most 
deserving races of plants we have in the hardy plant department, 
because they come within the range of all persons.—E. Molyneux. 
LADY PAGET’S PLEA FOR VEGETARIANISM. 
In promulgating the evangel of vegetarianism we shall scarcely be 
considered as betraying the interests of the readers of this paper. We 
have, therefore, much pleasure in reproducing from an interview 
published in the “ Westminster Gazette ” some of the opinions of Lady 
Augustus Paget, who throws herself into the cause with that whole¬ 
heartedness characteristic of women. Lady Paget is by birth a German, 
and perhaps much experience of German cookery may have the effect 
of causing a delicate stomach to incline to the more etherial food of 
Arcadia. Certainly there are acts entailed by the persistence in a 
carnivorous diet which shock the humaner sensibilities of the mind 
when the consideration of these acts is not deliberately ignored. If each 
of the radiant dehutantes at a fashionable ball had helped to kill and 
cook the viands so delicately proffered to them by their cavaliers in the 
supper-room, we fancy that the wings of those gentlemen’s imaginations 
would not soar so freely, nor would they accept all the glamour thrown 
over the funccion in the columns of the “ Lady ” or the “ Gentlewoman.” 
Romance is, however, a difficult plant to scotch, and thrives even 
amongst professional cooks and butchers. Such is the inconsistency of 
the human mind that doctors and nurses have their glorious illusions 
regarding the patients they are tending, and even the common hangman 
is capable of falling in love. 
Lady Paget was apparently awakened to the general want of logic 
on the subject of flesh-eating by the description of the cruelties of the 
trans-Atlantic cattle trade. She overlooks, however, the difficulties 
which will have to be encountered from the absence of leather and 
fiddle-strings should the slaughter of animals ever be discontinued in 
deference to the prejudices of vegetarians. In the course of the inter¬ 
view she says, “ I believe that vegetable diet has a decided action upon 
the mind. In a kind of way it dematerialises the mind. The grosser 
elements are kept in subjection and the spiritual rises predominant. A 
person troubled with a torpid mind ought at once to become a vegetarian. 
I have known many cases where it has been most beneficial. I believe, 
too, that a vegetable diet enables one to bear hardships and fatigue ; 
this has been demonstrated very forcibly by the long-distance walk from 
Berlin to Vienna, in which vegetarians have triumphed so gloriously. 
Since I have abstained from eating flesh food I can climb hills with 
great ease and never get out of breath. Then, how convenient it is in 
travelling to be able to make a meal off a piece of bread and an Apple I 
It renders one so charmingly independent, and lifts a load of care off 
your mind to have no thought about cooks and hotel dinners. There is 
another little point, too, which may have great weight with some people 
—vegetarians have invariably bright, clear complexions ; they have no 
need of cosmetics. 
“ I cannot emphasise too often that meat diet trammels and material¬ 
ises our higher faculties. Vegetarians may be eccentric, they may be 
faddists ; but they are invariably gentle, high-minded, well-disposed 
people. I believe that the practice of vegetarianism will play a most 
important part in refining the masses and rendering them less coarse and 
less brutal. In the olden days men ate great lumps of flesh almost raw; 
now we have developed cooking to an art which has robbed meat of its 
old repulsive grossness ; and, in my opinion, the process of evolution 
will go on until we come to exclude it altogether from our diet. We are 
to eat in its place fruits, cereals, vegetables, butter, milk, cream, eggs, 
cheese, and wholemeal bread. There is one great difficulty in this 
country—you do not get sufficient fruit ripened in the sun. Look at 
the Italians ; in their sunny clime they live upon fruit; and how 
healthy they are, and how beautiful are their teeth and complexions! 
I have several little fancies about fruit. It ought to be eaten when 
freshly gathered, and if possible every person should pick for himself. 
I never believe that an Apple affords me the same nourishment if it is 
picked up by the gardener, sorted by the housekeeper, and so passed on 
to table through many hands. I believe that to get the vital principle 
of a fruit you must pick it from the tree with your own hands and eat 
it immediately. Part of its vital essences are lost if it is kept, or if it 
passes through the hands of others. Fruits are the only edibles we can 
eat and digest without cooking ; everything else requires the aid of fire 
to make it palatable and wholesome. I believe that the movement in 
England is much impeded by the inadequate way in which the vegetables 
are cooked, and until this defect is thoroughly remedied, and a greater 
variety is introduced into the vegetarian bill of fare, there is not much 
prospect of extending it amongst the poorer classes, to whom it would 
be such a great boon. 
“ My country people, the Germans, are taking up vegetarianism very 
thoroughly on the ground of health. It was a German professor who 
first aroused me to interest in the subject, and it has been in German 
books that I have studied the question. These books are refreshing as 
mountain air ; they are full of cold water, open windows, sun baths, air 
baths, swimming and gymnastics, everything on the simplest and most 
economical lines. Their chief object is to bring us back to a healthier 
and simpler mode of life. The German vegetarian books are full of 
excellent recipes for dishes of all kinds, suited to every time of the year, 
and to different countries, which is most important, for the new-fledged 
vegetarian always thinks he is going to die of hunger. It is certain 
that the giving up of animal food cures many illnesses which no medicines 
can touch. In affections of the heart it is often the only remedy. This 
is not difficult to explain, when one reflects that, whilst the meat-eater’s 
heart has seventy-two beats in the minute, the vegetarian’s has only 
fifty-eight beats, being 20,000 beats less in the course of the twenty-four 
hours. Insomnia and nervousness are affected in the same way—there 
is less wear and more repose in the constitution. For diseases of the 
skin a vegetable diet does marvels. I work a good deal amongst the sick 
poor, and have been most successful in my treatment. I apply the 
simple remedies, such as nettle tea and camomile tea, and persuade my 
patients to live on vegetable fare and study ventilation and exercise. I 
always stop their fat bacon. I believe it to be one of the most fruitful 
sources of skin disease amongst the poor.” 
A SUMMER VISIT TO SENNOWE. 
This, the beautiful seat of B. Le Neve Foster, Esq., J.P., has been 
previously alluded to. It is now becoming celebrated on account of 
the success achieved by the gardener Mr. Gilbert during the past two 
seasons as a grower and exhibitor of Chrysanthemums. Being in the 
near neighbourhood a few days since I took the opportunity afforded to 
call and see what are the prospects for the coming season. 
Some 800 Chrysanthemums are being grown, and judging from 
present appearances Mr. Gilbert will again occupy an honourable position 
amongst front rank exhibitors. Most of the best new varieties of the 
season are included in the collection, and also many seedlings, some of 
which already show distinct and promising characteristics in habit of 
growth and in foliage. About fifty plants of the beautiful new white 
Japanese variety Mrs. B, Le Neve Foster give promise of producing 
grand flowers. The whole of the plants are remarkable for their dwarf 
sturdy habit, and the exceptionally stout leathery foliage. The principal 
distinctive features of the method of cultivation are giving small shifts 
in potting, so as to ensure eventually the whole ball of soil being well 
filled with roots ; judicious watering, and abstaining from feeding until 
after the buds are “ taken ” and commence swelling. 
The span-roofed house in which most of the Japanese varieties are 
flowered contains trees that are now producing a magnificent crop of 
Peaches and Nectarines. It is estimated that there are from 1200 to 
1300 fruits on the trees. The house is 49 feet long, 16 feet wide, and 
10 feet high to the central ridge. Notwithstanding the excessively 
heavy crop of fruit the trees are developing plenty of good wood for 
another season’s work, showing that their powers are not unduly 
taxed. It seems to me that the stimulants given to the Chrys¬ 
anthemums standing thickly together upon the borders in the autumn 
serve usefully and efficiently to feed the Peach trees also, and this 
supports the theory that feeding the roots of fruit trees is best effected 
by supplies of liquid manure in the autumn and winter.—W. K. W. 
