December 28, 1893. J 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
669 
P ROBABLY there are few men except the ultra self-conceited 
who will not admit the existence of certain shortcomings in 
their year’s record. Those who have apparently done the best, 
and, in fact, accomplished much on which they may dwell with 
satisfaction, will be the first to acknowledge that on certain points 
their judgment may have led them somewhat astray. Those are 
really the strong men of the day. Strong, because of their clear 
perceptions, and not shrinking from the recognition of facts, even 
when these were not in harmony with their prepossessions. Men 
who, in their own view, are ever in the right on every conceivable 
topic, who can see nothing wrong in what they say or do, and little 
that is good and true in others, unconsciously, yet very clearly, 
exhibit their own frailties. 
I« not the present a good time for each to try and determine in 
which category he is rightly placed ? The conduct of masters to 
servants and servants to masters, of parents to children and children 
to parents—has it all been right ? all as it should be, and as each 
may wish it to be again ? In rivalry has all been honourable, in 
controversy has all been fair, in government—the superintendence 
of man over man—has all been just, in duty have all been diligent, 
in trust have all been faithful ? We know, all know, there have 
been sad, even fatal, departures from the line of right in cases that 
have been “ found out.” But what of the shortcomings yet more 
or less obscure ? Let them be sought out, thought over, recognised 
and diagnosed. No one can be the worse for this self-searching, 
and it may reveal what was not apparent, leading to a better line 
of thought, and a safer course to follow. 
Has all been right in gardens, or as nearly as it might have 
been ? Has there been undue austerity by those who direct or 
provocation by those who serve? Gardening is credited with 
having a soothing influence, yet it is not a panacea for wrong, not to 
say hot-headedness ; it is also credited with the love that begets 
watchfulness and devotion to it as a pursuit, yet it is not a complete 
antidote to carelessness, laxity, even laziness. On these matters it 
will, perhaps, not be quite treasonable to suggest that blustering 
managers in gardens are, like weeds in flower beds, oat of place ; 
and equally so are the listless slippery lookers-for-night, who 
cannot hope to prosper in the calling into which they have 
pushed themselves or been pushed by their friends. 
Ifor does the mere possession of gardens by persons, no matter 
how wealthy, make all of them gentle and kind. There are 
gardens which could be named in which men are tormented and 
the right name for their houses is jails. There they aie chained, 
for only men with large families are sought for, and who cannot, 
dare not, move and face what might be penury or destitution. 
Happily such examples of intolerance are few—chance weeds in 
the garden of humanity, making the flowers of the flock, the 
great mass of our nobility and gentry, “ the country’s pride,” 
shine the brighter by the contrast. Which are served the better, 
those who repel by their severe exactions, or those who attach 
by just yet considerate ways ? There is only one answer. 
Faithful service follows dutiful attachment. Of this we have 
thousands of pleasant examples over the length and breadth 
of the land, the exceptions being a miserable minority, soon 
it is hoped to become obsolete and forgottten. 
Then are there not shortcomings in the literary aspect of 
No. 705.—Voii. XXVII., Third Skbiks. 
gardening—pens as if made to wound in controversy rather than 
elucidate and instruct ? There appears to be a good deal of 
character in pens, and the makers might give them new names, 
to wit the “ stinger,” to make opponents wince ; the “ cynic ” to 
tantalise ; the “snarler ” (o demean ; the “grumbler ” to despise ; 
the “dullard” to drive away readers, and so on. It is true some 
of them have a recoil, and it is as well so, perhaps better, or 
the wrong men might get hurt the most. Even pens it will be 
seen, and as some of their victims have felt, are not all they 
ought to be, but have their shortcomings, needing rectification. 
The one now in use is apt to be refractory, and can only be 
exercised under a sharp rein, but it seemed to want a run 
before the year was out, and is having its way for once, to end 
possibly in the ditch known as the W. P. B. 
Occasionally the attentive reader may fancy he detects short¬ 
comings in the logic of literature—lines of reasoning that puzzle 
him somewhat, yet which he enjoys all the same. Sometimes it 
would seem the best of pens are prone to be “ erratic,” and surely the 
“ D., Deal," is one of the very best, yet what does it make the good 
man say on page 552 ? “ Tulips entail too much trouble ” to 
become popular. They need planting in November and taking up 
in June. No other troubles are mentioned; but what “ picking, 
smoking, sheltering, and brushing” are advised for Auriculas ? What 
trouble the fungus is on Carnations, and the attendant doctoring, 
potting, and finger-and-thumbing ? While as for Gladioli, the 
instructions read almost like a wail of despair. Yet these flowers 
must be grown; the hardy Tulips are not even honoured with a 
malady, they only entail “ too much trouble.” Oh, that pen !—and 
this! Into its sheath then mine shall go (but oh, not his!) 
perhaps, for a final rest; all depends on the fate of this its 
maiden effort ; if its shortcomings are so flagrant as to meet con¬ 
demnation the end will have come. The attempt—well meant— 
to have a tilt at the seamy side of human nature will have failed, 
and nothing will be left for its incompetent guide but to retire 
into silence.— Watchman. 
AN EAST LOTHIAN GARDEN IN 1893. 
The year that is closing has been so exceptionally good from 
a gardening point of view, that before it is gone it may be worth 
while to chronicle some of its outstanding features. And yet, 
good as it has been, there have been certain times during its course 
when much uneasiness was felt. At its beginning the frost was 
very intense and trying, the times of drought in the summer, and 
also the gales towards the end. Exceptions to the rule, therefore, 
occurred, and all kinds of garden crops have not flourished equally 
well. Fruit and flowers fared best, much better than usual; but 
vegetables on the whole have not been so good. 
The severity of the frosts early in the year destroyed many 
vegetables. Hardly anything in our garden was left save Leeks 
and Brussels Sprouts. Spinach was severely checked, but it grew 
well with the advent of warm weather. All kinds of Broccoli suc¬ 
cumbed. If there was one kind hardier than another it appeared 
to be Methven’s June, but that also was so much damaged as to be 
not worth retaining. Even the hardy and profitable Sprouting 
Broccoli was killed to the ground, so were the Curled Kales, and 
the Globe Artichokes were badly damaged. Later in the year the 
second crop of Cauliflowers was entirely destroyed by root maggots, 
and indeed all round this district the mischief worked on Cabbages 
and Cauliflowers by these was very great. Many cottagers had 
their green crops destroyed. However, later sowings of Cauliflowers 
were all that could be desired. King of the Cauliflowers and 
Magnum Bonum were particularly good. I saw beautiful speci¬ 
mens of a late variety twelve months ago named Drummond’s 
Favourite. This I tried, and have found it to be an excellent 
kind ; but so far as I can determine it is identical with Veitch’s 
Autumn Self-protecting Broccoli. However that may be, both are 
No. 2361 —VoL. LXXXIX, Old Series. 
