4 
268 THE FLORIST, 
Parkhurst observes, that from the Garden of Eden we have the 
true origin of sacred gardens among the Pagans. This opinion is 
confirmed by the allusions made in the Prophets to the use made of 
gardens by the idolaters, which was followed by apostate Jews. 
They sacrificed in gardens (Isa. Ixv. 3) ; they chose gardens and oaks 
for their idolatrous rites (Isa. i, 29) ; and even so far distorted the 
tradition concerning Paradise, that they made a practice of carrying 
on their vain purifications behind one particular tree in the midst 
of those sacred gardens, and eating their detestable things there 
(Isa. Ixvi. 17). 
The gardens of Hesperides (probably derived from the Hebrew 
aitz peri, a tree of fruit), the gardens of Adonis, and of Flora, were 
famous among the Greeks and Romans. The term horti adonides 
was used by the ancients to signify gardens of pleasure, answering 
to the meaning of Eden and Paradise. It is also to be observed, that 
Adonai is the Hebrew name for the Lord. 
The fabulous descriptions of these gardens, and of the guard set 
over certain golden apples, &c., we need not here repeat. They are 
familiar proofs that, though the tradition of the Garden of Eden grew 
fainter and fainter, and was more and more perverted, it was not 
wholly lost, even in the awful depths of idolatry. 
September 16. 
[We trust our correspondent will favour our pages with the 
communications proposed; they will be “ kindly welcome.”] 
THE CHINESE PRIMROSE. 
After a summer of unprecedented humidity, we have at last fine, 
dry, clear, autumn weather, and our flower-gardens still look fresh 
and beautiful; but however inviting the present appearance of the 
parterre may be, we know that this state of things cannot last. The 
long clear moonlight nights which succeed the shortening days bring 
cold and frost, and these speedily destroy our out-door flowers. It 
behoves us, therefore, to look to the winter decoration of our green¬ 
houses ; and amongst all winter plants for this purpose, none are 
more deserving of attention than the Chinese Primrose. Sweet 
winter flower! it reminds us of the pretty Primroses which are so 
beautiful in the woods in early summer, and about which are inter¬ 
woven so many fond memories of early days. 
The single white and pink varieties ripen seeds in abundance, 
which afford a ready means of increasing them ; and as the fringed 
sorts are the most beautiful, seeds of them should be preferred. The 
double varieties are multiplied from cuttings. The best plants are 
raised from seeds sown every year; they should never be kept 
beyond the second season. Two sowings, one in March, the other 
in May, will supply the greenhouse with flowering plants from 
