178 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
as the anthers that accompany them, and form, on the apex of the fruit, 
what is called “ the eye.” As to the five pistils, they can be traced in the 
centre of the Apple by cutting it transversely {Jig. 11), where they form 
the five cells that contain the seeds, one or two in number. In the Quince 
each cell contains numerous seeds, arranged in two series. These cells are 
protected against the swelling of the surrounding flesh by solid and elastic 
scales, that act as a vault, two for each cell, and they represent the interior 
skin of the ovary. 
CHRONICLES OF A TOWN GARDEN.—No. VII. 
In my little front garden the crowded occupants struggle for room in which 
to develope themselves. In the division under the window some Gladiolus 
grow rapidly and strongly ; but they are “ thirsty souls”—the sun pours down 
on them in all the fierceness of its noonday power, and each evening they 
imbibe “ deep libations” from the t6 watering-pot.” Intermingled with these 
are some scarlet and violet pyramidal Stocks, and also some scarlet Giant Ten- 
weeks, all three of English strains. They are fine indeed; and I find that 
these English-saved Stocks yield a larger per-centage of double flowers than 
does the seed imported from the continent. For brilliancy of colour the last 
should be grown, and with it the pyramidals for decorative purposes. At their 
feet are Verbenas, Gazanias, and Mignonette, the whole edged with Dianthus 
atro-rubens, a dark crimson variety of Indian Pink. The Mignonette keeps 
the border moist and cool about the roots of the Gladiolus, and emits a beau¬ 
tiful fragrance that fills my room in the evening of the day. 
On an opposite division I have Gladiolus, Heliotropes, and Geraniums, with 
a margin of Verbenas of different colours. Until very recently I had an 
edging of red Virginian Stock, placed here to fill the void till the Verbenas 
made growth, but removed as soon as it had reached the maximum of its head 
of bloom, for I found it to be cramping the vigour of the Verbenas. This 
little display, together with the box outside my window, and the flowering 
plants within it, arrests the progress of passers-by, and greatly am I amused 
at the criticisms I sometimes overhear. My worst enemy is the cats, and they 
always abound in the suburbs of London. They will rendezvous in my garden, 
crushing down some of my flowers or tearing up others, as well as making 
night hideous with their feline imprecations. 
At the back of the house I have made half kitchen and half flower garden 
of my contracted space. Along the wooden fence I planted Runner Beans, 
that climb vigorously up the perpendicular strings I have fixed to the fence. 
This was the best expedient I could devise as a substitute for sticks. Along 
the middle of the border is a line of Beck’s Dwarf Green Gun-bean, an admir¬ 
able variety of the dwarf Fan section; and then, for an edging, I have small 
patches of various sorts of dwarf annuals, Stocks, Asters, and Musk. In one 
corner, unvisited by the rays of the sun, I find great difficulty in getting the 
Runner Beans to make headway, so pertinacious are the attentions of a colony 
of slugs that are located here. Nightly have I searched for them when at their 
depredations, and the act of feasting became to many the moment of a violent 
end: only by this method have I assisted the Beans to gain the mastery. 
Wherever there is a space for vegetative action there is a tenant inhabiting it; 
and so every corner, where the growth of vegetable life is possible, is rendered 
in some degree cheerful by its presence. 
An old box or two form a very homely stage, whereon are Asters in pots 
