(i 
THE COTTAGE GAllDENER. 
OCTOBEII 2 , 
Harvest Home in Norfolk. —Last year an attempt 
was made in the parish of ih'ooke to put an end to the 
system of public-house harvest leasts, in which neither 
the wives nor the cliildren of the labourers can join, and 
in which excesses of a gross description too often occur. 
The attempt has been repeated this year, and has been 
eminently successful, not only in regard to those im¬ 
mediately concerned, but as an example to other parishes 
in the county. On Friday last the festival was held at 
Brooke. Divine service commenced at 2 o’clock, and 
the church was crowded in every part, many being obliged 
to stand in the porch and churchyard for want of room 
within the walls. At the conclusion of_evening prayer, 
the vicar of the parish, without selecting’any formal text, 
or preaching a set sermon, occupied a very few minutes 
in a simple and practical address. On leaving church, 
the party adjourned to the lawn in front of the Vicarage- 
house, where preparations of the most ample nature 
had been made for their reception. About 400 men, 
women, and children—the harvest men and their wives 
and families—sat down to a substantial repast of old 
English faro. Grace after dinner having been said, 
the toast of “the Queen and Royal Family” was right 
royally received. They were subsequently addressed by 
IMr. liolmes and Mr. Kett, the two resident and prin¬ 
cipal proprietors of the parish and neighbourhood, to 
whose ready and generous help Dr. Beal, the minister of 
the parish, was mainly indebted for the means of carry¬ 
ing out his plans and arrangements for the fete. Many 
of the clergy and families of distinction in the district 
were present and took much interest in the proceedings. 
The happiness and decorum of the whole party will not 
soon bo forgotten by those who witnessed it. A good 
band of music enlivened the scene with a selection of 
old English and other familiar airs. Arches of ever¬ 
greens, with devices of good taste and character in flowers, 
ail planned and executed by some of the villagers, 
enhanced the gaiety of the scene. Among others was a 
laurel arch, spanning the entrance to the vicarage garden, 
crowned by a miniature sheaf of corn, and with a 
“ harvest home” in moss and flowers. Another, which 
attracted much attention, was surmounted by a magni¬ 
ficent floral crown, supported by the national flags of 
England and France, and ornamented with the Royal 
cypher. In addition to this, the tables were decorated 
with remarkably fine specimens of hollyhocks and dahlias. 
The enthusiasm and good feeling of the party at the close 
of the addresses of their landlords, no less than the ad¬ 
mirable tone of the addresses themselves, formed the 
subject of much remark among the many witnesses of 
this rural festival. Nothing occurred to mar the festivity 
of the occasion; and about 8 o’clock the whole party, 
which, including visitors of every description, must have 
exceeded (iOO persons, dispersed quietly to their homes, 
listening, as they wont, to the strains of the National 
Anthem, and delighted with the entertainment, and the 
I events of the day, the arrangements for which had been 
I personally superintended, from first to last, by Dr. and 
Mrs. Beal. Before they left, tea a,nd coll'ee and fruit 
I were served to the guests of the day and enjoyed by all. 
As the shades of evening began to close, a display of fire¬ 
works, ])rcparcd by an amateur professor of pyrotechnics 
in the village, terminated the festivities. The day will 
be long remembered in Brooke, and several parishes are 
on the point of imitating the example in difl'erent ])arts 
of the county. At the reasonable hour already named, 
the homes of the village were once more tenanted, and 
husbands, wives, and children, exhilarated, happy, and 
thankful, were preparing to retire to rest, once more to 
resume, with renewed cheerfulness and increased vigour, 
their labours and toils on the morrow. 
NEW OR RARE PLANTS. 
It is a matter of considerable importance to plant 
collectors and purchasers to know what to procure in 
plants that are really distinct and sufficiently beautiful 
and attractive, amongst the hundreds of new plants 
annually raised in, or imported to, this country. Many 
have already been described by Mr. Beaton, Mr. Fish, 
and myself, in the pages of The Cottage Gardener. 
I have many others in my note-book, and am waiting, in 
some cases, till I see more of their habits and worth 
before 1 recommend them. On this occasion, I have a 
rather numerous list that have proved desirable; and, 
as an opportunity offers, I give below a brief description 
of them. 
Begonia ecJiinata (Spiny). — Numerous as are the 
species of this useful genus, this is a desirable addition. 
From tbe East Indies, and now in the Chiswick Horti¬ 
cultural Gardens. It is, at present, a tiny plant, not 
more than four inches high, with small, heart-shaped 
leaves, covered with spines. The flowers are produced 
at the-end of each shoot, and are of white colour, 
slightly tinged with pink. It is a little gem, and ap¬ 
pears likely to increase freely both by s^eds and 
cuttings. 
Begonia opulijloi'a (Guelder-Rose-flowered).—A desir¬ 
able plant, from South America. Leaves rather large; 
flowers pure white, with deep yellow stamens produced 
in flat corymbs, rendering it very handsome, and distinct 
from any other Begonia. 
Begonia velutina (Velvet). — An upright growing, 
handsome, soft-wooded shrub, with rather small and 
numerous panicles of pale flesh-coloured flowers. Raised 
from seed in the Chiswick Gardens. Native of Orizaba, 
South America. 
Culyptmria hmnantha (Blood}'). — A IMelastomad, 
with noble, handsome foliage, and large, purple-crimson 
flowers, lasting longer in bloom tlian Pleroma elegans. 
From South America. Requires stove culture. There 
are few finer plants grown. It requires only to be seen 
to bo desired by all lovers of fine foliage and handsome 
flowers. 
Campanula lanceolata (Lancc-lcavcd).— An interest¬ 
ing greenhouse climber, with bell-shaped flowers, greenish- 
yellow outside, and purple inside, spotted with brown. 
Native of Japan, and may, probably, prove hardy. 
Cassiope fastigiata (Fastigiatc or Pointed).—A neat, 
charming little plant, from tlio higher ranges of the 
Himalaya Mountains. The leaves are small, bright 
green, and arranged like scales in four rows on the 
stem ; flowers drooping like a small Campanula, and of a 
pure white colour. It is a hardy, woody shrub, and will 
thrive well in a shady situation, in cool, moist, peaty 
soil. 
Cestrim Regelii (Rogcl's). — A tall - growing shrub, 
requiring a cool stove, or warm greenhouse. Flowers 
produced in drooping racemes, and of a bright orange- 
colour ; very showy, lasting a long time when in bloom. 
Fronr Guatimala, and a handsome addition to its class. 
Glerudcndron Bimgei (IMr. Bunge’s).—A hardy green¬ 
house species, from the north of China. Flowers rosy- 
purple, produced in flat corymbs, like the single C. 
fragrans, five to eight inches across. A fine plant for a 
glass wall, or glass house without lire. Few plants 
surpass it in beauty when well grown. 
BmhoLlirium lanceulalinn (Lance-leaved).—A showy, 
very ornamental, large shrub, of compact habit, witii 
long spikes of rich crimson flowers, produced at the ends 
of the shoots, high above the handsome foliage. Native 
of Chili, and one of the strikingly-maguificent ])lant 3 
that we receive now and then, ranking in beauty with 
such plants as Clerodendron J'allax, and other such-like 
showy plants. Admirably adapted for a largo con- 
