July 
THE COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 
201 
Cape of Good Hope, where they grow profusely. In 
India, too, they form thickets and jungles; and when 
rain lias fallen, or when their rich foliage is beaten 
to drive away the wild animals that lurk among 
them, the perfume is said to be intense. The idea 
of a thicket of geraniums may well make an English 
lady sigh; for she looks at her flower-pots or borders, 
and how poor and scrubby they appear. Yes! such 
spicy groves are very lovely; but if we were among 
them they would be no enjoyment; such reptiles 
and animals inhabit them, such scorching sunbeams 
and noxious dews descend upon them, that no one 
can linger near them. We may take comfort in our 
own less lovely gardens, and be thankful that al¬ 
though our native land is not so balmy as those 
distant soils, it is one of far truer happiness. We 
can sit and inhale our own summer sweetness in 
peace and safety. It has- pleased a God of mercy to 
divide His blessings among His children, and when 
He withholds one joy, He grants another. We have 
cloudy skies, chilly breezes, and a colder soil; but 
would any one of us barter one British blessing for 
all the geranium thickets of the East? Let us 
encourage these sweet plants as much as possible, as 
border flowers. I have seen them looking rich and 
beautiful, particularly when turned out of the pots, 
which enables the roots to spread freely; but then 
the blossoms were not so large or so numerous, on 
account of the luxuriance of the leaves and stems. 
There are many very beautiful hardy varieties that 
form a rich combination with the old favourite 
scarlet. The ivy basket may now begin to look gay, 
and reward us for the patience with which we have 
waited for it. Eustic stands, roughly nailed together, 
look extremely well when filled with flowering plants. 
They should be rather low, and the supporters 
placed so as to look as little as possible like the legs 
of a table. These things cannot be formed by a 
lady’s hand, and, therefore, in many cases cannot be 
obtained; but where it is practicable they give great 
elegance to the garden, at little cost or trouble. The 
salvia is a sweet and elegant plant, either for the 
flower-stand or the border. The colours are so vivid, 
the crimson is so crimson, and tire blue so blue, that 
they delight the eye; and their balmy scent is re¬ 
freshing and agreeable too. In the open ground they 
look particularly well, if so managed as to fill a bed. 
Cut oil’ the flower-buds for a little while, until you 
have pegged down the young shoots of the plant or 
plants, so as nearly to cover the bed; then let the 
fine spikes of blossom expand, and the effect will be 
splendid. 
The fragrance of the lily of the valley has just 
ceased to greet us. What can exceed a bunch of 
these flowers for beauty, sweetness, and deep interest 
to the Christian heart. Their very attitude instructs 
us, for it shows forth so pointedly the beauty of 
humility, that the violet itself does not surpass it, 
and yet there is a dignity in their quietness that 
adds another charm. These exquisite flowers appear 
almost to be natives of one soil. In some parts of 
England they grow wildly; and in the neighbour¬ 
hood of Newbury, in Berkshire, there are one or two 
spots where they abound in great beauty beneath 
the shade and shelter of copse wood. The vicinity 
of that town is remarkable for the variety of rare and 
beautiful wild flowers that bloom in the meadows 
and woodlands. It is a warm sheltered valley, and 
the grass and trees seem sooner green, and more 
richly clad there, than in any other part of the 
country. The lily of the valley might do extremely 
well if planted in the wilder parts of our gardens, 
as well as in their sunny borders. Wherever the 
scythe is not liable to pass, and especially if the soil 
is cool and moist, they may at least be tried, and if 
content with their new residence, we shall acquire 
a very charming addition to our pleasure ground. 
Many spots in a cottage garden might be occupied 
with these plants, where, perhaps, other flowers do 
not grow well. Shady nooks and corners, which 
sometimes are suffered to be neglected, or filled with 
stones and rubbish, might become green and fra¬ 
grant with these lovely flowers. Not an inch of 
cottage ground should be suffered to be idle. As 
with the heart, so with the garden. If any spot, 
however small, is left untilled, up springs an evil 
weed, or it becomes a wilderness. It is worth notic¬ 
ing how very soon this happens. Though “ swept 
and garnished,” yet, if left “ empty," the house, the 
garden, and the heart, become defiled and rained. 
Let us, then, plant with diligence and care the 
garden of the soil, but let us, with far deeper ear¬ 
nestness, seek the great Husbandman to dress and 
tend the garden of our hearts. The cottage, with all 
its usefulness and beauty, its plants and flowers, is 
but for a little while. Our home is “a house not 
made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” Are we 
preparing for it also ? 
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY’S SHOW. 
July 11th. 
With the thermometer above 80° in the shade, not 
a cloud over the heaven’s face, and a fresh breeze to 
refresh those whom the sun’s rays otherwise would 
have warned to stay at home, we were prepared to 
see the large assemblage of the gay and the beautiful 
who were gathered together on this occasion, more 
especially as we knew that hundreds would be there, 
to stroll through the Duke of Devonshire’s tasteful 
grounds, who cared but little for the plants and fruit 
beneath the Society’s marquees. Our business, how¬ 
ever, is with these plants and fruit, and we will com¬ 
mence by observing generally that all the plants and 
fruit looked more bright and “ hearty” than at the 
two previous shows of the year, affording evidence, 
if it were needed, that nature is a better gardener 
than man even sustained by all that art and science 
can supply. The tropical temperature and the tro¬ 
pical light, for which art can afford no substitute, 
had brought the full tints of health upon the com¬ 
plexions of the plants. 
We shall this week give only some brief notices of 
the specimens exhibited, intending to fill up the 
account more fully in a following number. 
Of the new and rare plants some were highly 
interesting. 
The silver gilt medal was awarded to Messrs. 
Yeitch, nurserymen, of Exeter, for Cycnoches bar- 
batum, a most curious and interesting plant to the 
lovers of orchid*. 
The next prize, the certificate of excellence, was 
awarded to Messrs. Eollison, of Tooting, for a fine 
plant, Metrosideros robustus, with good foliage, and 
curious fine flowers of a crimson hue, having the 
appearance of a bunch of scarlet bristles. For 
adorning a large conservatory, this will be a valuable 
addition. 
The next prize, the large silver medal, was awarded 
to Messrs. Yeitch, for a variety of Cypripedium bar- 
batum. The silver Knightian, to the same firm, for 
an interesting and beautiful species, a Buellia, not 
