140 THE FLORIST. 
experiences of a very limited range, he was invited to attend a general 
meeting of our Floral and Cottage-gardening Association. The proceedings 
terminated with a supper, and at this supper were handed round some 
Jerusalem Artichokes, which Mr. Oldacres had kindly sent from the 
Castle. Now Joseph is a very impartial feeder, accepting all things, 
(I was compelled on one occasion sternly to reprove a facetious waiter, 
whom I caught winking at his assistant, as he offered to my friend the 
sweet pudding-sauce, and watched him pouring it liberally all over his 
boiled rabbit),—and he now helped himself accordingly. Presently an 
expression of extreme disrelish passed over his rosy tace, and beckoning 
to the landlord of our village inn, the Gunter of our feast, he asked, 
disdainfully, to be informed, ‘‘ Whose swilltub he had robbed o’ them 
things?” The reply was, that they had come from the Castle, a present 
from Mr. Oldacres. A momentary surprise and hesitation flitted over 
Mr. Grundy’s lineaments, and then he spoke bravely, as he ever does, 
his thoughts :—‘‘ Duke or no Duke, if poor ould chap gets no better 
taturs nor these, he’d be foine and pleased with a Turnip!” 
Hence the allusion of Mr. Oldacres. But Joseph is generally ready 
for him with some amusing rejoinder, and is never indeed to be lightly 
regarded, as an adversary in jest and banter. There came a stranger 
to one of our meetings, I forget by whom introduced, and who must have 
possessed, if phrenology be true, so large an organ of self-esteem as 
considerably to perplex his hatter. This gentleman was pleased during 
the evening to turn his attention to Joseph Grundy, and, rightly 
inferring from his appearance that he was not a highly scientific gardener, 
to inquire, in ridicule, “‘ What Orchids he thought of exhibiting at the 
next Crystal Palace Show?” J. G. took four long pulls at his pipe, 
and then answered very meekly, ‘<I have n’t no Orchids, if you please, 
Sir, and I’m not much of a shower; but I think I know what prize 
you ‘ll win, Sir.” <‘* Indeed,” said our visitor, evidently pleased with 
the notion that his fame as a florist was known to us all, ‘‘ and which 
may that be?”’ ‘* Well,” said Joseph, ‘‘ thou ‘It be first 17 Cockscombs, 
and thou’lt not be very far behind i’ Greens.” 
And now that I have brought Spade No. 4 in safety back to our 
club-room, let me express the hope that he has not wearied you; and 
let me introduce you to his Reverence, the Curate. 
5. RAH, 
EARLY GRAPES. 
THE nearly entire failure of the early Grape crop this season will go far 
to teach gardeners a practical lesson, demonstrating the uncertainty of 
producing a crop of early Grapes in March and April from old Vines 
and outside borders; and as, according to the general practice of 
fruiting Vines in pots, whereby a fresh supply of fruiting plants is 
required yearly, pot growing is not at all an economical system, 
whatever other advantages it may possess, I determined some years 
back to see how long I could fruit my Vines so as to pay, in the 
same pot; and having succeeded much better than I anticipated, 
