168 THE FLORIST. 
residence also of the ugliest and leanest pig in the parish: . Mr: Cooper 
devoted his spare time, at that period, to swearing, thick ale, and 
skittles, and, lightly esteeming a vegetable diet, quite ignored the — 
science of horticulture. Somehow the Curate got hold of ‘Tom, by 
giving him work, I think (“just like them Jesseites,” Mrs. V. remarked), 
when he was nearly starving, and as Jean as the pig which he had | 
been compelled to sell, and then talked him into his ‘ sober senses.” 
And now no labourer about the place has a cleaner, neater, bit of 
ground than Tom. Dock -and Groundsel, Thistle and Twitch, which 
once grew as Closely together as the bristles of his neglected beard, have 
been displaced for Lapstone Kidneys and Cottager’s Kale, for Goose- 
berry trees and Currant trees, for the Peony, the Sweetwilliam, and 
the Rose. It does one good to see Tom, when the daylight lengthens, 
digging and hoeing, sowing and setting; while Tom, junior, proudly 
holding a brown-paper packet of seeds, scowls at small Jacky for 
running between fayther’s legs; and mother, with her baby at the 
cottage door, looks on with a thankful heart.’ And you would haye | — 
been affected, I am sure, if, at our last horticultural exhibition, you 
had seen as I saw the Curate, with his hand on Tom’s shoulder, 
congratulating him on the prizes he had won. 
Syak. iH 
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY’S NEW GARDEN. 
Mr. NESFIELD’s design for the new garden at Kensington Gore haying . 
been published and widely distributed, the public are able to form some 
opinion of what the general effect will be when the garden is completed, » 
so far as a ground plan on a limited scale can convey that idea. The» 
space appropriated for the new gardens is nearly 22 acres... The shape, 
of the plot being that of a parallelogram, in the proportion of about. 
three in length to two in width, the northern end terminating in a 
semi-ellipse shape, abutting on which is to be the grand winter garden 
or conservatory. We may add also that the ground slopes from the 
north to the south. From this very brief description, it will be obvious 
to those conversant with the subject, that a geometric garden on a grand ~ 
scale would best adapt itself to the site and configuration of the ground, 
even had the Italian arcades, which are to surround the gardens, not 
have been contemplated; but when it 1s understood that these arcades,” 
which are to be 25 feet wide and 20 feet high, and which are to open® 
on the garden (forming a long promenade round them), will be of a 
- highly decorative character, and that again, behind these, the surs: 
rounding buildings form some of the most imposing ranges of archis. 
tecture in the metropolis, it becomes conclusive that a strictly geometric: 
garden, which would admit of the mtroduction of architectural embellish~: 
ments, fountains, &c., to an almost indefinite extent, could alone meet 
the requirements for which the garden is constructed, and at the same’ 
time harmonize with the surrounding buildings. Looking at the plan 
designed by Mr. Nesfield, in its general features, we think that he has 
laid down an admirably arranged series of terraces’ and slopes, which, 
cy 
