© OCTOBER!) | 207 
to roll - beneath: the shadow of trees; ‘extremes meet. The absence of 
all that is:artificial; andithe possession ‘of all that’ wealth can produce, 
S0;far asimere-animal enjoyment is concerned, are nearly akin. 3 
e» The garden rented by the gentleman whose visitor 1 was during my 
residence in Florence was not more than 200 feet square, and. was 
precisely like the ‘allotment of nearly every mansion in the city. Never 
have  Liseen' Roses more ebundant, in greater variety, or more fragrant, 
than those :thate grew: inthis ‘limited “space. Orange ‘trees, Figs, 
Jasmine; Oleanders, Pomegranates, and’'Vines covered the wall; and 
two fountains; constantly imactiony addedto' the charm. ~ Birds sang: 
on! the itrees 3: lizards darted across’ the walls ; ‘Carnations made the air 
spicy.oi The iowner of this little; sanctum coveted not the domain. of 
Prinée Torrepiani;.and:f thought of ‘home and my thirty-six plants, 
which, besides: a Ward's case,’ a double window, and'sundry imprisoned 
Ferns}is' alhthe garden: that D:have space for; yet to’ keep those six- 
and-thirty: garden pots always gay affords me amusenient perhaps 
equalito that which many realise from large possessions. “To be grateful 
telthe Giver! of all goodfor such blessings ‘as fall ‘to our’ lot, to appreciate 
thé! beauty ofall created things, to be content, and to enjoy with thank- 
fulness andowithout- envy the superior advantages of our neighbours, 
is; possible with msall>: There ‘are treasures ‘in art which no wealth can 
purchase; and many ‘other hereditary luxuries which, as heir-looms, 
cannot Ibesalienated ; ai check is) provided for the most ‘soaring ambition. 
Lhe coveted: Tulips of Dutch: burgomasters become'a flagrant fiction for 
bills, of ‘exchange’;! the: Mountain ‘Daisy, a poet’s theme, a household 
word, \Humility may dwell, beneath a’ royal mantle, and pride in the 
breast ofiacpauper:o ‘Lorbe truthfulin ‘all things, and to do our duty in 
that station of life to which it has pleased God to call us, 1s to secure 
happiness. .y/rocoug : C. E: 
ee 
narbled VISITS TO, NOURSERIES;—No, Ih 
“MESSRS. E.G. HENDERSON: & SON, WELLINGTON ‘NURSERY, 
adh élodod: od St... Joun’s.. Woop. 
THERE are: two seasons’ in the'year when a visit to this well-known 
establishment: (and’assuredly it is not the fault of its enterprising pro- 
prietors if if, be! not! well known), may be most profitably paid—viz., in 
spring,when'the: greenlouses ‘are’ filled with Azaleas, Camellias, and 
dther.flowering* plants; ‘and the» beds are gay with the various bulbous 
roots they:so largely: import! ‘and cultivate; or again, in early autumn, 
when thehouses indeedare well nigh empty, but’ when the various 
kinds of bedding“plants are on’ their trial out of doors. Every gardener 
will/at/once confess that; for the latter purpose, few seasons have been 
so unfavourable of late years as’ the present one ; so few things come 
trué to character, so’ many have hardly bloomed at all, that it is well 
nigh impossible: to: pronounce decidedly ‘on what to retain or avoid. 
However, I‘had not seen‘the’gardens ‘in the spring, and I did not wish 
to.lose them inthe ‘autumn; 's0, ‘just’ before’ gomg to the Floral Com- 
inittee, onthe 138th, 1 spent''a ‘couple of hours in going through them, 
