February  20,  1902. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
169 
I  cannot  describe  the  architecture  of  the  rectory,  for 
several  reasons.  In  the  first  place  there  have  been  so  many 
little  bits  stuck  on  from  time  to  time  that  the  original  is 
almost  lost ;  and  then  the  whole  front  and  the  verandah  is 
such  a  mass  of  creepers  and  trailing  plants  that  the  work  of 
the  builder  is  hidden.  But  it  is  a  homely  spot.  The  roof 
is  rambling  and  low,  the  windows  overlook  the  lawn,  and 
a  piece  of  glebe  land  beyond,  and  a  peep  through  the  glass 
doors,  which  seem  made  to  stand  open,  reveals  an  interior 
as  homely  and  comfortable  as  a  house  can  well  be.  The 
rector  is  proud  of  his  garden,  but  it  is  not  a  selfish  pride. 
On  certain  days  the  gates  are  thrown  open,  and  a  welcome 
is  extended  to  every  person  in  the  parish,  without  regard 
to  sect  or  creed.  Curious  things  have  hap 
occasions.  Men  who  held  aloof  from  churc 
see  the  rectory  garden,  and,  when  chatting  a 
Dened  on  these 
1  have  gone  to 
)out  his  flowers 
provides  the  flowers  that  are  placed  by  sorrowing 
patishoners  oq  fn-shly  made  mounds  in  God’s-acre  close: 
by  if  they  have  neither  garden  nor  flowers  of  their  own. 
You  wonder  why  the  rector  grows  great  masses  of  certain 
conspicuous  flowers — white  Lilies,  scarlet  Zinnias,  and 
others.  You  need  not  wonder  long  ;  they  are  for  the  decora¬ 
tion  of  the  old  church  on  festive  and  holy  days.  About  this 
the  gardener  has  a  grievance  of  his  OAvn.  Not  a  serious  one, 
perhaps,  but  the  rector  will  insist  on  encroaching  further 
and  further  on  the  vegetable  domain  for  his  flowers,  that 
the  old  man  runs  his  fingers  distractedly  through  his  scanty 
grey  hair,  and  wonders  “  where  th’  parson  thinks  he’s  goin’ 
to  grow  stuff  for  th’  kitchen  when  every  inch  of  th’  garden  is 
full  o’  flowers.” 
Now  and  then  little  notes  are  sent  out  to  interested 
parishioners  when  there  is  anything  special  in  flower,  and 
the  owner  has  led  up  to  the  matter  dearest  to  his  heart,  and 
the  following  Sabbath  one  more  seat  in  the  old  church  has 
found  a  tenant. 
In  the  absence  of  the  rector  a  walk  through  the  garden 
is  destitute  of  a  great  charm,  but  with  him  it  is  a  treat.  He 
is  no  greenhouse  gardener,  and  the  whole  glass  accommoda¬ 
tion  is  a  single  structure  that  was  erected  to  satisfy  the 
needs  of  the  grey-headed  factotum  who  looks  after  the  estab¬ 
lishment,  digs  the  graves,  tolls  the  bell,  and  sounds  the 
“  A  mens  ”  in  the  neighbouiing  church.  I  have  said  that 
the  rector  is  no  specialist ;  nor  is  he,  unless  it  be  that  he 
makes  a  speciality  of  many  things,  for  his  ideas  are  m 
broad  as  his  religious  views.  He  loves  his  flowers  for  their 
own  sakes,  as  well  as  for  the  uses  to  which  they  can  be  put. 
The  village  maiden  about  to  tie  the  sacred  knot  at  the  altar 
in  the  church  has  only  to  ask  for  the  needful  for  her  bouquet 
and  she  receives.  In  the  same  way  the  rectory  garden  ! 
those  are  the  times  to  find  the  rector’s  enthusiasm  at  its 
height.  Like  many  a  brother  of  the  cloth,  the  old  gentleman 
has  a  weakness  for  Roses,  and  a  sheltered  part  of  the  garden 
is  devoted  to  them.  No  bloom  from  his  plants  has  ever 
graced  a  show  board,  but  the  rector’s  collection  is  no  ordinary 
one.  He  knows  every  flower  by  name,  and  the  eagerness 
with  which  he  watches  the  unfolding  of  the  petals  of  a  new 
variety  marks  him  as  a  rosarian.  Up-to-date  he  is  in  regard 
to  Roses,  but  without  discarding  the  older  loves.  When  a 
new  variety  arrives  room  has  to  be  made  for  it,  but  not  at 
the  expense  of  doing  away  Avith  an  old  friend ;  and  this  is 
the  gardener’s  bone  of  contention.  Just  AA^hen  the  Roses 
are  in  flower  the  parson  arranges  for  the  annual  school  treat, 
on  Avhich  occasion  the  garden  is  public  property  ;  and  while 
the  youngsters  are  enjoying  their  games  in  the  field  in  front, 
the  rector  may  be  seen  in  the  midst  of  his  Roses,  Avith  a 
crowd  of  fathers  and  mothers  round  him,  preaching  a  sermon 
