Pot-pourri from a Surrey garden

yrethrum uli- ginosum, Reseda (Mignonette), Rudbeckia neumani, Scabious of sorts, Statice latifolia, Tagetes (Marigold), Tansy, Tritonia tropceolum, Nasturtiums of sorts, Vinca, Periwinkle, Viola, Verbena, Yucca, Zinnia. It seems hardly necessary to mention that many of 192 POT-POURRI FROM A SURREY GARDEN these plants flower earlier further South than they do in Lancashire. October %Qth. — The French proverb, ' La varie'te' c'est la vie,' always appeals to me in many things, especially domestic ones. I know nothing such a test of a good housekeeper as a periodic change of biscuits. Every- body tires of the best biscuits in the world, and the new shape and the old biscuits of better quality should ring the changes. All through the summer a slight surprise and pleasure comes at the end of a little dinner if a buttonhole of sweet-smelling flowers and leaves are carefully tied up (fine wire does them the least clumsily) and dropped into the water in the finger-bowls. Nothing should be used but what is really sweet — Lemon- scented Verbena and Geranium leaves being the prin- cipal foundation ; and in summer there ought always to be plenty of these two in the smallest gardens. I think it may be a little amusement or help to some of you if I make a list of a few of my dinner-table decorations during the six months in the country :— April. — White Allium with greenhouse Asparagus, red Geranium in low vases between, with no green. Various spring flowers and blossoms arranged, each separate, in small narrow-necked vases, having the effect of a miniature spring garden. May. — A Japanese arrangement of Clematis montana and greenhouse Asparagus. Parrot Tulips in narrow glasses all about the table. Pink ivy-leaved Geranium, called Souvenir of Charles Turner, in a large flat glass in the middle, and a pretty pink Pelargonium all round. Oriental Poppies, no green. In the middle an arrange- ment of German Iris of four or five different shades. Perennial herbaceous Lupins, white and blue, with their own lovely leaves; they must never be allowed to OCTOBER 193 droop, but go at once into water. Lilies of the Valley and Narcissus poeticus. Narcissus poeticus and Stachys lanata. June. — Iceland Poppies (three colours), Cornflowers, and London Pride ; no green ; very pretty, like a French woman's bonnet. Herbaceous Peonies, white and pale pink. Lilium thunbergianum and green. Gloire de Dijon Eoses floating in water in flat vases, and green- house Maidenhair Fern. Mrs. Sinkins Pink and Gypso- phila elegans. Gypsophila and pink Shirley Poppies. Yellow Snapdragons and Gypsophila ; this was pretty and uncommon. Mixed Roses. White Madonna Lilies with various white flowers, and pale green. July. — Yellow French Daisy and Gypsophila panicu- lata. Small vases with blue Campanula turbinata. Calceo- laria amplexicaule. Gypsophila paniculata, Nasturtiums, and leaves of variegated ground Ivy. Clematis (Travellers' Joy) trained up a Bamboo in the middle, wedged. Mixed Carnations and Gypsophila paniculata. Carnation (Lady Agnes) with own green, or from Mrs. Sinkins. August. — White Sweet Pea and Gypsophila paniculata. Branches of the Everlasting Pea laid on the tablecloth. Salpiglossis and Gypsophila paniculata. Sweet Geranium leaves and pink Ivy-leaved Geranium (Souvenir of Charles Turner).