Pot-pourri from a Surrey garden

(No date.) 'Gleanings from Old Garden Literature,' by W. Carew Hazlitt. Of all the recent little books referring in some way directly or indirectly to gardens, this one, I think, gives me the most pleasure. It has all the charm of a conversation with a clever and sym- pathetic man on subjects that are dear to him and to oneself. Mr. Hazlitt quotes, from Cowley's preface to his poem of 'The Garden,' the delightful wish which comes home to so many when the strife and toil of life are more or less over and evening is drawing near : — ' I never had any other desire so strong and so like covetousness as that one which I have had always, that I might be master at last of a small house and large garden, with very moderate conveniences joined to them, and there dedicate the remainder of my life to the culture of them and the study of Nature.' To anyone who has found any interest in my book-notes, I would say, ' Get this little book ; you will find pleasure in it.' 1881. ' Notes and Thoughts on Gardens and Wood- lands,' by the late Frances Jane Hope. This is a most excellent and helpful work to the true amateur gardener. Though without the unique literary flavour of that book, it 24o POT-POURRI FROM A SURREY GARDEN belongs in a way to what I would call the ' Lancashire Garden ' series, and is not only useful by reason of its suggestive and instructive qualities, but is full of indi- viduality and information. Miss Hope strikes the true note, and one, it seems, of the real difficulties of left-alone half- wild gardens, when she says, ' These two winters and one summer have spoilt our spring beds and borders, and a thorough upturn and change of plan will be requisite. It was impossible to use a fork or hoe in 1879 in our soil ; the result of the leave-alone system is a carpet of Marchantia and Hypnum sericeum. To scrape these pests off does no real good, for the earth is caked below and impervious to air, sun, or rain. So we are longing for our bulb treasures to be up, and to get on to our alterations, do away with rings and surfacings, and whatever prevents us loosening the earth between each plant. Looking at our border, the only real advantage of what is called bedding-out struck me forcibly, being the thorough work- ing and justice done to the soil.' The whole book is simply about gardening, but of the most intelligent and suggestive kind. 1884. ' Hardy Perennials,' by John Wood. An ex- cellent, cheap, instructive little book. Mr. Wood, of Kirkstall, Yorkshire, has a very fine collection of herb- aceous plants for sale. 1884. 'Days and Hours in a Garden,' by E. V. B. This is a garden book rather breathing the sweet luxury and joy of a garden than one very full of instruction or practical experience. E. V. B. herself owns one of the most beautiful gardens I know ; and the book has, I think, that power which is one of the highest qualities of art, of making one feel beauty. The little pen-and-ink drawings are full of charm ; and on the expanse of an inch — for these little headings to chapters are scarcely more — one breathes the pure air of Heaven. As she herself quotes, NOVEMBER 241