New-York tribune., 1901-05-11

peculiar obligation to him by Including the
Garden Kalendar" in this edition; and he has
also earned gratitude by restoring a great
many passages which il has hitherto been
deemed legitimate TO omit from The Natural
History" Nor should we forget the charming
essay by Dean Hole which is prehxed to the
Garden Ksendar," Mr.. Sharpe promises as
separate memoir OF Gilbert White. His work
upon the present volumes inclines us TO believe
that that memoir viii be a valuable addition 10
English biography.
One rather expects 10 find that the restored
passages 10 which reference has been made VIII
not prove OF very great Importance. and possibly
they are not Indispensable TO the work. All the
Same. they are frequently OF very decided in
tenest. Witness this fragment, delightful IN
its style relating 10 a famous explorer:
i met with paragraph IN the newspapers
some weeks ago, that gave me some odd sensa-
tlons. kind Of mixture Of pleasure & pain
al the same dine; il as follows: ION the
sixth day OF August Joseph Banks Esq, accom-
panyed by Dr. Solander. Mr.. Green the Astron-
oner, DC: set out for Deal in order TO embark
aboard the Endeavor. Captain Cook bound for
the SOuth-seas" When / reflect on the youth
and affiuerce Of this enterprizing Gent: I am
nlled with wonder 10 see how conspicuously the
contempt Of dangers, & the love OF excelling
IN his faVorite studies stands forth in his char
acter. Yet tho / admire his resolution which
scorns 70 stoop 10 any difficulties; / cannot d.
vest myself Of some degree Of sOlicitude for his
person. The Communication of the Globe is
an Undertaking that must shake the constitu-
ZION OF person Injured 10 a sea-faring life from
MS childhood. d how much more then of q lands
man. MAJ We not hone that this strong irlplllsa
which urges forward this distinguished natural
LIST TO brave the intemperance Of every climate;
may also lead him 70 the discovery Of something
hlghiy beneficial 10 mankind? II he survives.
with what delight shall we peruse his Journals
MS Fauna, his Fl0ra2 . II he falls bv the wav
shall revere his fortitude. a contempt Of pleas
uies' a. inculgences: but shall always regret
him. tho my knowledge OF his worth was OF
slender
We choose this passage because Of its more
general interest, but il may be noted that for
the special student the new material In this
edition is very rich. including much scientific
information. OF the Garden Kalendar" il
might be said that. from a practical point OF
view, Its value is limited. and that as literature
IL is also Of slight account Yet it is Of real sig
nfcance 10 the lover OF White. inasmuch as IL
presents. though in the simplest form. picture
OF the gentle clergyman watching and control
ing the evolution Of his garden from year TO
year There may not be much useful fllumina-
ton IN the statement that White on February
D. in the year 1853 turned out Of their pots
and planted in deep mould several OF the hest
cucumber plants. plants strong and thriving"
but 10 any one who has saturated himself I'm the
spirit OF his masterpiece these pages. which dis
ciose ms care Tor the SOIL his ambition TO raise
good melons and so on. have a certain charm
Ihey show so clearly that, as Dean Hole re-
marks with emphasis ''he was his own gar
dener."
He believed that the Golden Rule. which pre-
vailed in his day as condition OF success In
agriculture. that
He who by the plough would thrive
Himself must either hold or drive"
was 10 be observed in horticulture. and that no
VIII work quite well for another as he
can for himself He knew when. where and how
10 perform all garden work, and when the
process was important ne did a. or saw II
done His nephew. John" and ''Tull" were his
subordinates. He employs labourers two and
three al a time 10 do rough work; Dame Ttlr-
ner and her girls came In 10 weed the walks:
but he sows his own choice seed, strikes his own
cuttings prunes his vines transplants a null
perry tree which he had raised from a layer
makes q bed OF aromatic herbs superintends the
erupping, burning and planting In new ground
eooco to his garden. the cutting OF the alleys