The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-27
VICToRIA,s FANcIEs.
She Had Many. and Retained Them
to the END.

Victoria the Coed had many hobbies. She
collected photographs china, and camel's-
hair shawle She prided herself on her
mastery Of Hindostanee. She was an ad-
mirer of fine cattle and had weakness
for white and cream colored'' horses. But
above and beyond all other things. Victo-
ria loved flowers. AS girl and as young
matron she was an enthusiastic gardener.
Her big sunhat was almost as familiar to
the gardeners of Windsor as were the car
nation beds in which the sovereign was
specially fond OF working, shipping, and
clipping and wedding, to her great content
and the gardeners amazement One OF the
favoTite stories (Britons always call them
pretty Stories" says tho Commercial
Advertiser'D, told of Empress Frederick
is that when she was small girl she was
assisting her royal mother in the flower
beds. The Queen noticed that the small
Victoria did not wear gardening gloves,
and reminded her that when she tthe
QUeen) was a child she was not permit
ted to work in the garden with bare hands.
Perhaps not" said the young Victoria
according TO the pretty story'), but you
were not born Princess Royal of England.
was
The Queens favorite flowers were vio-
lets and her greenhouses always boosted
some in bloom, as the old as well as the
new varieties were cultivated by her
gardeners. Roses under glass were also
specially CT the Queens greenhouses,
and the climbing white niphetos was Her
Majesty's favorite. She also loved mig
nonette. wall-iiowers, honeysuckle, and
other hardy outdoor plants and blossoms
that were generally grown in her young
days.
The orchid house at Frogmore shows
some rare plants, and the sacred bean of
Egypt was always visited in its flower
ing season by its royal owner; few cul-
tivators succeed in blooming il yearly. a
fact of which Her Majesty was justly
proud. The palrnhouse is Frightened by
the scarlet flowers Of the poinsettia.
which are cut in quantities for vase and
table decoration. For maidenhair ferns
the Queen had fancy, and her private
sitting-room was generally adorned by
fine specimen or two.
The advance made in all branches of
gardening during her reign interested the
Queen much more than mere discoveries
like the telephone and electric lighting.
1t was only few years ago that she con-
scented TO have electric lights In her vari-
Gus palaces. but she was always ready TO
make experiments IN horticulture ana Try
any new methods of growing fruits and
vegetables.
Among the fruits cultivated under glass
for Victorie's special delectation were ba-
nanas and strawberries. the former bear
ing fruit. the latter poisoning. about
Christmas time; and basketfuls of Iipe
strawberries were picked every February
for the Queens table.
Grapes make fine show at Windsor
TIN wineries, heavy with thousands of
clu. ers OF grapes, are a wonderful sight.
In hese houses it is possible to gather
pei hes in May. and this is where over
IL 30 strawberry plants are raised annu-
ally. One novelty in the way OF fruit is
the Japanese date plum. Here, too, or
rather in specially constructed pits quite
near. grow the pineapples, which are ready
in midwinter. and are Of noted excellence.
Tomatoes are never "out Of season" at
Windsor. and the Queens gardeners are
said 10 grow the finest green peas, beans,
and potatoes in England.