New-York tribune., 1907-01-05
GARDENS OLD and NEW.
Isco Delightful Books about Them.
MY GARDEN. BY Eden Phlpotts 12mo, pp. POI.
Charles Scribner's Sons.

MY GARDEN. By Eden Phillpotts. 12mo, PIP. 2o7
Charles Scribner's Sons.
A BOOK OF ENGLISH GARDENS. Written by
~ ~, X; Gloag, Illustrated 1n by katharine Montagu
'Tf." says Mr.. Phillpotts, 1--WE are to be sane
and contented and possible company for our kind,
toy is necessary to each of us. garden
is very good toy" How cherished, beautiful
and successful q toy it may be these enthusiastic
pages testify. The authors accounts Of his hos
pitable experiments with multitude of flower
Ing plants from all over the world most sug-
gestive and beguiling Each growing thing
seems to have real personality for him, and its
vagaries, its temper, its rebellions stir him to
lively comment. There. for example, is Tropeeo-
lum majus who rambes joyously everywhere
about the place and rushes in where perhaps the
choicest creeper or twiner would fear to tread.
He has something in common with a good
hearted but neglected dog. He asks for nothing
and gets it. If we bestow upon him friendly
pat sometimes he can hardly believe his luck"
Tropaoum spec!osum-otherwise the fame fiow-
cred nasturtium-is but little good to q dweller
on the southern coast Of Britain. "I become
mean and petty about Trop@olum speciosum now,
when north country folk expatiate upon it.
Yes say. hear 1t does fairly we'll with you;
but have you It in Chilir They have not
no more have I-yet the mere question de-
presses them and enables me swiftly to change
the subject" There apparently few plants
too recalcitrent to be conquered by this cheerful
amateur. Sometimes they even amaze expecta-
ton with their liberality. did the single little
gourd from Sir Thomas Hanbury's rnatchless
garden in the Riviera The six seeds from It,
planted by Mr. Phillpotts. produced no less than
four distinct varieties of fruit OF different
shapes, sizes and coors. The pretty photograph
which tesuhes 10 this fact shows also some ears
Of Indian corn which the author seems TO find no
difficulty in raising IN England
Green corn is a pleasant vegetable and surprise
familiar dish Let them have But % thst snd 'Hs' ice
and and squash pie. and they ask more-but to be
country o1G w. This concession freely, and Willingly
OF other American immigrants not so prosaic
as Indian corn. the author writes with delight
witness the passages devoted to our water
lilies which he declares to be stronger and
healthier and every way better than those to be
got in England from France. The accom-
panying photographs Of his lovely lily-poo IL
lustrate his uncommon taste in arrangement as
well as his success in growing nymph@as All
the photographs in this volume indeed-and
there is a wealth OF then-are calculated TO
charm and to make envious his fellow gardeners.
Especially beautiful the pictures OF his
irises, a glorious company. In the fascinating
in vivid phrases veritable gallery OF loveliness.
Like all nower-enthusiasts. Mr.. Phfllpotts is
given to discourse on gardeners-often a most
unpleasant subject. Among the good men OF
the species he mentions a rare being. an orchid
expert, who sat up all night to catch slug.
The slug arrived upon his orchid at $50 a. m.
during goldfish morning IN February. and the
execution not delayed. Now that is gar
dening!"
ed me to walk 0 round the gsrdeg wh him and
encourage him: But encouragement the last
rience was clearly limited his Pknowedqe simppst
indicated various unSatisfactory matters. and his
thing but admration and he desired nothing else
Tbere So nne a o1 gs ID read tne T
study TO help practice. What works have you
None he said. II don't want no books. It's
So saying he tapped his great, stupid head.
man Of of that "a mean ,d P freezes me In
fused to look at some obvious ''l geraniums ] which
he ,prided himself upon, turned coldly from him.
ben De9as It is all II very well to possess the whole art
must arrange outlets That gaTdehers duty fy' was
to let his mass mass OF Of il, Information exqde like balm
there was no sign Of It anywhere He kept it
Gardeners are fond of teaching. yet very few
Gere to learn. THIS trait Of course Is universal
tons. and seems not to know all you are telling
him already endeayor to secure that man for your
The Book of English Gardens" is a charming
one. Therein We find described group of the
most famous gardens that England has known.
Many Of them survivals Of that happy time.
centuries ago, before "Capability' Brown went
about destroying the captivating formal garden.
Most of them have at least remnants Of the ar
rangenlent and decoration of former days and
they full Of historical associations In the
garden at Ampthil for example. once walked
Katharine Of Aragon. during that troubled period
when King Harry was striving to divorce the
proud Spaniard; they gay that under the old
elrns that surround the brickwork of an ancient
well the Queen sat with her maids when news
OF the divorce reached her. History and poetry
are rife about these old gardens. and author and
illustrator do full justice to their beauty and
their traditions.