•• And when the weary traveler gains The height of some commanding hill, His heart revives, if o'er the plains He sees his home, though distant still".

And thus, in the florid diction of the poet, is described the power of imagination, combined with happy memories, which fondly cling to the past, and remain with us still. And in ideality the writer again sees from " the height of some commanding hill " an antiquated garden, once famous for the number of remarkable topiarian treasures it contained, of holly, box and yew, which our ingenious ancestors had trimmed into many peculiar forms. And the lasting impressions they made upon the plastic mind of the boy, who, as a favor, was often admitted to see them, are as vivid now, after so many long years, as though they were actually still in view. While perhaps the most astonishing examples of that ancient art were two heroic sized topiarian marvels, adroitly shaped into the exact resemblance of Mercury, the winged messenger; and Atlas, with the globe poised on his shoulders; of which not a vestige now remains. And in the rear of these curious living green sculptured bushes, stood an old, heavy timbered greenhouse, glazed with narrow panes of semi-opaque glass, cut into every conceivable form - except square.

Apparently, most of the early structures of this kind were glazed with waste window-glass, cut from the rough and wavy out-sides of the circular crystal tables, or sheets, as the glass-blowers produced them in those days, when windows were taxed. Growing within this archaic plant-house, were the meagre types or progenitors of some of our highly developed class of flowering plants, so indispensable for summer decoration in the beds and "borders about our pleasure grounds now. And, as through the mental vision their comely features are seen again, one feels amazed at the wonderful change which has been gradually taking place since then. In reality, they are floral links which bind the present to the past. And yet, notwithstanding, no conjurer's transformation tricks could ever be more astonishing, or complete, when touched with the enchanter's wand, than Time, the subtle alchemist has performed in the domain of horticulture, within our recollection.

And there are many, whose brows are not yet furrowed, neither are their heads crowned with gray, who practice the " art which doth mend nature; change it rather" - who can remember the poor little posies, which pleased them less than fifty years ago. While old graybeards, whose memories run still further back, will not have forgotten the time when very meek little flowers with even less pretensions, had their day, and were considered "most beautiful things".

"Our rural ancestors with little blessed," possibly experienced as much pleasure in their quaint old gardens, while cultivating or " culling simples" and flowers, long before the advent of the modern grand displays were dreamt of, though happily now so common to us in this our glorious age of flowers.

When looking back at the very brief lists of bedding stuff, which comprised the stock of first-class places "in the days of auld lang syne," we naturally wonder how they made out with so few things for ornamentation, compared with what we now-a-days have at our command. But if the gentle readers will consult the horticultural pages of the past, and examine the pictures which illustrated some of the famous places of the period, they will be equally surprised and delighted with the pleasing, and oftentimes picturesque effects, the liberal use of herbaceous plants gave to the scene. These much neglected flowers, with the aid of old-fashioned annuals, sown in clumps and patches among them, never failed to make a goodly show, and give delight to those who loved them.

To exemplify, without amplifying examples, three species of plants are selected as fair representatives of what were then considered fully up to the regulation standard of perfection; to show how they compare with similar species, in this our year of grace, namely, - Cinerarias, Calceolarias, and Petunias.

Calceolarias, of both shrubby and herbaceous kinds, with mostly puny sulphur colored flowers, a few of which were irregularly spotted with brown were looked upon as something superb, when but slightly larger than a ripe white grape currant. Since then, they seem to have been gradually increasing in size, and with improved form and more brilliant colors, from the semblance of little fairy pockets - to those of watch fobs for giants. Insignificant as they might appear now, they were nevertheless much admired when they had nothing better of their kind; and then, they grew freely, and flowered profusely.

And there are visions not yet effaced from memory of many an antiquated greenhouse, like the one alluded to, in which used to grow Cinerarias, and Petunias, more remarkable for the lack of that which constitutes floral excellence, according to our advanced ideas of floriculture, than for anything else. And yet, the good folk who grew them considered them elegant and useful greenhouse plants; and no doubt felt just as proud of them as we at present do of the more splendid varieties which have succeeded them.

Of the first named, the poorest kind of star wort found growing in neglected fence corners, or struggling for existence along the dusty country roadsides, was on a par with most kinds of them, in times gone by. But what of that; they were the best they had, and were prized accordingly. And of Petunias, which were formerly regarded as choice and lovely pot plants, very useful for the beautiful show they made in the greenhouse during the winter season; the writer remembers when but five or six varieties were all the kinds in cultivation. Were it possible for the present enthusiastic admirers of pretty flowers to get a glimpse of them at this day, they would be apt to dub them "a shabby lot." And yet, notwithstanding their want of comeliness - as we judge them now - and as it was with the other two mentioned, having no superiors - as each novelty appeared, however poor it might be, it was gladly accepted as something different, if not an improvement, upon its predecessor. And thus, with these acknowledged merits it obtained public favor, and while remaining without a rival, it had the distinguished advantage of being one of the newest, if not the nicest things ever sent out.

They, the amateurs and professionals of that time, good souls! many of whom have not yet gone to "the land o' the leal," could hardly have believed it, though a prophet had predicted the coming of better things, especially among Petunias, that they would live to realize such extraordinary improvements, as have come to pass in these latter days among the flowers. They could not possibly have had any conception of the size and brilliant coloring, which renders them so conspicuous in the greenhouse or garden. And flowers variegated, rayed, blotched, penciled, mottled, fringed, or striped, were then unknown. Neither had the fine double rose, or camellia kinds, then made their appearance : they were reserved for us to admire later on. And with the greatest variety of single, double, and semi-double kinds imaginable, some of which are fragrant, almost every garden in summer is gay with them throughout the land. The few exceptions there may be to so commendable a practice, are much to be regretted; as there cannot be any sunshine in the heart that exhibits no love for flowers.

Watching the progress of horticulture, as the writer has for many years, and ever alert to observe improvements in floriculture, at the same time, he was, notwithstanding his expectations to see " something good," be it said, much surprised at the sight of the remarkable development of one of. David Fergusson & Sons' seedling single blotched Petunias, during the past summer, which measured a little over four inches across the flower. And when I inform the younger followers of the most ancient of all earthly occupations, that he who thus writes the chronicles of gardening, as it was, in his youthful days, has a clear recollection of the popular first-class kinds, with their dingy-white, flabby little flowers, of less than an inch in diameter, much more like small Nierembergias, than modern Petunias, the reason will be obvious why he should place upon record such a marvel of evolution. Mount Holly, N. J.