POEM. The Land We Live In. Written by P. M. King (1870)  Friends and fellow-countrymen! we meet again,  To-day, as Irishmen, as countrymen!  We meet not in our own old Shamrock land,  But here, on the Pacific’s distant strand;  Not in our own Evergreen Isle, ‘tis true,  But here in a land that is always new,  Where Nature ever smiling seems to be,  Bounteous alike o’er Land and Sea.  This fertile soil, which you may truly call  The land of plenty, with liberty for all!  Here in this land, but once so nobly won  By Freedom’s first of heroes — Washington!  Ever sacred name! Thy banner when unfurled,  Proclaims at once — Freedom to the world!  (Excerpt) 

POEM. The Land We Live In.

Written by P. M. King (1870) 

Friends and fellow-countrymen! we meet again, 

To-day, as Irishmen, as countrymen! 

We meet not in our own old Shamrock land, 

But here, on the Pacific’s distant strand; 

Not in our own Evergreen Isle, ‘tis true, 

But here in a land that is always new, 

Where Nature ever smiling seems to be, 

Bounteous alike o’er Land and Sea. 

This fertile soil, which you may truly call 

The land of plenty, with liberty for all! 

Here in this land, but once so nobly won 

By Freedom’s first of heroes — Washington! 

Ever sacred name! Thy banner when unfurled, 

Proclaims at once — Freedom to the world! 

(Excerpt) 

Clarence Elliott (a famous English alpine nurseryman) in his greenhouse, as photographed by Valerie Finnis (1924-2006), from her book Garden People: The Photographs of Valerie Finnis (2007). Ms. Finnis traveled the British countryside during the latter half of the 20th Century, photographing dedicated gardeners tending their roses, clipping topiaries, or inspecting their greenhouses. Some of her subjects were well known, like Tolkien and Roald Dahl, while others were nurserymen or plant enthusiasts. She used a Rolleiflex camera, a gift from a friend. Valerie Finnis was awarded the Victoria Medal of Honour in 1975 by the Royal Horticultural Society. According to RHS rules, only 63 horticulturists can hold the award at any given time, in commemoration of Queen Victoria’s 63-year-reign. The award was established in 1897. 02/18/2013 UPDATE: Thank you to the editor at Thames & Hudson (London) for clarifying that the gentleman in the photo is Clarence Elliott - not J.R.R. Tolkien as previously identified. (This photograph is floating around on numerous internet sites with Tolkien’s name attached to it, however, that is not correct.) 

Clarence Elliott (a famous English alpine nurseryman) in his greenhouse, as photographed by Valerie Finnis (1924-2006), from her book Garden People: The Photographs of Valerie Finnis (2007). Ms. Finnis traveled the British countryside during the latter half of the 20th Century, photographing dedicated gardeners tending their roses, clipping topiaries, or inspecting their greenhouses. Some of her subjects were well known, like Tolkien and Roald Dahl, while others were nurserymen or plant enthusiasts. She used a Rolleiflex camera, a gift from a friend. Valerie Finnis was awarded the Victoria Medal of Honour in 1975 by the Royal Horticultural Society. According to RHS rules, only 63 horticulturists can hold the award at any given time, in commemoration of Queen Victoria’s 63-year-reign. The award was established in 1897. 

02/18/2013 UPDATE: Thank you to the editor at Thames & Hudson (London) for clarifying that the gentleman in the photo is Clarence Elliott - not J.R.R. Tolkien as previously identified. (This photograph is floating around on numerous internet sites with Tolkien’s name attached to it, however, that is not correct.) 

The Book of Vegetables (1907), by Allen French. 
“Liquid manure” as spoken of in this book, can be conveniently made by immersing a bag of fresh horse manure in a tub of water. The product is strong in nitrogen, and is excellent as an application to plants which are expected to make a good stalk and leaf growth. The liquid manure should be applied dilute, and in small quantities; it should be put upon the ground, and never upon the plant itself. 


It’s much easier today, to apply liquid manure to flowers and vegetables. Here’s a source for Cow Manure Tea from Authentic Haven Brand, for the modern urban farmer.