Gardening: Cuttings: Flowers at a price

IN 1815, Goethe professed to be astonished by 'the mad luxury carried on in England with regard to books'. One of the most luxurious of them all comes up for auction at Christie's this Wednesday. It is The Temple of Flora, published by Robert Thornton, which contains superb colour plates of a wide variety of flowers. It is expected to realise pounds 30,000- pounds 40,000.