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Of the smaller flowers *in bloom the pulnionarias (lung. worts) are now old favourites tha seldomseen. This is a pity, for more accommodating plants it would be difficult to find. They flourish on any soil, they like shade (yet they do quite well in sun), they make a -charming -compactedging, and they produce their bright flowers with . lavish generosity under almost any conditions. The modern varieties are striking, but I Still like best p. officinalis, " soldiers and sailors," to give it an old popular name„ and so called because of the red and blue flowers. (The flowers are red at first and turn blue). The daffodils are now in their full beauty, 'but in a few weeks one will see countless instances of their leaves tied into knots by the would-be tidy. gardener. This is always a distressing spectacle, for no leaves can 'do their work of gathering food when tied up in this cruel fashion. There is nothing ugly about a fading leaf, but those knots are an eyesore. Bulbs which have flowered in pots are frequently thrown away at this time of year, but if planted out carefully and gently as soon as they have finished flowering, and before the leaves even begin to fade, they will flower next year. The handsomest flowers now in bloom are the Crown Imperials, and the pale yellow are I think more beautiful than the reddish or orange varieties. Unlike most plants this " gallant flower," as George Herbert
called it, is beautiful even in seed when the heavy seedpods are raised and form a true crown. When in flower I never can resist the childish pleasure of turning up the flowers to look
at the pearl-like " tears," which. are the theme of the two almost equally beantifid legends. And it is certainly quite
true that " if with your finger you take and wipe it away, in Jesse than an houre after you shall have another arise in the same place and of the same bignesse. This Pearle if you taste it upon your tongue is pleasant and sweet like honey."
ELEANOUR SINCLAIR ROHDE.
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