PHYLLOSTACHYS HENONIS 
As I have already stated this is in my eyes the most beauti- 
ful member of a beautiful family. To describe justly a 
favourite horse, a favourite dog, a favourite plant, is perhaps 
what no man can do. He is bound to say too much, and too 
little—too much to please others, too little to satisfy himself. 
Besides enthusiasm is a deadly foe to accuracy. This much, 
however, I have said before elsewhere, and I am prepared 
to reassert without fear of contradiction, I regard PHYLLO- 
STACHYS HENONIS as the embodiment of every grace to which 
plant life is heir. In plant or in woman perfect health is 
the best of all cosmetics, and perfect health PHYLLOSTACHYS 
HENONIS has enjoyed under all the trials through which it 
has passed during the last four years which have certainly 
been most hostile. Droughty summers have not been able to 
parch it ; ice-bound winters have failed to starve it ; and now, 
in the month of January 1896, it is as green as at midsummer. 
It had no protection, but was left to do battle with chill 
December and the even deadher blasts of March as best it 
might, emerging from every engagement with renewed strength 
and enhanced beauty. Many of its companions fell victims in 
the unequal fight and sad voids were made in their ranks, but 
in this battalion not so much as a single plume was laid low. 
