SPRINGTIDE. 251 



same thing on this steeply sloping coast, distance 

 from the sea, makes a great difference. By walking 

 a very few miles inland you will find plants in full 

 flower which are long over on the coast. Moreover, 

 when east winds prevail in a given season, ground 

 sloping west will be warmer, and have the vegetation 

 more advanced. But when the equally cold mistral 

 is more frequent through the Winter, as happens 

 sometimes, the east exposure has an advantage. I 

 have heard it stated that we have had more east 

 wind of late years, and less mistral. It is said that 

 the natives like the mistral. I doubt if any one enjoys 

 these icy gusts ; but the proverb says, " De gustibas 

 non disputandum " ! 



Besides the Hazel, there are several wild plants 

 which I have seen in flower before the year was out : 

 for instance, the Fragrant Coltsfoot (Petasites). Not 

 being aware that this plant is common here, I took 

 the trouble to bring some from a distance for 

 my garden, and afterwards I found it growing wild 

 just outside the gateway. The natives have the 

 good taste to mingle the vanilla-scented lilac flowers 

 of the Petasites with their bouquets. A wild Narcissus 

 flowers sometimes at the end of December, bat I do 

 not know whether it belongs to Jate Autumn or to 

 very early Spring. I think that Hellebore not unfre- 

 quently flowers in mid-December : I have found 

 CoroniJla Emerus in flower as early as December 9th, 

 and both Primrose and Hepatica towards the end of 

 the month. 



As early as the first week of January we some- 

 times have the following in flower : Figwort Buttercup 

 (Ranunculus Ficaria), Almond, and Primrose : about 



