44 MY SHRUBS 



heath with yellow blossoms. It was found in Cornwall by Mr. 

 Gauntlett, and is supposed to be a seedling from mixed seeds 

 sent home by a sailor. It is hardy in the West, but its habitat I 

 do not know. 



Where, nowadays, are the superb Cape heaths of the olden 

 time ? I fear, while we daily add new treasures to our collections, 

 many things quite as fine have dropped out of cultivation — perhaps 

 out of existence altogether. Take the gladiolus. All our fat, over- 

 blown hybrids put together cannot equal in charm of colouring or 

 exquisite delicacy of form the old Cape corn flags discovered and 

 figured more than a hundred years ago. Civilisation has probably 

 destroyed these gems for ever. Yet no hybrid of Lemoine or 

 Child's may be named in the same breath with them for distinc- 

 tion. Indeed, all hybrids, in my experience, lose more than they 

 gain over the wildings. The rose is the solitary excuse for " gar- 

 dener's flowers " in a garden and, protest as you may, I will assert 

 that the species of rosa are far more beautiful than any plump 

 and prosperous " tea " or " hybrid tea " in existence. 



With that interesting dwarf, Erinacea pungenSy formerly known, 

 as Anthyllis erinacea, from Spain, I have failed entirely without 

 visible reason, though it is declared to be easy enough. My piece 

 was certainly very minute, and with these scraps, which are often 

 all we can get, it is wiser to grow them on in a pot for a year or 

 two sometimes until there is enough of them to take their chance 

 in the open. The shrub is very choice, and Clusius is said to have 

 cried with exultation these words, when first he found the little 

 pale blue beauty : " Plante nova et tota elegans ! " Yet its name, 

 adapted from the original appellation, means a hedgehog. There 

 are some people who will only see the prickles in everything. 



