A curious lovely with fig leaves, and where most luscious figs ripen under 



Plant late September suns, a great Palm is planted. It is the kind 



with quivering fan-like leaves, and takes no harm however cold 



the Winter, for the stem is warmly clad, swathed round in its 



own warm vegetable wool. The same south corner shelters 



a robust and rather enticing large leaved shrub, Clerodendron 



fcetidissima. The flowers are rosy umbels, strongly scented. 



It is very handsome, although perhaps the scent may seem a 



little too much like its name. 



Before the turret clock strikes eight there is just time to 

 visit a certain common looking, shrubby plant, half hid among 

 the Roses. There is many a more showy plant to be found in 

 the Beautiful Garden, but none more curious. Only the initiated 

 might show any interest in so unattractive a plant. Yet 

 Physostegia Dracocephalum was once the object of hot dispute 

 and intense curiosity amongst the learned. The habit of the 

 Physostegia's little pale pinkish flower to stay fixed and still in 

 whatever position it may be turned, was thought to be caused 

 by coma. Yet a state of coma had hitherto been unknown, 

 unguessed, in the vegetable kingdom. It was deemed impossible, 

 and the phenomenon remained unaccounted for : the cause of it 

 shrouded in mystery. The plant even received the additional 

 name of Cataleptica. Unfortunately, some youthful student 

 resolved to clear up the matter. He never rested until he had 

 discerned some all but invisible hairs, which according to him, 

 hold the little flower fast, after it has been turned by the finger 

 to the right or left. This is disappointing ; yet truth is truth ! 

 (I have been unable myself to find a vestige of these minute, 

 detaining hairs.) 



A characteristic of the Beautiful Garden is that here and 



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