FEBRUARY 39 



them under all night. All these and 

 countless small matters besides make up 

 a little world of interest in our great Pine. 

 The seeds are collected yearly, and they 

 always grow when sown, and thrive up to 

 a certain age ; yet we have not been able 

 to rear any young trees. 



In the Boccage there are now two living 

 proofs of the mild weather we have had. 

 The unconscious obstinacy of one of them 

 sometimes makes me smile : it is a Tritoma. 

 December came too soon, and caught the 

 central flower-stalk with its usual pyramid 

 of buds still incomplete. The plant re- 

 mained in the same position quite uncon- 

 cerned, and has managed ever since to 

 keep life in the buds, holding itself doggedly 

 upright, and in perfect health, with a sheaf 

 of fresh green leaves about it, and actually 

 surrounding itself with a family of shorter 

 flower-stalks ; and after sometimes looking 

 pale in snow-time or frost, the whole group 

 takes heart again vigorously. With a little 

 sunshine we should see it in nearly as fine 

 bloom as in September. Near the grass 

 walk, glowing in bright pink against the 



