NOVEMBER 199 



crimson lamps of fire, whenever the sky 

 is overcast. Broad roses, indeed they are, 

 for the least of them will measure five 

 inches across with ten great petals and 

 smaller ones besides, around the centre 

 diadem of bright gold stamens, from the 

 midst of which rises the stiff, thick column 

 of clustered pistil. It is difficult to see or 

 smell or to write of these damasks with- 

 out an enthusiasm that seems to carry 

 one awiy ! Fine clumps of English iris 

 vary with their exquisite tints of lilac 

 or viobt and speckled mauve, the all- 

 prevailing rose-red pink and white. This 

 iris is r ar more Scotch than English, for 

 there is scarce a cottage garden round 

 about in Aberdeenshire without its iris 

 clumps. I know a little garden there, 

 that grows them in a wonderful double 

 line, milk-white. 'Aye,' responds the 

 gudewife when the great number of her 

 ivhite flowers is admired, * I just slice 'em 

 like ing'ons (onions) and digs them in.' 

 And beside the irises, thrives in deep 

 fiery crimson, a certain double dwarf Sweet 

 William the gardener's pride and the 



