CUT FLOWERS 195 



colour, merely because the poor things happen 

 to be out. What possible good to oneself 

 or others can two stunted primroses and a 

 hazel catkin be, stuck in a vase six times 

 too big for them, " because they were out ".? 

 If we pick flowers, let us do so with inten- 

 tion. If not, surely it is better to leave them 

 to grow on in the garden or the wood. I do 

 not mean that we should never bring flowers 

 into the house, without thinking hard first 

 whether they will work in with this or that 

 colour. Nothing is more delicious than the 

 haphazard nosegay one gathers bit by bit 

 as one wanders round the garden on a warm 

 Summer evening here a leaf of Sweet Gera- 

 nium, there a sprig of Cherry-pie, a specially 

 handsome Carnation, a Rosebud half open, a 

 spire of Mignonette, a spray of white Jessa- 

 mine, the last new Sweet Pea, a deep wine- 

 coloured Viola, a head of Verbena. But such 

 "sweet savours" are for one's own private 

 delectation, for one's dressing-room or writing- 

 table, to bid a fragrant good morning, or to 

 refresh the hours of hard work ; and are a 



