270 EVERSLEY GARDENS 



small-flowered purple one from those tilted 

 carts gave its proud possessor. But if we could 

 afford a large-flowered pink one with crimson- 

 black blotches, like those we almost wor- 

 shipped in the hall at Ray Lodge, then indeed 

 our cup was full to overflowing ; for they 

 were much dearer than the purple one, and 

 seldom to be acquired. 



But an even greater event was an expedition 

 with our parents to " Shilling's Nursery " 

 the modest forerunner of the present grandson's 

 establishment near Hartley Row, there to 

 choose a plant or shrub from the open ground. 

 From that enchanted spot came the luscious 

 pink Daphne cneorum and the beloved " Nut- 

 meg" plant (Calycanthus Floridus) of the Study 

 Garden ; the Kalmia, or, as we always called 

 it, I know not why, the " Pincushion flower," 

 that flourished in such beauty among the 

 Rhododendrons by the front gate ; with 

 Heaths too the early carnea^ the white 

 Mediterranea, and the great purple Irish Heath 

 (M-Mziesia). From thence came my pink and 

 blue Hepaticas, and a dozen other precious 



