432 Old Time Gardens 



nal rambles in her garden to good account. She 

 averred she had set fire to a certain gas which formed 

 and hung around the FraxineUa, and that the igni- 

 tion did not injure the plant. This assertion was 

 met with open scoffing and disbelief, which has never 

 wholly ceased ; yet the popular name of Gas Plant 

 indicates a widespread confidence in this quality of 

 the FraxineUa and it is -easily proved true. 



Another New England name for the FraxineUa, 

 given me from the owner of the herb-garden at 

 Elmhurst, is " Spitfire Plant," because the seed-pods 

 sizzle so when a lighted match is applied to them. 



The FraxineUa is a sturdy, hardy flower. There 

 are some aged plants in old New England gardens ; 

 I know one which has outlived the man who planted 

 it, his son, grandson, and great-grandson. The 

 FraxineUa bears a tall stem with Larkspur-like 

 flowers of white or a curious dark pink, and shin- 

 ing Ash-like leaves, whence its name, the little 

 Ash. It is one of the finest plants of the old-fash- 

 ioned garden ; fine in bloom, fine in habit of growth, 

 and it even has decorative seed vessels. It is as 

 ready of scent as anything in the garden ; if you but 

 brush against leaf, stem, flower, or seed, as you walk 

 down the garden path, it gives forth a penetrating 

 perfume, that you think at first is like Lemon, then 

 like Anise, then like Lavender ; until you finally de- 

 cide it is like nothing save FraxineUa. As with the 

 blossoms of the Calycanthus shrub, you can never 

 mistake the perfume, when once you know it, for 

 anything else. It is a scent of distinction. Through 

 this individuality it is, therefore, full of associations, 

 and correspondingly beloved. 



