THE SIX OF SPADES. 155 



lina, most beautiful in their early growth ? When is 

 the dactylis, or our old friend the gardener's garter, 

 so silvery or so graceful as in spring ? Stoop now to 

 admire this variegation of white and of gold in lamium 

 maculatum aureum, of green and silver in that charm- 

 ing spiraea. And now regard the manifold varieties 

 of " that rare old plant, the ivy green," forming such 

 a natural floor or cincture for the smiling splendour 

 of the spring ! 



And all the while, what fragrance from violet and 

 primrose, from hyacinth and wallflower,* from daphne, 

 mezereon, and thyme ! Mr. Ingram plants large beds 

 of his Kussian violets near the entrance-gate of the 

 Belvoir garden, to breathe a welcome to the visitor ; 

 but from all parts of it sweet incense rises heaven- 

 ward. 



I have said nothing of the flowering trees and 

 flowering shrubs, which should form a part of all 

 spring gardens, surrounding them, and here and there 

 forming centres for the beds ; the blossoming fruit- 

 trees, peach, almond, and cherry ; the laburnums and 

 syringas, the rhododendrons and azaleas, the weigelas, 

 ribes, and berberries. I have passed over hundreds 

 of bonny winsome flowers. Volumes might be written, 

 volumes have been written, about them ; and to two 

 of these I would especially refer those readers who 

 desire the best information, namely, to Mr. William 

 Eobinson's book upon Hardy Flowers, and to Mr. 

 David Thomson's " Handy Book of the Flower- 

 Garden." 



* " Very delightful," as Lord Bacon says, " to be set under 

 a parlour or lower chamber window," 



