FEBRUARY 27 



First comes minimus, which is followed by minor, that 

 by the typical form, and that by major and maximus. 

 Whether there is any connection between size and 

 earliness of flowering I cannot say. Yet it is certain 

 that all the early spring flowers are of low growth; 

 and this succession among the narcissi may be only a 

 coincidence ; but it is curious, and, I think, worth noting. 

 There are some good shrubs in flower in February, 

 though none of them very conspicuous. The fine 

 Nepal Berbery, or Mahonia, is perhaps the most 

 conspicuous, and both for its flower and foliage it 

 is well worth growing ; but it is rather tender, and 

 has a straggling habit of growth which cannot be 

 kept in order by the knife ; it dislikes pruning. The 

 dwarf heath from the south of Europe (Erica herlacea) 

 is in full flower during February, and is certainly con- 

 spicuous enough both to ourselves and to the bees; 

 and if after flowering it is clipped with the shears, it 

 makes a very cushion -like mass that is pretty all 

 through the year. Among other shrubs in flower 

 the Daphne Mezereon attracts from its delicious scent, 

 but its stiff growth prevents its taking rank among 

 pretty shrubs, yet many admire it much, as Cowper 

 did, and described it as 



' Though leafless, well attired, and thick beset 

 With blushing wreaths, investing every spray.' 



