WHITE HEATHER. 



ing that they have stumbled upon real specimens. A 

 blending of purple and blue is the familiar color of 

 the Heather flower, but it is to be found in plenty in 

 delicate tints that deceive the unknowing searcher." 



Except in color, the White Heather does not differ 

 from that which covers all the Highland hills. It is 

 an ordinary flower, but in its virgin whiteness it stands 

 out amongst clumps of purple like a tint spray of snow. 

 They say in the far north that when the sheep hard} 

 devourers of the tender stem of the Heather come 

 across it in grazing they avoid harming it; that the 

 grouse have never been known to crush it with their 

 wings. On great occasions the table of a Highland 

 chief would be poor indeed without its sprig of White 

 Heather. When the heir presumptive reaches man's 

 estate he wears it for luck; and it is considered the 

 height of hospitality to present it to the stranger guest. 

 If he loses it he may look out for disaster. A bouquet 

 formed of this rare flower was carried by the youngest 

 daughter of England's late Queen on the occasion of 

 her marriage. 



At the marriage of Prince Leopold in 1882 the 

 bridesmaids wore headdresses composed of clusters of 

 violets, primroses and White Heather, the tout ensemble 

 being extremely tasteful in design. 



Her Majesty, in her "Journal of Our Life in the 

 Highlands," gives the following interesting account 

 with reference to the betrothal of the Princess Royal : 



"September 29, 1855. 



"Our dear Victoria was this day engaged to Prince 

 Frederick William of Prussia, who had been on a visit 

 to us since the I4th. He had already spoken to us, on 



163 



