NATURAL HISTORY OF THE RIVIERA. 223 



yellow flowers. Lower down we saw the caper, which had not yet 

 come into flower. I recognised it at once from its resemblance to a 

 cousin which is plentiful in Indian hedgerows. The flowers of both 

 species are large and very beautiful, although the scientific names 

 given them by botanists — '^ spinosa'' and " horrida" — are not 

 inviting. My friend, Mr. G. Joad, who is very well acquainted with 

 the plants of the Riviera, tells me the European caper is most 

 diflicult to grow under glass in England, and that even at Kew its 



THE CAMBERVVELL BEAUTY. 



cultivation hitherto has not been attended with success. But of 

 all the flowers which the Riviera bears, none are more conspicuous 

 and beautiful than the rock roses {Cistus albidus and C. salvifolins), 

 which in many places cover the mountain side. It is said that 

 Linnaeus, on first seeing the gorse in bloom, knelt down and thanked 

 God for creating such beautiful flowers ; and visitors to Mentone 

 need not be ashamed to follow the example of the illustrious Swede 

 when they see the rock roses of the Mediterranean shores. The 



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