LETTER XXIX 



Return of Winter North Winds Mortality amongst Swallows 

 Pasque Flowers Tulips : Cultivated Wild Tulips Cover at 

 Chiselhampton Flowers Deadly Nightshade The Grass of 

 Parnassus Mrs. Alma Tadema Curious Coincidence. 



I3/A April 1892. 



DEAR MARCO After ten days of very 

 warm cloudless weather, the winter tempera- 

 ture returned yesterday, and now it is snowing 

 and raining with a cruel north-east wind. It 

 is not quite so bad as was the return of the 

 cold last year, which occurred later on and did 

 great damage. This year the long spell of 

 dry north-east winds has retarded the growth 

 of most things, so that there is little above 

 ground to hurt ; and, as rain of any sort was 

 much wanted, I am more hopeful. 



Last year the return of winter took place 

 after the swallows had arrived, and the mor- 



