THE COLUMBINE. 95 



tog-ether are rare and delicate, but make no appeal to 

 the casual eye. The showiest of the series are Aquilegia 

 Skinneri, a bold plant,, rising a yard high, with red and 

 yellow flowers ; and Aquilegia truncata, about the same 

 height, the flowers bright orange-scarlet. The Alpine 

 columbine (A. Alpina) is a charming plant, the height 

 about a foot, the flowers wholly blue, or with white 

 centre. Although some of these are comparatively new, 

 they belong properly to the " old-fashioned " class, and 

 are of the kind Clare had in his mind when he wove 

 a garland such as the heart will not willingly let die. 



' ' The shining pans y, trimmed with golden lace ; 

 The tall topped lark-heeln, feathered thick with flowers ; 

 The woodbine, "climbing o'er the door in bowers ; 

 The London tufts of many a mottled hue ; 

 The pale pink pea, and monkshood darkly blue ; 

 The white and purple gillyflowers, that stay 

 Lingering in blossom summer half away ; 

 The single blood walls, of a luscious smell, 

 Old-fashioned flowers which housewives love so well ; 

 The columbines, stone blue, or deep night brown, 

 Their honey-comb like blossoms hanging down ; 

 Each cottage garden's fond adopted child, 

 Though heaths still claim them, where they yet grow wild ; 

 With marjoram knots, sweet brier, and ribbon grass, 

 And lavender, the choice of every lass." 



During the past two or three years a new and very 

 welcome delight has been given to the flower-loving public 

 in the exhibition of new varieties of columbines, by those 

 eminent collectors and cultivators of rare plants, Messrs. 

 Veitch and Son of Chelsea. At festival meetings of the Royal 

 Horticultural and Royal Botanic Societies these new types 

 have been presented in large groups, tastefully arranged, 

 and have taken captive the eyes of many visitors, who 



