INTRODUCTION n 



are some British subjects not as well known as they 

 should be. 



There are certain plants whose names always bring 

 pain to my heart and wake bitter memories. Nelum- 

 bium is a word I can never hear without a pang ; and 

 when people talk of the oncocyclus group of irises, 

 I turn away to conceal my emotion. If these noble 

 things do not occur at great length in the body of 

 the work, you will know that I have misunderstood 

 them again. Don't gloat about it ; pass on, like a 

 gentleman, and say nothing. Some people have a 

 lynx's eye for our failures, and cut the successes dead 

 with an insolent stare, which is very painful to 

 witness. I once took a man to see a sheet of arenaria 

 balearica in flower. It covered a cool corner with 

 glimmering and dewy green, and pearly inflorescence 

 was scattered thickly over it. Its little hands spread 

 out to the damp stones, and a million tiny flowers 

 shone in the shadows with infinite beauty and lustre. 

 The visitor put up his double eyeglasses and peeped 

 about. He ignored the lovely Balearic sandwort, but 

 suddenly said, " Hullo ! What's the matter with this 

 petrocallis ?" 



The matter with the petrocallis was obvious to any 

 eye. Indeed, the poor atom passed away three nights 

 afterwards. No true gardener would have permitted 

 himself to observe its last miseries unless he had 

 possessed knowledge that could save it. We must 

 carry a magnifying-glass for success, and harbour 

 fellow-feeling for failure. If you cannot in honesty 

 admire a man's carpet bedding, you may be able to 



