THE GARDEN-ROOM 51 



distinction of his asterisk. In the " Dictionary 

 of Gardening" that star is applied to all plants 

 " especially good or distinct." To deny this Order 

 of Merit is a very delicate matter, and may be doing 

 the most serious injustice to a plant. About sanvi- 

 talia I will not argue, but merely chronicle regret 

 without prejudice. In other cases, however, I am 

 ready to withstand the whole staff of Kew and 

 weary everybody, from the curator to the least 

 gardener's apprentice, with my importunities. Wrong 

 has been done here and there ; and it must be 

 righted. Assemble, ye gardeners, in your legions ! 

 Listen to me ! and if you have tears to shed, be 

 prepared to shed them now ! For geranium Lancas- 

 triense has not got a star ; and no more has michauxia 

 campanuloides ! There can be no intrigue here ; it 

 is not a case for diplomacy, or patience, or back- 

 stairs influence. We must meet together in detach- 

 ments and companies, with the insignia of our craft 

 waving above us ; and we must march over Kew 

 Bridge like one man and woman, and lift up our 

 voices in thunder, so that the pagoda and the palm- 

 houses shake to their foundations. Then will the 

 great ones tremble, and the director himself may 

 be expected to rush forth with an asterisk in either 

 hand ; so that the geranium of Lancaster and Andre 

 Michaux's exquisite bell-flower shall be crowned 

 and uplifted to their proper eminence for ever. 1 



1 Conversely, such a plant as mazus pumilio gets the star ! No doubt 

 the little, creeping wretch secured this honour by those underground 

 operations at which it is such an adept. 



