114 JUNE FLOWERS 



and for several years after its introduction was grown 

 in a hot-house ; but in the milder parts of the country 

 is perfectly hardy and increases steadily. It does not 

 flower in the open before mid-July, and not a sign of 

 its presence was visible till June was a week old. The 

 rose-coloured R. Humeana, also from Himalaya, and 

 the Chinese R. cautlioides, with sulphur-coloured bloom, 

 poked up their noses only ten days ago, yet are now 

 (9th June) in full floAver; whereas R. capitata, which 

 withholds its rich purple blossom, as dark as Iris 

 chrysographes, till August, never shows above ground 

 until after Lammas. 



Messrs. Bees, to whom we owe the introduction of 

 many good things from China, supplied me with yet 

 another species under the trivial name of August 

 Beauty. It is practically a late-flowering replica of 

 R. cautlioides, and forms a good contrast with R. 

 capitata, both growing to a height of 15 or 18 inches, 

 with handsome lanceolate foliage. 



To enumerate one-tenth of the plants in flower at 

 this season would run this note to exorbitant length, 

 even if no account were taken of shrubs ; yet I cannot 

 refrain from mentioning three which are not commonly 

 seen. Great cushions of the grass-leaved Gromwell 

 (Liihosperimum graminifolium) , hanging on the sunny 

 face of a retaining wall, are now one mass of lovely 

 azure. This is a sweet-tempered plant, making believe 

 year after year to be as happy in our tepid west- 

 country summers as under the sun of its native Italy. 

 On the same wall are bulging domes of Alyssum 

 spinosum, close-set with millions of minute white 



