THE RHODODENDRON 105 



show, the setting of pines, and the background 

 of stately ramparts of rock, with an occasional 

 waterfall, made the scene unique ; and the memory 

 of it is proportionately vivid." Scarce can such ex- 

 perience need enlargement along the line of pleasure, 

 and surely no well-regulated mind will wander in 

 search of larger-flow^ered varieties ! Such scenes 

 are satisfaction itself — except that they play upon 

 some secret human chord, awaken " an obscure 

 and mystic sense " and waft inquisitive mentality 



" to the glow 

 Beyond yon filmy barrier without name 

 That no eye pierceth ! "" 



The Rhododendron is commonly spoken and 

 written of as the Alpine Rose ; but it is a 

 member of the Heath family, and not of that 

 family which fable says was created by Bacchus. 

 This is a ready instance of where popular nomen- 

 clature, without discipline, leads to confusion ; 

 for there is an Alpine Rose {Rosa alpina), a very 

 lovely rich magenta-coloured Eglantine often 

 growing cheek-by-jowl with the pseudo Alpenrose 

 of the Germans. It is quite possible that the 

 word " Rose " really springs — as in Monte Rosa 

 — from roisa or roesa, meaning " glacier " in the 



