62 OUR ROCK-GARDEN 



more especially for our own. Its golden stars (see 

 Plate IV.) are to be met with in profusion in the 

 hedgerows and woods. That it should be called 

 the lesser celandine clearly implies that somewhere 

 or another there must be a larger celandine, and 

 so truly there is, and we shall hope to make its 

 acquaintance presently. These celandines derive 

 their name from the Greek name, chelidon, for a 

 swallow, in the case of our present plant from its 

 appearance and that of the swallow being more or 

 less contemporaneous. When we pull the plant up 

 we find at its base a mass of little tubers, and by 

 this means, as in the case of the potato or artichoke, 

 the plant is propagated very freely. It behoves one 

 then to take quiet thought whether we want the 

 plant or not, since when we have once made up our 

 mind that we do the decision is final. Even the 

 smallest tuber grows, and it is practically impossible 

 to get rid of the plant when we have once elected in 

 its favour. Still, as we do not want to get rid of it 

 this reflection need not grieve us. Its brightly 

 burnished foliage and brilliant blossoms come at 

 a time when there is little else, and though after 

 flowering-time has passed the leaves begin to get a 

 little shabby, all that is needful is to pull the plants 



Long as there are violets, 

 They will have their place in story ; 

 There's a flower that shall be mine, 

 'Tis the little celandine." 



