THE PERIWINKLES 93 



conspicuous. The perianth segments spread out 

 into a sharply pointed stellate form, the pure white 

 of their general surface being varied by a central 

 line of strong green. The leaves, all springing 

 directly from the ground, are of the narrow linear 

 form that we see also in its companions, the daffodils 

 and hyacinths. The plant rises from a bulb that is 

 somewhat deeply bedded in the ground, so that 

 some considerable care is needed if we would dig 

 it up ; we have time after time found that we have 

 sliced the bulbs in our attempts to move them. In 

 France it is the dame d'onze heures, since it opens 

 its blossoms considerably later than most flowers 

 and in dull weather declines to expand them at all. 



The two periwinkles must not be overlooked, 

 though the larger one the Vinca major has great 

 running powers, and asserts its right to overrun and 

 suffocate everything it comes in contact with. It 

 must therefore be placed where it can spread freely 

 without depriving neighbours of the air, sunshine, 

 and the other elements of their well-being in its too 

 vigorous assertion of the survival of the fittest. 

 The smaller periwinkle V. minor is more amen- 

 able to fair play the live and let live principle 1 

 and may be welcomed where the other would be 



1 A quaint illustration of this principle may be seen in the 

 case of two neighbours of ours fishmongers. The smaller 

 man, in danger of being swamped by the other, painted over 

 his dwindling stock of little dead fishes this inscription : 

 44 Live and let live." 



