and 



than the blooming of Senateur Vaisse, L'ldeal 

 or Marie van Houtte ; and another, when once on 

 an occasion I pointed out admiringly some pans 

 tessellated with a gorgeous variety of gay portu- 

 lacas, told me she considered them " footly little 

 things," an adjective I must presume to be com- 

 mendatory, as I have not succeeded in discover- 

 ing in the authorities any contrary signification 

 to it. 



Among the various Clematis I have planted is 

 one called the " Duchess of Albany." It is one of 

 the hybrids of Coccvnea, the wild Mexican species. 

 Its growth on the west side of the house has been 

 all that could be desired, for in half the time it has 

 entirely outstripped a vigorous plant of Jackmanni 

 which climbs alongside it. It flowered fairly pro- 

 fusely and continued in blossom till well on in the 

 autumn, but its blooms took more after its parent 

 Coccinea than Jackmanni, being an erect half -closed 

 bell, something in the shape of a campanula, of a 

 striated, rather insipid, pink color. I was look- 

 ing forward with the most pleasurable anticipa- 

 tion and excitement to the efflorescence of my 

 pink Clematis; but now I wonder when I think 



27 



