152 MORE POT-POURRI 



JANUARY 

 1899 



Difficulties of growing Daphne indicaJomney last year to Ireland 

 Cutting down and re-planting trees Apples Skimmed milk 

 Manure heaps Winter Honeysuckle Botanical Gardens in Dub- 

 lin Botticelli's drawings Tissot's Bible Rippingille's patent 

 stove Blue flowers ' Snowdrop-time ' ' The Sun-children's 

 Budget ' Floral notes from * The Scotsman ' Beceipts. 



January 6th. After a white frost in the morning 

 we have had a day which, except for its shortness, we 

 should be satisfied with and think beautiful in early spring. 

 These mild, sunny winter days do great harm in prema- 

 turely forcing growth, but I know few things which it would 

 be more difficult to wish non-existent. They make up to 

 me for so many of our winter trials fog and cold and 

 darkness. I would not change them for the ' Sunny South,' 

 where sunshine is a right, while here it comes as a most 

 gracious gift all the more appreciated because it appears 

 unexpectedly and lasts such a short time. 



I have a plant of Daphne indica, one of my favourite 

 winter flowers, in my greenhouse now. It is in flower 

 and smelling deliciously, but does not look at all satisfac- 

 tory, although it was only bought last year. It was put out 

 of doors last summer, as it ought to be, but was allowed 

 to get dry. It made no growth ; it is leggy, drawn up, and 

 the leaves are yellow, which with hard-wooded plants 

 generally means over-watering in winter. I have tried for 

 years to grow these Daphnes, but they are difficult to strike, 



