STH NOVEMBER. 



THIS SHOULD be high summer, but we are still getting cool 

 days and rain at intervals. We have now had over sixty inches 

 this year, which is considerably above the average. 



On the bulb plot Ornithogalum aureum (miniatum Jacq.) (orange 

 chinkerinchee) is very fine. I think I have a very good strain of it, 

 the stems are over 1 foot and the large golden blooms, six or 

 seven out at a time, are nicely spaced out. The flowers last a long 

 time in water and go on opening out, but not to the same extent 

 as the famous white ones so welcome in England at Christmas 

 time. 



Ixia Bloew Erf (I. viridiflora var.) is now coming out. In bud 

 it is a lovely blue, and a good pink on opening. Over 2 feet 

 high, it makes a dainty cut flower. With it comes /. monadelpha, 

 of which the individual blossoms are a most attractive blue 

 with dusky brown centres and very large, but the stems are 

 short, about six inches, very showy for a pocket in the rock- 

 garden or as a pot plant. It does best in sandy soil. So we 

 have Ixias for four months, from Ixia scariosa in August to 

 Ixia monadelpha in November, and I am always sorry to see the 

 last of them. 



My special bush of Leucospermum nutans continues in a state 

 of perfection. Every bloom is correctly spaced, and shows 

 never a sign of fading. There is not even a shabby leaf on the 

 whole bush. It might be the conventional pyramid tree beloved 

 of cross-stitch artists, though the pyramid is rounded and the 

 colour of the flowers could never be matched by any embroidery 

 silks. 



I have seen the first of the fireflies ; they evidently come 

 by the calendar and not by the thermometer, for the evenings 

 are still cold. 



