FEBRUARY 209 



too. I have long had it outside, and it does very well ; 

 but it seems difficult to strike, though I think it could 

 be managed just before it is in full bloom. I expect 

 what I saw was grown from seed, but it is not in 

 Thompson's list. 



February 20th. — I returned home to-day, after stay- 

 ing some little time in London. Apart from other 

 reasons, it is worth going away for the joy of returning. 

 While in London I again went to the Drill Hall Show, 

 on the 14th, some few days later than last year. Noth- 

 ing struck me so much this year as Amygdalus davidiana 

 did the year before ; but it was an especially good show 

 of flowers for so early in the season. Tear by year the 

 Cyclamens grow larger and finer in colour, but I do not 

 think they are plants that have been greatly improved 

 by increased cultivation and Brobdingnagian size. I 

 prefer the pretty little, old, sweet- smelling types. 

 Pans full of miniature Daffodils were very attractive, 

 and Messrs. Hill & Co., of Lower Edmonton, had a 

 lovely and most uncommon collection of greenhouse 

 Ferns. Nephrodium menibranifolium and an Aspidium 

 struck me particularly, from the charm of their growth. 

 The fashionable little, bright pink Begonia Oloire de 

 Lorraine was in large quantities and most effective. 

 The lovely Iris reticulata was also exhibited. 



The London streets were more than ever full of 

 beautiful flowers, none beating the showy branches of 

 the Mimosa, Acacia dealbata, from the south of Prance. 



I found at home that the Crocuses had made much 

 progress, and the Daffodils, instead of only showing 

 green spears, are all now in bud. The complete stillness 

 is so delicious to me ! 



How sweet, how passing sweet, is solitude ! 

 But grant me still a friend in my retreat, 

 To whom I may whisper, ' Solitude is sweet.' 



