FEBRUARY 211 



sequently much less worth growing in a small green- 

 house. My old plant had the most delicious, delicate, 

 and yet powerful perfume. We have now broken it up 

 and re -potted small pieces, with the hope that they may 

 grow again. The large pots of Imantophyllums are 

 looking glorious. They are rather handsomer varieties, 

 both in size and colour, than the usual ones. I got 

 them two or three years ago from Veitch, who has 

 specially improved these most useful and showy of 

 winter -flowering plants. A small, shrubby plant of the 

 bright yellow Coronilla gives another spot of bright 

 colour by the blue -green of the sweet -leaved Eucalyp- 

 tus. We have brought the forcing of the Polygonatum 

 muUiflorum (Solomon's Seal) to most useful perfection; 

 and, put back in a reserve bed after flowering, it is ready 

 to force again after a year or two. It is the easiest and 

 most effective of the hardy plants to bring on in a 

 greenhouse. 



February 22nd. — I brought back with me from 

 Ireland last year several plants of the Iris stylosa. The 

 white one has flowered, but not the blue ones, though 

 these were put in two situations — some in good, rich 

 soil, and some in poor ground. These latter, perhaps, 

 may flower later. One of the reasons why Irises should 

 be so much cultivated is that they have the merit, which 

 can never be too much appreciated, of flowering admira- 

 bly in water if picked in bud. A flower can hardly 

 claim a greater merit for domestic purposes, and, for the 

 same reason, they are well adapted for travelling. 



February 23rd. — A treat has come for all of us 

 amateur gardeners this month in the publication of a 

 long -looked -for gardening book by Miss Jekyll, charm- 

 ingly illustrated from photographs of her own. But, 

 good as are these reproductions, in my opinion they can 

 never compare with woodcuts or steel engravings, and 



