142 FAMILIAR GAESE}; FLOWERS. 



delightful it is to see its branches studded with brilliant 

 pink or purjjlisli flowers — 



' ' Ere a leaf is on the "bush 

 In the time before the thrush." 



Nor does the performance end with this fairy tale^ for the 

 transformation scene follows^ and then the leafy rods are 

 dotted with ruddy berries, and if you come late upon the 

 scene you are sure of something for yonr money. There 

 are white flowering varieties^ and we have heard of, but not 

 seen, a double- flowering variety, the flowers of which are 

 reported to be of the richest fiery carmine colour, and to 

 last twice as long as the single flowers. Long duration- 

 is a proper quality of double flowers, and so on that part 

 of the story we raise no question. It will be safe to advise 

 the reader to acquire the double-flowering mezereon, for it 

 must be a fine thing if it really exists. The autumn 

 flowering variety we have long possessed, as alsn Furtune^s 

 [B. Furtniiei), which has lilac flowers, which, with us, appear 

 about Christmas. 



Hardy daphnes are not numerous, and the best of 

 them are less hardy than they should be for universal 

 usefulness. The commonest is the green-flowered 1). 

 Idiircold, a true native, flowering in February, and a reall}- 

 interesting, though not showy plant. The amateur who 

 is an amateur indeed should make a point of ha\ing a few 

 plants of this species always in the garden, in case he 

 should be at any time afflicted with a passion for daphnes 

 in general. It is the species employed for grafting the 

 finer sorts upon, and therefore, when the fit comes, one 

 form of medicine will be ready. Having indulged at S(mie 

 length in such pastime, we can sa}' that to make the 



