348 CLIMATE OF NERVI. 



of the early seventies, when the present Grand Hotel 

 was opened as the Pension Anglaise. 



CHAPTER III. 



The Lemon trees, growing without any protection, 

 are a better testimony to the mildness of the climate of 

 Nervi than all the statistics given in the guide books. 

 In this respect Nervi is little inferior to the most favoured 

 spots on the Riviera di Ponente; on the other hand it 

 has half again as many rainy da^'s in the winter as they 

 have. This can at once be seen by the vegetation, for 

 the Camellias, which find the Riviera "di Ponente too dry, 

 grow luxurianth' here. The same applies to the Azaleas 

 and Gardenias for they also recjuire a certain amount of 

 moisture in the air. 



The cultivation of perfumed flow'ers has increased as 

 much in Nervi as it has on the Riviera di Ponente. The 

 Nervi carnations are especiall)' esteemed and are sent 

 to the North under the name of (Genoese Carnations. 



When wandering in spring among the Olive groves 

 and gardens adjoining the high road we notice a perfume 

 like that of the Sweet Pea, the "Pois dc Scnteur", 

 (Laihxrus odoratus). This scent comes from the Broad 

 Bean (Vicia Faha), which is much grown all along the 

 Riviera. The seeds are eaten here unripe and raw, when 

 the\' taste sweet like unripe green peas. In mauA' districts 

 of Cjernian-\' the broad bean goes by the contemptuous 

 name of ".Saubohne" (Sow bean). And yet this plant 

 deserves to be treated \\ith more respect, for it is one 

 of the most ancient of cultivated plants, so old that its 



