24 ALPINES AND BOG-PLANTS 



territory the only Polygonum which must always be in- 

 dispensable is vaccinifoUum. Oxyphyllum is still smaller 

 than cuspidatum, with a profusion of snowy plumes in 

 autumn ; and a climber of great merit is haldsdmanicum, 

 which makes curtains of greenery in no time over a bush 

 or stump, and then, before it dies down, glorifies October 

 with a cloud of white. 



The Fuchsias, brilliant race, do not, of course, do very 

 much for me in my damp, ill-wintered climate. The little 

 hybrid, Bouquet, thrives well, and Riccartoni persists. 

 And these are of high value for the rock-garden, particu- 

 larly Bouquet — a tiny, tidy little herbaceous shrub, if one 

 may use so paradoxical a term, which always keeps its 

 position and proportion. But in gardens where the sun 

 is lord, many more of the Fuchsias may be used. I shall 

 never forget my first realisation of what a hardy Fuchsia 

 means. It was on the western coast of Ireland. Be- 

 neath the august cone of Croagh Patrick lies a tiny little 

 ruined abbey, buried almost to its eaves in the encroach- 

 ing sands of the shore. Far away beyond, a great square 

 island, blue and very pale, stands up on the uttermost rim 

 of the great pale sea. And, in this remote corner of peace 

 and death, Ftcchsia Riccartoni has made itself a beautiful 

 shroud for the dead shrine. Everywhere, amid the walls 

 and ruins and sand-banks, wave its long slender arms, and 

 a million scarlet trumpets in the sunlight dance up and 

 down with every faint cool breath that hovers land- 

 wards over the face of the water. Only their incessant 

 flicker disturbs the immemorial tranquillity which holds 

 this heart of long-dead holy activities, as it lies buried in 

 the shifting sand, embalmed in the golden tranquillity of 

 a burning summer afternoon. And, looking back in 

 memory, I scorn the specific. To Riccartoni, far down in 

 the years, I refuse to swear ; Fuchsia is all that matters. 

 And, as for tiny trailing Fiwhsia procuvihens, for the 



