THE BEGINNER 43 



chances of failure. But if there are any who wish to 

 make the experiment Nasturtiums are the hardiest, and 

 Californian Nemophila is pretty and easy to grow ; but 

 my favourite of all, and the most unfailingly good- 

 tempered, is Virginia Stock, which does equally well in 

 all aspects. Give it good ground and sufficient water, 

 and its pretty, simple, many-coloured flowers will not 

 fail to please. They always remind me of the sugar 

 hundreds-and-thousands of our youth, one colour blend- 

 ing with another. 



A modern poetess has written about these flowers very 

 prettily, and the good character she gives them is the 

 outcome of no poetical license ; it is simple truth. 



" The Lily's Ignorant white is glad of cheer, 

 But these are high of courage ; glad are these, 

 Against all changes of the changing year, 

 Untempered sun or overshadowing trees." 



" Lilac and lavender and hoar-frost white, 

 My border waves its colour to the sun. 

 Virginia Stocks grow low, but every one 

 Gives all her colour to the questing light." 



