X 



The Snowflake^ 



(^Leucojum JEstivum) 



THE Snowflake is closely related to 

 the Snowdrop, and is very simi- 

 lar in structure, but its parts are, 

 on the whole, less delicately 

 fashioned. It is, in fact, the Snowdrop 

 on a larger scale, as if intended for more 

 sensuous effect, with greater breadth and 

 fulness therefore, and colours more de- 

 cidedly contrasted. Look at the blossom, 

 that little shower of bells, perhaps five or 

 six or more in number, all white and pure 

 as the driven snow, and bent inio a sort 

 of pyramidal fall, of which the uppermost 

 is top. Each flower is a broad seal-like 

 mass of white, more impressively white 

 than in the Snowdrop. And we can 

 easily perceive the reason. In the first 



1 [The better title would be " The Summer Snowflake." 

 — H. N. E.] 



78 



