596 



AT A SPANISH HORTICULTURAL SHOM^. 



One of Hooker's prime favorites was R. uivale. 

 "This singular little plant attains a loftier elevation 

 than any other shrub in the world. Its hard, woody 

 branches, thick as goosequills, straggle along the ground 

 for a foot or two, presenting brown tufts of vegetation 

 where no other plant in the world could exist. The 

 branches are densely interwoven, and the stunted shrub, 

 raised barely two inches above the soil, spreads hori- 

 zontally. This species, the latest to bloom of all the 

 family, the smallest in foliage and, proportionately, the 

 largest in bloom, lepidote in vesture, humble in stature, 

 rigid in texture, and deformed in habit, is yet the rich- 

 est in perfume. Its climate is the most trying in the 

 world, for it lives under the joint influences of a 

 scorching sun by day and keenest frost by night, of the 

 greatest drought, followed by a saturated atmosphere of 

 balmiest calm, alternating with mountain whirlwinds. 

 For eight months of the year it is buried under snow ; 

 for the remaining four it is frequently visited by snow 

 and sunshine in the same hour. When the sun heats 

 the soil to 150°, its perfumed foliage scents the air, and 

 its purple flowers will remain perfect through sleet and 



and sunshine until fructification takes place. The odor 

 of this plant resembles eau de cologne." 



The rose-bay is a great pet in English gardens, and 

 the damp, foggy atmosphere of that country is just what 

 it likes best. Many fine plants from our American 

 forests find their way over there and are given high 

 seats of honor. From seedlings of these plants, some 

 fine hybrid scarlets have been obtained. 



The rhododendron branch is the pride and flower of 

 all the great and handsome heath family, which is rep- 

 resented in every soil and climate under the sun ; in 

 every tint and shade of every color ; and in every grade 

 of stature, from dainty, creeping Epigcea repens (the 

 trailing arbutus) up to the great mountain laurel. Many 

 temperaments, too, this family contains, from the lazy, 

 luxurious R. Dalhoiisii to the heroic little R. niva/e, 

 bravely defying the fierce cold and whirlwinds. 



Being a patriotic people, we think it but right and 

 fitting that the " maximum " of all these good points 

 should be found native only in America, and that it 

 should be best in the good old " north state." 



North Carolina. Lennie Greenlee. 



AT A SPANISH HORTICULTURAL SHOW. 



URING A N extended ramble 

 through the departments of 

 France — from the rose fields of 

 Grasse in the south-east unto 

 the pretty nurseries environing 

 Paris — from the rural points of 

 central Gaul unto the snowy 

 peaks of its meridianed Pyre- 

 nean barrier — much of interest 

 in the gardening world was seen. 

 While among the romantic Pyrenees the oppor- 

 tunity was taken to visit the historic Andorra Re- 

 public — the second smallest democracy on the globe. 

 To reach the little state is difficult. If in France, 

 one must either go via Saint Girons or Foix. The 

 latter is the best and shortest route ; but as the 

 writer had wandered into the first named town, the 

 direction was taken over the pass el Portus, the 

 long summit of which was covered with snow vary- 

 ing from three to fifteen feet in depth (according to 

 the fixed measuring poles), and he had to walk over 

 the glaring white acres, often sinking to the knees. 

 Despite the exertion, a climber is frigidly cold at the 

 feet, and yet liable to sun-stroke if not wearing his 

 hat, such is the heat overhead. Not wishing to pay 

 the $3 or ^4 demanded by a guide at the last 

 French hamlet, the ascent was made alone, and not 

 a single person was encountered in those lonely 

 mountain regions. 



The "road" (only a rocky path) was over tortu- 



ous valleys and dells, and mounts for a day and a half 

 unto Firbia village, whence until the second mount- 

 ain of snow is reached and plodded over. Then it 

 is another day before reaching Andorra's micros- 

 copic capital of the same name. All the journey 

 has to be done on foot, which is less fatiguing than 

 on mule-back. But the pedestrian is recompensed 

 with bewildering scenery along the ever-changing 

 route until he reaches Andorra, as a magnificent 

 garden in the bosom of the Pyrenees, charmed with 

 the poetry of the distant prospects and vast horizons. 

 Seen from the surrounding snow-capped heights, 

 a flood of light irradiates the smiling picture of the 

 contented valley, 



Five day's further walking — the journey was 

 wholly performed on foot for the purpose of seeing 

 well what rustic Espana was like — carried your cor- 

 respondent over some of the best vintage acres of 

 the peninsula and into Barcelona. 



Fortunately, while in the second city of Iberia, 

 the exposition of arts was going on, and also the 

 larger show of the Catalona Horticultural Society. 



It is not my intention to weary you with a long de- 

 scription of the fine series of Spanish flora shown, 

 unless the details — which would have their own pe- 

 culiar interest — are called for. It is sufficient to pen 

 that the natives have made a creditable exhibition of 

 their garden products, although it is not so extensive 

 as had been anticipated. Of more edification to the 

 practical man are the numerous stands of gardening 



