Stray Leaves from a Border Garden 
will like it. I believe this method is often followed in 
Australian greenhouses. There is an interesting new theory 
— French, I believe — that it is a good thing in summer to 
paint the glass roof of your greenhouse reddish-orange, as 
this stimulates the plant-growth, but prevents them being 
burnt up by the sun, and is as good as blinds. It is not 
supposed to be good to paint it white, or green, or blue ; 
indeed, blue is said to kill the plants. There is a most 
interesting greenhouse near here containing a mighty 
myrtle-tree, grown from a sprig of a young lady’s bridal 
bouquet in the last century, I think. It grows so, the roof 
has to be made periodically higher for it. 
The last time I saw it, I was asked to admire how beauti- 
fully it was cut : exactly like a monumental cypress ! Tastes 
differ. I sighed inwardly as I thought of the branching 
luxuriance Mr. Myrtle would have shown in his native land. 
February 1 6. — The Roses have tiny red and green 
leafbuds on their bare stalks, and the Ribes is beginning 
to think it is indeed Spring at last, and the ground is all 
carpeted with St. Patrick’s dear little cabbage, while the 
nut-trees are showing a few stray “lamb tails” — Hazel 
Palms, as they are called on the Border, perhaps from the 
old custom of carrying branches to church on Palm 
Sunday, which prevailed on the “ English side.” There is 
a delightful Scotch superstition that if you find a cluster 
of nine nuts, called a “ ninesome bobbin,” you should dream 
on it, as a Love charm. 
I always think of the Queen of Spain’s daughter when I 
see the nut-trees in bloom all along Church Walk, as Boy 
calls the path where they grow so freely, because by it we 
go to the little old church on the hill the “ Kirkis of 
Foghow.” 
I had a little nut tree, 
Nothing would it bear 
But a silver nutmeg 
And a golden pear. 
The Queen of Spain’s daughter 
Came to visit me, 
And all for the sake 
Of my little nut tree, 
ioo 
