Stray Leaves from a Border Garden 
prising Scotch gardener does not plant a lot of it and sell 
the roots to the perfumers for orris root. The Floren- 
tines are said to make a good thing out of it, and I 
believe it is rising in price every day at Florence, as the 
amount grown is limited, and the demand for it grows 
daily. Certainly it is a delightful perfume. 
I have planted the Gladwin Iris down by the river 
where the Yellow-flags grow — the Myrtle-grass of the old 
Herbals — and I hope I shall have a large crop of its pretty 
seed-vessels for winter decoration. Its root is said to be a 
cure for the King’s Evil. It was sometimes called Roast 
Reef-flower, from its smell. The bed of Sweet Nancies, or 
Narcissus Poetica in the Lily-garden is a perfect sight, and 
fills the air with perfume, while the Columbines in the 
border round it will soon be looking lovely ; they come into 
bloom later than elsewhere, because they are so overshaded 
by the Beech-trees of the plantation. How I love Lady- 
birds, the Bete du Bon Dieu as they are so prettily called 
in France ! Lady Landers is an old Scotch name for them, 
as dedicated to Our Lady. In the West of Scotland they 
were called Clockleddies. In Sweden, Klock-a means an 
earwig. Perhaps this has something to do with it. In this 
part of the world there used to be an old rhyme : 
King King Coll awa’, 
Tak’ up yer wings and flee awa’. 
Ladycow and Bishop Burnabee were other old names. 
And then there is the old song : 
Ladybird, Ladybird, fly away home, 
Your house is on fire, your children all gone, 
All but one, and her name is Ann, 
And she’s hid under the pudding-pan. 
I tell Boy to say this, and the Ladybird generally 
departs before we come to the end. The Apple-trees are in 
pink and white glory, and the Plums and Pears are lovely. 
June 6. — My French Columbines are now in flower. 
Ancolie is such a dull name for them; they should have 
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