Stray Leaves from a Border Garden 
round a Dolmen and place their flowers on it. If they 
remained fresh any time, then the lovers would be married ; 
but if the flowers withered quickly, it was considered a sign 
the engagement would be broken. Mignonette has never 
put in an appearance with me at all this year, though I see 
beautiful beds of it elsewhere. I wonder why ! I had a 
lovely crop last year. The Red Carnations are out now. 
I think Coronations is such a nice old name for them ! 
They are a little late this year. I suppose they were called 
Coronations because they were used in the making of 
Coronals or Garlands. Sops-in-Wine was an old name 
used, I think, in Queen Elizabeth’s time, and July-flowers. 
The Blue Cornflower ( Cyanus ) has also been a complete 
failure with me this year, which I much regret, as I am as 
fond of them as ever German Emperor was. They are 
called Bluebottles, and Blawort or Blaver was an old 
Scotch name for them. My Queen Anne Herbalist dis- 
courses delightfully upon these flowers, saying, “ their 
colours are manifold, and very variable; some of a sad or 
light Purple, or of an overworn Purple, besides Blew ” ; 
and says further, “ it is found in Fields of Wheat, Rye and 
Barley, but is also sown in Gardens, which the skilful artist 
by looking after makes to become of other colors, as in the 
Description thereof is declared. As to virtues they are 
many ; it is particularly praised as resisting Poyson, and is 
recommended for inflamed Eyes.” An Eyewater made of 
Blewflowers and Rye Dough distilled is declared “ to clear, 
strengthen, and preserve Eyesight especially of old People, 
for which reason some are pleased to call it Break-Spectacle 
Water ; for that those who use it need never come to the 
use of Spectacles.” Eau de Casselunette was once much 
esteemed in France. 
I found last year that the variegated Cornflowers 
looked especially pretty on the dinner-table by candle- 
light, far prettier than in the daytime ; they reminded one 
of Dresden China flowers ; there was something quite 
unique about them in candlelight. There is a tiny Blue 
Cyanus which is very pretty, especially when in seed ; its 
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