Stray Leaves from a Border Garden 
seems rather doubtful. I daresay, in the South, Sweet 
Williams may be out in full beauty on St. William’s Day 
(June 25), but scarcely here. They were sometimes called, 
too, Painted Ladies. As to virtues, I don’t find they are 
credited with any. My Herbalist says, “ They only serve as 
Ornaments for gardens.” Still as such they are very effec- 
tive, “ and are worthy the Respect of the Greatest Ladies 
who are Lovers of Flowers.” An old name for the Ragged 
Robin {Flos cuculi ) is Wild William, Crow-flower, or Marsh- 
flower. Nor has this pretty little wanderer apparently any 
virtues either, beyond the gift of beauty, which it certainly 
has when in masses in marshy ground. Robinet dechire 
is the quaint French name, Robinet being used as we 
would say Hodge. St. John’s- wort is looking lovely; 
Grace of God and Rose of Sharon it is called also, and 
“ Aaron’s-blood,” I suppose, from the red on the leaves, 
which are sometimes said to be the blood-drops of St. John 
the Baptist. It is said to be a charm against witchcraft, 
whereas it was sometimes called “ Drive Devil.” Stow 
says it used to be put over the door for this reason. In 
Italy and France it was also deemed a similar safeguard. 
In Holland, if gathered before the sun rose, it was thought 
to be a preservative against lightning. There is a tiny 
species wild here, which is very pretty. My purple Swamp 
Lilies {Funkia) are very elegant, with their delicate purple 
bells and slender stalks. I have been told that to dream 
of a Garden means a great joy coming — I think this is rather 
a nice idea ; while a dream of Birds brings friends and 
fortune. I am going to plant Swamp Lilies on the haugh. 
I believe they would like the river vicinity better than the 
Garden-bed. They are certainly flowers to be encouraged. 
The Saxons called this the Barn month {Am monath). 
It is a pity we do not use this expressive name instead 
of the Roman one. 
Boy and I saw a dear fat Toad in the plantation- walk 
to-day as we were wending gardenward, Boy dragging his 
little wooden cart, heavily laden with pot-plants returning 
to the shelter of the Greenhouse. I should have liked to 
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