174 
THE FLORIST. 
size, some of them being two feet or more in height, and of the most 
fantastic shapes and beautiful colours, while others are of the same 
uniform green colour, stems, leaves, and flowers. On the west side of 
Balaclava, on the heights, the Iris pumila grows in profusion, contrasting 
with the large yellow spikes of the Asphodelus luteus, which is here 
very common. The Hyacinthus racemosus, with its peculiar Grape¬ 
like flowers, is rather common about Kamara. 
The last botanical ramble which I had in the Crimea was about the 
20th of May ; in this excursion I visited the Aqueduct and Tchernaya ; 
near the Aqueduct I found the Reseda odorata growing plentifully, and 
although much larger than that cultivated in our gardens, its scent was 
quite as delicate. The Hyoscyamus niger also grows here uncommonly 
fine, as does also the Aconitum nepellus. I collected also some 
fine specimens of Papaver Rhoeas, Aristolochia Clematitis, and a 
specimen of the rare Arum trilobatum. I noticed the Conium 
maculatum growing plentifully here. 
I also collected six other species of Euphorbia, four species of Veronica, 
five of Orchis, and several Lepidiums, Lamiums, and Vicias; and I 
noticed, though not in flower, quantities of Salvia officinalis, Conium 
maculatum, and Arum maculatum; indeed, so plentiful is the latter 
plant almost everywhere, that in time of scarcity I should think it 
might be useful as food, that is, the cormus, properly prepared; the 
hills about Kamara are covered with the Juniperus communis. 
The hills of the south of the Crimea are for the most part covered 
with a growth of brushwood, consisting of the Corylus avellana, 
Juniperus communis, Carpinus betulus, Pyrus malus, and the Crimean 
dwarf Oak, &c., &c.; and these grow so thickly, that it is almost 
impossible to make your way through them; and as snakes and lizards 
abound among the dry leaves, an extended walk through these places 
is neither desirable nor pleasant. M. 
A PEEP AT THE SLOUGH PRIVATE SHOW. 
I had intended, in compliance with the wishes of several corre¬ 
spondents, to have said a few words this month on the subject of 
Auriculas, and to furnish a list for beginners ; but absence from home 
and the late period of the month at which we are now arrived compel 
me to alter my plans. This will not be of any consequence to those 
who have asked my opinion, for it is now a dead time with Auriculas 
(I do not mean any unhappy allusion to the state of my stock), and I 
hope in the July number to say my little say on the matter, and that 
month is about the best in the year to buy in Auriculas. All that I 
shall say now is, that whoever says florists are churls is no true knight; 
my tale of woe has excited the sympathy of three Auricula growers— 
one of them personally unknown to me—who have told me not to give 
up, try once more, and they will help me to make up a stock. If any 
one knows the difficulty of getting together a number of these beautiful 
flowers, they can appreciate the kindness of my good friends. Instead, 
