AMONGST the many memorials of the great Darwin that we find in books and museums and gardens, there is none that speaks more plainly of him than the plant before us. It takes us into the heart of that most delightful of all his books, the "Journal of Researches" during the voyage of the Beagle. As a garden shrub it stands almost alone for hardiness, elegance, brightness, and usefulness; for it is equally adapted to adorn the terrace garden, or to afford covert to game. As a plant of history, too, although it was certainly unknown to the ancients, it in a similar manner may be said to stand alone; for it was discovered by Mr. Darwin in that memorable voyage of his, which may be regarded as the second discovery of the great New World. In the entries of the "journal" for the year 1834, when Darwin explored Tierra del Fuego and the south-west coast, he describes the forests and the vegetation as representing an equable climate, somewhat colder generally than that of places corresponding in latitude in the northern hemisphere. He says: "In Chiloe (corresponding in latitude with the northern parts of Spain) the peach seldom produces fruit, whilst strawberries and apples thrive to perfection. Even the crops of barley and wheat are often brought into the houses to be dried and ripened. At Valdivia (in the same latitude of 40 degree with Madrid) grapes and figs ripen, but are not common; olives seldom ripen even partially, and oranges not at all. . . Although the humid and equable climate of Chiloe, and of the coast north-ward and southward of it, is so unfavourable to our fruits, yet the native forests, from lat. 45 degree to 38 degree, almost rival in luxuriance those of the glowing inter-tropical regions."

From the foregoing extract it will be understood that Darwin's barberry as a garden plant is particularly adapted for our western counties. Such is, indeed, the fact; but, happily, it thrives to perfection in the near neighbourhood of London and far away northward, always best in a moist air, with shelter from east winds, and in a deep, moist, mellow soil, but whether this be of peat or loam seems of little consequence. One of the most enjoyable features of a garden we have ever worked out is our barberry plot, the plants being in beds of peat on a large half-shaded lawn, and comprising all the species and varieties of the genus Berberis that are known as sufficiently hardy for the climate of London; and amongst these the glistening Berberis Darwini is conspicuous for its beauty, although, as attractive plants, the elegant B. stenophylla and the dwarf and distinct B. glumacea compete with it for praise, and are found to obtain a share.

This barberry was introduced to our gardens by those eminent benefactors, the Messrs. Veitch, through their very successful collector, Mr. Lobb, whose name goes down to posterity with Tropoeolum Lobbianum. As regards its hardiness, it appears in all the southern counties to have survived unhurt the two dreadful winters of 1879-80 and 1880-81. In its native forests it grows near the limit of the summer line of snow, but it is less hardy here than there, because here it has to contend with dry east winds in spring, and with bitter frosts suddenly succeeding sultry weather--circumstances unknown to it in its own humid, equable climate. But it is so hardy, so thrifty, so accommodating, that we will say no more of its peculiarities, lest it should appear to need much, when in truth it needs but little.

The fruits of the earth do not obtain any special attention in these pages, for they rarely present themselves as proper subjects. But we have now to say that Darwin's barberry presents a most beautiful appearance when loaded with its grape-like fruits, and that these are much used in Devonshire in the preparation of a brisk flavoured conserve.

A barberry garden has been mentioned above. The barberries may with advantage be scattered over a place, but they are peculiarly well adapted for planting in groups. Ours are in a series of large circular beds of peat, on a moist, partially-shaded lawn near the house, where interesting evergreen shrubs are peculiarly suitable. The centres of the beds are occupied with the noble B. japonica, B. Beali, and B. intermedia. Around them are such as B. dulcis, B. stenophylla, B. fascicularis, and B. Asiatica. The marginal planting comprises B. Hookeri, B. glumacea, B. repens, and a lovely variety of the common holly-leaved berberis, the garden name of which is Berberis aquifolia nudulata nana. The common form of B. aquifolia is not good enough for such a plantation as we are now describing, and we find the best use for it to be as a facing to a holly-hedge, where it shows its winter colours to great advantage.