ALBERT R. MANN LIBRARY AT CORNELL UNIVERSITY THE GIFT OF Isabel Zucker class '26 ¥2 Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924073984118 THE Floral Kingdom, It0 ^istorg, Sentiment anh poetry. A Dictionary of more than Three Hundred Plants, with the Genera and Families to Which They Belong, and the Language of Each Illustrated WITH Appropriate Gems OF Poetry. BY MRS. CORDELIA HARRIS TURNER. Initl) an ^utograpl) Cetter anb Inti-obuctoi-g |)o£in bg lOtUiam dullen IBrMant. A PRACTICAL TREATISE FOR AMATEURS Cultivation and Analysis of Plants CHICAGO: Moses Warren, 103 State Street. I ^877. • I GrR COPYRIGHT. ■ 1876. By Moses Warren, i HE love of flowers having become so nearly universal, it seems almost superfluous for an author to attempt any explanation in placing a work at all pertaining to the subject before the public, as every work, either elaborate or simple, must awaken a response in some heart where nature has placed her shrine. To those endowed with keen perceptions, the magnifi- cent, intricate and wonderful handiwork of the All-wise is daily mani- fested, and always new, in the infinite variety of the floral world. A number of years ago, the writer, being interested in the mytho- logical legends of the Greeks and Romans, was frequently struck with the number of fabled gods and goddesses, and the various rural nymphs who attended them, that were transformed into a tree, shrub or flower, either to mitigate some sorrow, gratify revenge, or as a punishment for some breach of the laws supposed to govern the deities of that time. Having made numerous memoranda of such legends, the love of flowers was sufficient to interest one in the general history of plants, their nativity, uses, the chief events in the history of each species, its cultivation and introduction into America. The "Floral Kingdom" iii PREFACE. "mi is the mature outgrowth of such notes. In order to make the book pleasing to the general reader, it has been the endeavor to exclude all technical terms pertaining to the science of botany, except the mere classification of plants into families to show the relation of one plant to another. This arrangement has been made according to what is called the Natural System, it being the one most in use in the various books on botany, as more philosophical than the Linngean System. The sentiment or language assigned to each flower has been the result of an extended search through various works both ancient and modern, the most ancient being the richest, however, in material and in poetic ideas. The sentiments attached to flowers originating in the imag- inative minds of the people, served as a means of communication at a time when the art of writing was known only to the few, these being mostly learned men and professional scribes. As the well known disa- greements of authors in attributing different languages to the same plant often make it difficult to determine which to choose, it is proper to state that the sentiments here given have been preferred because of the weight of authority in their favor. Having led the reader into the bowers of nature, what more natural .than that many paths should be found leading into the garden of the poets, where rich intellectual blossoms are scattered with an unsparing hand.? The love of poetry elevates the soul and makes it more suscep- tible to those delicate, spiritual and subtle influences that are found in other souls; it gives it a more rare appreciation of those higher beau- ties that are daily seen both in nature and art; it awakens a depth of feeling that almost entirely obliterates selfishness, and opens the heart to generous sympathies and warm impulses. The selections made for this work are numerous, and are the result of a very prolonged and laborious quest. They have been culled from many sources and various authors, foreign and native, and comprehend many of the choicest gems Lfrom the works of the best poets of all ages. C. H. T. 3 -^^^ s^i^r^ Alphabetical List of Authors Quoted, Autograph Letter and Poem, by William CuUen Bryant, Hymn to the Flowers, by Horace Smith, pages x-xi " xii-xiii " xiv-xv PARC 3.— Description, Language anb Poetry of Tlouiers. Acacia (Rose) ^Friendship, Adder's Tongue — Deceit, Adonis — Sorrowful reinembrances, Ageratum — Politeness, Agrimony — Thankfulness, Ailantus — ^Lofty aspirations. Almond — Despair, Aloe — Gi-ief, Aloysia — Forgiveness, Alyssum — Merit before beauty, Amaranth — Immortality, Amaranth (Globe) — I change "not, Amaryllis — Pride, American Arbor Vit^ — Thine till death, American Elm — Patriotism, American Linden — Matrimony, Andromeda (Marsh) — Bound by fate, - Anemone — Anticipation, Angelica — Inspiration, Apocynum — Falsehood, Apple Blossom — Preference, Apricot — ^Temptation, Arbutus — Simplicity, Arethusa — Fear, Aristolochia — Prodigality, Arnica — Let me heal thy grief, AscLEPlAS — Conquer your love, Ash — Grandeur, Asparagus — Emulation, Aspen — Excessive sensibility II 12 13 H 15 16 17 i8 19 20 21 22 23 24 2S 26 27 28 29 30 Asphodel — Remembered beyond the tomb, Aster — Cheerfulness in old age, Auricula — Painting, Azalea — Temperance, Baccharis — Intoxication, Bachelor's Button — Single blessedness. Balm (Molucca) — You excite my curiosity, Balm (Sweet) — Charms, Balm (Wild) — I value your sympathy, - Balm of Gilead — Sympathetic feeling, Balsamine — Impatience, Bartonia (Golden) — Does he possess riches Basil (Sweet) — Good wishes, Bayberry — I respect thy tears. Beech — Lovers' tryst. Begonia — Deformity, Bellflower — A constant heart. Berberry — A sour disposition, Birch — Elegance, Black Hoarhound — I reject you, Bladdernut — A trifling character. Borage — Abruptness, Bouncing Bess — Intnision, Box — Stoicism, Broom — Humility, Broom Corn — Labor, Browallia — Can you bear poverty ? Bugloss — Hypocrisy, Bulrush — Indecision, Burdock — Proximity undesirable. PAGE. •31 32 33 34 3S 36 37 38 39 40 41 ? 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 SO SI 52 S3 S4 55 56 57 58 59 60 .^1 Buttercup — Distrust, .... Butterfly Orchis — Gaiety, Cacalia — Adulation, Cactus (Night-blooming) — Transient beauty Cactus (Snake) — You terrify me, Calceolaria — No-selty, Calla Lily — Feminine beauty, Calycanthus — Benevolence, Camellia— Perfect loveliness, Canary Grass — Perseverance, - Candytuft — Architecture, Canterbury Bells — Gratitude, Cardamine — Infatuation, Cardinal Flower — Preferment, Carnation — Contempt, Catchfly — I am thy prisoner. Cedar (Red) — I live for thee, Celandine — Future happiness. Chamomile — Mercy, Chestnut — Deceptive appearances, Chickweed — Star of my existence. Chicory — Prudent economy, China Aster (Double) — Bounty, China Aster (Single) — I will think of it. Chrysanthemum — Slighted affections. Cineraria — Always delightful, Citron — Marriage, Clianthus — Glorious beauty, Clotbur — Detraction, Clover — Industry, CoB^A: — Gossip, Cockscomb — Foppery, Columbine — Folly, Coreopsis — Happy at all times, Coriander — Merit, Corn Cockle — Worth abov^ beauty, CoRONiLLA — Success crown your wishes. Cotton Plant — Greatness, Cranberry — Hardihood, Crape Myrtle — Eloquence, Crocus (Spring) — Cheerfulness, Crown Imperial — Imperial power, CuPHEA — Impatience, Currant — You please all, Cyclamen — Diffidence, Cypress — Sorrow, Daffodil — Chivalry, Dahlia — Dignity, Daisy — Innocence and beauty. Dandelion — Youthful recollections. Daphne — Sweets to the sweet, PAGE. PAGE. 6l Darnel — Vice, 112 62 Day Lily— Coquetry, - "3 63 Deadly Nightshade — Death, 114 f 64 Dodder — Baseness, "5 6S Dogwood — Honesty true nobility. 116 66 Dragon's Claw — Danger, 117 67 Dwarf Pink — Innocence, 118 68 Dyer's Weed — Design, - 119 69 Ebenaster — Night, 120 70 Eglantine — Home, 121 71 Elder — Zeal, 122 72 Enchanter's Nightshade — Sorcery, 123 73 Endive — Medicine, 124 74 English Moss — Fortitude, 125 75 EscALLONiA — Opinion, 126 76 Eternal Flower— Eternity, - 127 77 EupATORiUM — Delay, - 128 78 Euphorbia — Reproof, - 129 79 EuTOCA — A Gift, - 130 80 Eyebright — Your eyes are bewitching. 131 81 Fennel — Worthy all praise. 132 82 Fennel Flower —Artifice, 133 83 Fern (Walking) — Curiosity, 134 84 Feverfew — Beneficence, 135 85 Fir Balsam —Health, - 136 86 Flax — Domestic industry, 137 87 Flower-of-an-Hour — Trifling beauty, 138 88 Four-o'clock — Time, 139 89 Foxglove — Delirium, 140 90 Fritillaria —Persecution, 141 91 Fuchsia — Grace, 142 92 Gentian — Intrinsic worth. 143 93 Geranium — Confidence, 144 94 Gladiolus — Ready armed, 14s 95 Globe Flower — Fancy, 146 96 Gourd — Extent, H7 97 Grass— Utility, 148 98 Ground Ivy — Enjoyment, 149 99 Ground Pine — Complaint, 150 100 Gum Tree —Enthusiasm, 151 lOI Hawkweed — Quick-sightedness, 152 102 Heath — Solitude, 153 103 Helenium— Tears, I.H 104 Heliotrope —Devotion, 155 105 Hellebore — Calumny, 156 106 Hemp —Fate, 157 - 107 Hollyhock— Ambition, 158 108 Holly — Foresight, 159 109 Honesty — Honesty, - 160 no Honeysuckle— Bonds of love. 161 III Hop — Injustice, - 162 VI Horse Chestnut — Luxury, - HousELEKK — Vivacity, HoYA — Sculpture, Hyacinth — Jealousy, Hydrangea — Boasting, Hyssop — Purification, Ice Plant — Formality, Indian Mallow — Estimation, - Ipomcea— Attachment, Ipomopsis — Suspense, Iris — A messenger. Ivy — Lasting friendship. Jasmine (White) — Amiability, Juniper— Asylum, JusTiciA — Female loveliness, Kennedya — Mental beauty. Lady's Slipper — Fickleness, - Lake-flovi'er — Retirement, Lantana — Rigor, Larkspur — ^^Levity, Laurel^ Glory, Laurestine — I die if neglected. Lavender — Confession, - Lemon Blossom — Discretion, Lettuce — Cold-hearted, - Lilac — Awakening love, Lily — Purity, Lily of the Valley — Return of happiness. Lion's Heart — Bravery, Loasa — Pleasure, Lobelia — Malevolence, Locust — Vicissitude, Lophospermum — Ecstasy, Lupine — Voraciousness, Magnolia — Love of nature, Mallow — Goodness, Maple (Rock)— Reserve, Marigold — Cruelty, Marjoram (Sweet) — Blushes, Matthiola — Promptitude, M aurandia — Courtesy, Mayweed — Rumor, Medick — Agriculture, Melilot — Philanthropy, Mermaid Weed — Necessity, Mignonette — Your qualities surpass your charms, Mint — Virtue, Mistletoe — Obstacles to be overcome, Monkshood — Knight-errantry, Morning Glory — Repose, PAGE. 163 164 165 166 167 168 i6g 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 iSs 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 19s 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 Mourning Bride — Unfortunate attachment. Mullein — Good nature. Musk Plant — A meeting, - Mustard — Indifference, Myrtle — Love, Nasturtium — Heroism, Nemophila — Prosperity, Nettle — Slander, Oak — Honor, ... Oats — Country life. Oleander — Beware, Oleaster — Providence, Olive — Peace, Orange — Chastity, Orchis — A belle. Osier (Basket) — Frankness, OsMUNDA — Dreams, OxALis — Parental affection, PvEON y — Shame, Parsley — Festivity, Passion Flower — Holy love. Pea (Sweet) — Departure, Peach Blossom — I am your captive, Pentstemon — High-bred, Periwinkle — Early friendship, Persimmon — Amid nature's beauties, Petunia — Keep your promises, Phaseolus — Opportunity, Phlox — Unani mity. Pimpernel — Mirth, Pine— Philosophy, - Pitcher Plant — Instinct, Plumbago — Meekness with dignity, PoiNSETTiA — Brilliancy, Pomegranate — Lightning, Poppy (Opium) — Sleep, Portulaca — Variety, Potentilla — Beloved daughter, Primrose — Youth, Privet — Defense, Queen of the Meadow — Praise, Queen of the Prairie — Nobility, Quince — Allurement, Ragged Robin — Wit, Ranunculus — Ingratitude, Rhodora — Beauty in retirement, Rocket — Rivalry, Rose (Austrian) — Loveliness, - Rosebay — Talking, Rose (Damask) — Blushing beauty, - Rose-leaved Rubus — Threats, - PAGE. 213 214 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 22s 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 23s 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 24s 246 247 248 249 250 252 253 254 2S5 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 ■ 263 '^m Rosemary — Remembrance, Rose (Musk) — Charms, Rose (White) — Secrecy, RuDBECKiA — Justice, Rue — Repentance, Sage — Domestic virtue. Salvia — Energy, Sarsaparilla — Experience, - Sassafras — Favor, Sensitive Plant — Bashful modesty, Shamrock — Light-heartedness, Snapdragon — ■ Presumption, - Snowball — Thoughts of heaven. Snowdrop — Consolation, Snowdrop Tree — Exhilaration, Southernwood — Jesting, Speedwell — Female fidelity, Spiderwort — Transient happiness. Spikenard — Benefits, Spruce — Farevj'ell, Stapelia — Offense, Star Flower — Reciprocity, - Star of Bethlehem — Reconciliation, Strawberry — Perfect goodness. Sumach — Splendor, Summer Savory — Success, Sunflower — Lofty thoughts. Sweet Flag — Fitness, Sweet Potato — Hidden qualities. Sweet Sultan — Felicity, Sweet William — Stratagem, Sycamore — Woodland beauty. PAGE. 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 290 291 292 293 294 295 Syringa — Memory, Tansy — Resistance, Teasel — Misanthropy, Thistle — Austerity, Thorn — Difficulty, Thorn Apple — Deceitful charms. Thrift — Sympathy, Tiger Flower — Pride befriend me. Trumpet Flower — Fame, Tuberose — Voluptuousness, Tulip — Declaration of love, TussiLAGO — Justice to you. Valerian — Obliging disposition, Venus's Fly-trap — Deceit, Venus's Looking-glass — Flattery, Verbena — Sensibility, Violet — Modesty, Virgin's Bower — Filial affection. Wallflower — Fidelity in misfortune. Walnut — Intellect, Water Lily — Eloquence, Weeping Willow — Melancholy, Wheat — Riches, White Walnut — Understanding, Winter Cherry — Deception, Witch Hazel — Witchery, Wormwood — Absence, Yarrow — War, Yew — Sorrow, Yucca — Authority, Zinnia — Thoughts in absence. PAGE, 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 3" 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 32s 326 PARH: 33.— iCultiuation an6 Analysis of Plants. PRACTICAL, FLORICULTURE. PAGE. Soils — Loam; Sand; Leaf-mold ; Turf ; Peat; Manures, 33o-33i Flower-Beds — In Relation to Symmetry and Color; Deformities Concealed, 331-333 Propagating Plants — Sowing Seeds; Cut- tings or Slips ; Layering; Offshoots; Bulbs, 333 Potting Plants, 335 Watering Plants, 337 Pruning Plants, - 338 Insects — Foliage Insects: Aphis Rosse; Thrips; Red Spider; Mealy Bug; Coccus; Verbena Mite; Roller Caterpillar; Rose Beetle; Tobacco Worm, 338-340 Root Worms: Angleworm;' Mi Ueped; Cut- Worm; Wii-e-Worm, 341 Diseases of Plants — Mildew; Blackrust; Damping Off', Practical Precepts, culture of favorite plants. Abutilon, Achyranthus, Agapanthus, Alternantheras, Amaryllis, Aster, Azalea, Balsam, Begonia, bouvardia, - . . 342 342 /•=vV-» Cactus, Caladium, Camellia, Canna, Carnation, COLEUS, Crape Myrtle, Crocus, Cyclamen, Daisy, Dicentra, Drac^na, Echeveria, Erythrina, FiTTONIA, Fuchsia, FUNKIA, Gardenia, - Geranium, Gladiolus, Heliotrope, Hibiscus, HOYA, Hyacinth, LiBONIA, Lily, Lily of the Valley, LiNARIA, Mahernia, Oleander, Pansy, Pelargonium, Peperomia, Petunia, Phlox, Physianthus, Primrose, Rose, Saxifrage, SCILLA, Sedum, Selaginella, Smilax, Stephanotis, Tritoma, Trop^eolum, Tuberose, Tulip, Verbena, Violet, Weigela, - 352 3S3 354 35S 355 356 357 357 358 359 360 360 361 361 362 363 363 364 365 366 367 368 369 370 371 371 372 373 373 374 375 375 376 377 377 378 379 380 382 382 383 384 384 38s 386 386 387 388 389 389 390 NEGLECTED BEAUTIES. PAGE. Choice Native Wild Flowers — Anemone nemorosa; Uvularia; Erythronium ; Dode- catheon meadia ; Tradescantia Virginica ; Co- reopsis; Asclepias tuberosa; Cassia chamje- crista; Liatris; Gentiana crinita; Asters, 392 Climbing Plants — Climbers: Passiflora Fordii; Clematis virginiana; Clematis Sie- boldii ; Clematis Jackmanni ; Clematis John Gould Veit-ch; Cob^a scandens; Eccremo- carpus scaber : Cucurbitacese, 39^ Twiners: IpomcEa; Quamoclit vulgaris ; Cal- jstegia sepium; Boussingaultia basilloides; Mikania scandens; Lonicera; Celastrus scan- dens ; Aristolochia sipho ; Lathyrus odoratus ; Maurandia; Thunbergia; Menispermum Canadense; Wistaria Sinensis; Phaseolus multiflorus; Adlumia cirrhosa; Jasminum officinale; Humulus lupulus; Periploca Graica, 394-39^ Creefers: Hedera helix; Ampelopsis Veitchii; Ampelopsis quinquefolia; Tecoma radicans; Ficus repens, 39^-397 Trailers : Epigsea repens ; Tradescantia ze- brina, Ferns, Grasses, Heaths, Mosses, 397 398 399 400 401 402 403 404 405 structure of plants. Chemistry of Plants, Tissues, Roots — Annuals; Biennials; Perennials, Stems — Stalks; Axil, Leaves — Stipules; Bracts; Buds ; .(Estivation, 406 Flovi^ers — Calyx; Corolla; Stamen; Pistil; Pericarp ; Seed ; Receptacle ; Nectary, 408 Inflorescence. 410 divisions of the vegetable kingdom. Variety; Subspecies or Race; Species; Subgenus or Section; Genus; Tribe and Subtribe; Suborder; Order; Subclass or Alli- ance; Class, Series or Subkingdom, 411-412 SYSTEMS OF CLASSIFICATION. Artificial System of Linnaeus — Twenty- four Classes; Twenty -six Orders, Natural Orders of Linn^us, Natural Systems, Influence of Floriculture, Index of Sentiment, JJpl^ablJra! JsUi n\ jlHl?|ors ^mitk l\ Abbey, Henry. Adams, John S. Addison. Akenside. Aleyn. Alimony, Lady. Anacreon. Ancrum, Karl ofi Ang-elo, Michael. Armstrong;, Dr. John. Ascher, Isidore G. Aylward, James S. Babington. Bailey. Baillie, Joanna. Barrett, Miss. Barton, Bernard. Baxter, Sylvester. Beattie. Beaumont and Fletcher. Bed does, Thomas Lovell. Bell, Alexander. Bellman Carl Michael. Benjamin, Park. , Bennett, Emih' T. Bennett, W. C. Benton, Joel. Bidlake. Bird. Bird, Robert M. Blackmore, Sir R. Blair. Blessington, Countess of. Bogart, Elizabeth. Boker, Georg-e H. Bowles-, Miss. Bowring-, John. Bradley, Mary E. Brock, Sallie A. Brome. Brooke. Brooke, Lord. Brooks, James G. Brown. Browne. Browne, Mary Anne. Browne, William. Browning, Elizabeth Barrett. Bruce, Michael. ~^ Bryant, William CuUen. Brydges, Sir S. E. Bulwer. Burbidge, Thomas. Burg-er, G. A. Burleigh. Burns. Butler. Butler, Mrs. Frances A. K. Byron. Campbell. Carey, Phcebe. Carew, Lady. Carew, Thomas. Cartwright. Chandler, Mary. Chandler, Mrs. C. N. Chapman, George. Churchill. Cibber. Clare. Clare, John. Clark, Willis Gaylord. Clarke, Sara Jane. Clason, Isaac S. Cleveland. Clinch. Clinch, T. H. Coleridge. Collins. Comer, Joseph. Congreve. Conrad, Robert T. Cook, Eliza. Cooper, George. Cordner, Charlotte. Cornwall, Barry. Cotton, Cowley. Cowper. Craboe. Cranch, Christopher Pearse. Crown. Cumberland. Dana, R. H. Daniel, Samuel. Darley, George. Darwin, Dr. E. Davenant, Sir William. Davenport. Davies, Sir John. Dawes, RuFus. Decker. Denham, Sir J. Dickens, Charles. Dinnies, Mrs. Anne Peyre. Dobell, Sydney. Dodge, Mary B. Donne. Dorr, Julia C. R. Drayton. Drayton, Nicholas. Drew. Dryden. Dyer. Eastburn, J. W. Eldredge, Mrs. R. T. Ellet, Mrs. Elizabeth F. Ellis. Ellis, Edward. Embury, Mrs. Emerson, Ralph Waldo, Eusden. Euphorion. Evans. %^^ Everest, C. W. Everett, John. Fairfax. Fawcett, Edgar. Fenton. Fielding. Fields, James T. Fitts, James Franklin. Foote. Ford, John. Fountain. Franklin. Franklin, James. Frisbie, Levi. Frowde. Fuller, Frances A. Gay. German, from the. Gibbs, A. Gifford. Gifford, Lena I, Gilman, Caroline, Glyndon, Howard. Goffe. Goldsmith. Gould, Miss. Granville. Gray. Greek, from the. Green. Green well, Dora. Grey, Barton. Habington, William. Hale, Mrs. S. J. Hall, Marcia. Halleck. Hamlin, G. Harney, Will Wallace. Harte, Walter. Harvard. Hay, William. Hayne, Paul H. Hays, Samuel. Hayley. Heath. Heine. Hemans, Mrs. Henderson. Herbert, George. Herbert, Wiliam. Herrick, Robert. Hey wood. Hifl. Hill, Aaron. Hill, Kate. J. Hillhouse, James A. Hirst, Henry B. Hoffman, Chas, Fenno. Holmes, Oliver Wendell, Home, John. Hood, Thomas, X Howard, Mrs. V. E. Howard, Sir Robert. Howel. Howitt, Mary. Howitt, William. Hoyt, Ralph. Hughan, O. G. Hugo, Victor. Hunt, Josie E. Hunt, Leigh. Hunt, Sir A. Ingelow, Jean. JefFery. Jenks, H. N. Jewsbury, Miss. Johns, H. 1. Johnson, C. Jbhnson, Dr. Jones, Sir W. Jonson, Ben. Keats, John. Kemble, Frances Anne. Kermode, Tamar Anne. King, Dr. Henry. Knowles. Korner. Labree, L. Lalee. Landon, L. E. Langey, W. F. Larcom, Lucy. Lawrence, William. R. Lee. Lee, Mary E. Leech, H. H. Leggett, William. Lewis, Anna Estelle. Lewis, Mrs. Leyden, Dr. Lillo. Locke, Jane E. Locke, A. A. Locke, Mrs. Longfellow. Lover, Samuel, Lowell, James Russell. Lynch, Charlotte Anne. Lyltleton. Macaulay, Lord. MaChan. Mackellar. Madden, Dr. S. Malcolm, Edith. Mallet. Mant. Marloe. Marmyon. Marston. Mason. ^^^ I fLJ^t-L^JJ- Massey. Massing-er, Maturin. May, Edith. May, Thomas. Mayne. Merivale. Metastasio. Middleton. Miller. Miller, Joaquin. Milman. Milton. Mirror for Magistrates. Moir. Montgomery. Montgomery, W. R. Moore. Moore, L. Bruce. More, Hannah. Morris, Robert, Motherwell. Motteux. Munson, S. A. Murphy, Murray, Lindley. Nabb. Noney, A. W. Norris, John. Norton, Andrews. Norton, Mrs. Ogilvie. OrdVlay. Ordway. O'Reilly, John Boyle. Orrery, Earl of. Osgood, Frances Sargent, Osgood, Kate Putnam. Otway. Ovid. Paine, R. T. Palmer, J. W. Parnell. Patterson. Pattison. Paulding. Peerbold. Percival. Percival, James G. Petrarch. Philips, Ambrose. Philips, John. Philips, Katherine, Pierpont, John. Pierson, Mrs. Lydiajane. Pike, Albert. Pindar. Pinkney, Edward C. Pittacus. Poem of 1584. Pollock. Pope. Pordage. Prattent. Prentice, G. D. Prior. Proctor. Procter, Adelaide Arlne. Proctor, Bryan W. Quarles, Francis. Raleigh, Sir Walter. Rand, Mrs. M. H, Randolph. ' Randolph, Mrs. Eliza S, Read, Thomas Buchanan. Reid, Christian. Renaud, Edward. Richards, W. C. Robinson, Mary. Robinson, Mrs. Rochester. Rogers. Roscoe, William, Roscommon, Rossetti, Christina Georgina. Rowe. Russell, P. W. Ryan. Salmagundi. Sandys. Sanford, Lucy M. Sappho. Sargent, Epes. Savage. Saxe, John G. Scott, Sir Walter, Shakespeare. Shaw. Shelly. Thomson, Shenstone. Thompson, James Maurice Sheridan. Thurlow, Lord. Shirley. Tickell. Sidney, Sir Philip. Tighe, Mrs. Sigonrney, Mrs. SimmSj W. G. Timon, The New. Tracy. Smith. Trapp. Tuckerman, F. G. Smith, Horace. Smith, Mrs. £. Oakes. Tuke. Smith, Mrs. L. P. Tusser. Smith, Mrs. Margaret. Twiss, Horace. Smith, Mrs. Seba. Smith, William. Very, Jones. Smollett. Virgil. Southern. Southey. Walcot, Dr. Southey, Mrs. W^alker, James, Southwell, Robert. Waller. Spanish, from the. Waller, John Francis, Spear, Thomas G. Walsh, William, Spencer, Caroline. Wandesford. Spenser. Watkyns. Sprague, Charles. Stapleton, Sir Robert. Watson, J. T. Webber, Fred W. Steele, Anne. Webster. SterUne (or Stirling), Earl of. Webster, John. Sterling, John. Welby, Mrs. Amelia B. Stillingfleet. Story, W. W. Wesley, J. White, Henry Kirke. Street. Whitman, Sarah Helen, Street, Alfred B. ■Whittier, J. G. Strickland. Wilcox, Carlos. Stuart, Carlos D. Wilde, R. H. "Swain, Charles. Wilkins. Swain, John. Willis, N. P. Suckling, Sir John. Wilson. Sweney, Robert. Wilson, John. Swift. Wither, George. Sylvester, Joshua. Woodworth. Sylvestre. L. Wordsworth. W^otten, Sir Henry. Tasso. Tate. Young. Taylor, Bayard. Taylor, Henry. INITIALS. Tennyson. Terry, Rose. C. C. C. Thackeray, William Make- C. H. T. peace. H. C. Thaxter, Celia. J. H. S. Thompson. W. H. C. 1? ^ .. ^^ »'>^«-<.^(l^-^«^t^^C77?ta./*>c.«/ — i^Ujt-tiC^ Xlll l|^mtt b i\t %lnm$ts. K r- 'AY- STARS! that ope your frownless eyes to twinkle From rainbow galaxies of earth's creation, And dew-drops on her lonely altars sprinkle As a libation. Ye matin worshipers! who, bending lowly Before the uprisen sun, God's lidless eye, Throw from your chalices a sweet and holy Incense on high. Ye bright mosaics! that with storied beauty The floor of Nature's temple tessellate, ^ What numerous emblems of instructive duty ^(^'^"m Your forms create! 'Neath cloistered boughs, each floral bell that swingeth, And tolls its perfume on the passing air. Makes Sabbath in the fields, and ever ringeth A call to prayer. Not to the domes where crumbling arch and column Attest the feebleness of mortal hand. But to that fane, most catholic and solemn. Which God hath planned; To that cathedral, boundless as our wonder. Whose quenchless lamps the sun and moon supply; Its choir the winds and waves, its organ thunder, Its dome the sky. There, as in solitude and shade I wander Through the green aisles, or stretched upon the sod, Awed by the silence, reverently ponder The ways of God, HTMN TO THE FLOWERS. Your voiceless lips, O flowers! are living preachers, Each cup a pulpit, every leaf a book, Supplying to my fancy numerous teachers From loneliest nook. Floral Apostles! that in dewy splendor "Weep without woe, and blush without crime," O, may I deeply learn, and ne'er surrender, Your love sublime! "Thou wert not, Solomon, in all thy glory, Arrayed," the lilies cry, "in robes like ours! How vain your grandeur! ah, how transitory Are human flowers!" In the sweet-scented pictures, heavenly artist! With which thou paintest Nature's wide-spread hall. What a delightful lesson thou impartest Of love to all! Not useless are ye, flowers! though made for pleasure; Blooming o'er field and wave, by day and night. From every source your sanction bids me treasure Harmless delight. Ephemeral sages! what instructors hoary For such a world of thought could furnish scope? Each fading calyx a memento mori, Yet fount of hope. Posthumous glories! angel-like collection! Upraised from seed or bulb interred in earth, Ye are to me a type of resurrection And second birth. Were I in churchless solitudes remaining. Far from all voice of teachers and divines, My soul would find, in flowers of God's ordaining. Priests, sermons, shrines. — Horace Smith. r jr -^m PART I Description, Language and Poetry of Flowers. ■Vi*o— «-^" Ti^-S'C; Kobinia ll'tspfta. Natural Order: Leguminosce — Pulse Family. HE Rose Acacia is a beautiful shrub of the locust tribe, varying in height from three to five feet, and is grown for its large clusters of rose-colored, pea-shaped flowers, which are very pleasing to the eye. The Acacias are aU very handsome plants, with great diversity of foliage, and number, in all their varieties, upward of four hundred. They are found in every quarter of the globe, except Europe, and some of them are natives of our own Southern States. The flowers of the choice varieties are yellow, pale straw-color, red, or purple. They require the protection of the greenhouse to grow them in perfection. QMALL service is true service while it lasts; ^ Of friends however humble, scorn not one: The daisy, by the shadow that it casts. Protects the ling'ring dewdrop from the sun. — Wordsworth. /^H! let my friendship in the wreath, ^ Though but a bud among the flowers, Its sweetest fragrance 'round thee breathe — 'Twill serve to soothe thy weary hours. — Mrs. Welby. TOVE is a sudden .blaze which soon decays; ^-^ Friendship is like the sun's eternal rays; Not daily benefits exhaust the flame: It still is giving, and still burns the same. -Gay. ■p.RIENDSHIP 'S an abstract of love's noble flame, '• 'Tis love refined, and purged from all its dross; The next to angel's love, if not the same; As strong as passion is, though not so gross : It, antedates a glad eternity. And is a heaven in epitome. —Katherine Phillips. ■pRIENDSHIP is a plant of heavenly birth, Constant its nature, and immense its worth, Its essence virtue, and is known to rest. And glow most warmly in the virtuous breast! — Praitent. T7RIENDSHIP is the cement of two minds, As of one man the soul and body is; Of which one cannot sever but the other Suffers a needful separation. — Ckapman. J^^^^' ^'^ tOQlosaum Bulgatum. Natural Order: Filices — Fern Family. STRANGE name has this singular little plant, being derived from two Greek words, ophis, meaning serpent, and glossa, a tongue; so called from the lance-like spike on which the seeds are produced. It belongs to the beautiful family of •2^ ferns, most of which propagate themselves by seeds or spores, arranged in various ways on the back of their leaves, some being too minute to be visible to the naked eye. It is found in low grounds, with solitary fronds measuring from two to three inches in length. It has been chosen as an emblem of deceit, because those by whom we are deceived are usually compared to serpents lurking in the grass, and ready to sting us unawares. A ND this was he who loved me; he who came To whisper vows to my too wiUing ear With lip of melody and heart of flame; Vows whose glad truth I deem'd so trebly dear To him who breathed them, that had doubt or fear Been raised within my heart, they could not grow — He whose bright eyes bespoke a soul sincere — This; this was he who — vain remembrance now! — He lives to scorn the past — he lives to break his vow. — Mrs. Norton, IVTO man's condition is so base as his; None more accursed than he ; for man esteems Him hateful 'cause he seems not what he is; God hates him 'cause he is not what he seems; What grief is absent, or what mischief can Be added to the hate of God and man? — Francis ^uarles. A H ! that deceit should steal such gentle shapes. And with a virtuous visor hide deep vice! _ — Shakespeare. %. DETTER the truth, Though it bring me ruth. Than a lie as sweet as the dreams of youth. Better to stand In a lonely land. My feet unshod in its desert sand, Than to blindly go Where cool streams flow. And a serpent coils in the grasses low. —Mary E. Bradley. -feS^ ^^- "-''»— gy*- ^5^ \i ^ionls ttUtUmnalis. Natural Order: Ranunculacem — Crowfoot Family. N the Adonis we have a fine hardy annual of European birth, which, according to ancient mythology, sprung from the blood of Adonis, one of the lovers of Venus, who while hunting was killed by a boar. Venus mourned his loss with many tears. While she was weeping over the spot, a beautiful plant came up covered with flowers like drops of blood. Thus have the fables and flowers descended to us through the mists of ages, laden with the reminiscences of vanished time. 'T^EARS, idle tears, — I know not what they mean,- '- Tears from the depth of some divine despair Rise in the heart, and gather in the eyes. In looking on the happy autumn fields. And thinking of the days that are no more. — Tennyson. 'T'HEY bid me raise my heavy eyes, ^ Nor mournful still in tears complain — They bid me cease these broken sighs, And with the happy smile again : They say that many a form of light Is gliding round me while I pine. But still I weep — though fair and bright. It is not thine. —Mrs. Norton. TTTHEN the cold breath of sorrow is sweeping O'er the chords of the youthful heart, And the earnest eye, dimmed with strange weeping, Sees the visions of fancy depart; When the bloom of young feeling is dying. And the heart throbs with passion's fierce strife. When our sad days are wasted in sighing, Who then can find sweetness in life.-' — Mrs. Embury. 11 /[EMORIES on memories! to my soul again There come such dreams of vanish'd love and bliss That my wrung heart, though long inured to pain. Sinks with the fullness of its wretchedness. ■ — Pkxbe Carey. 3 i -^. Slgtratum Ukititonum. Natural Order: Compositce — Aster Family. s CARCELY any flower is more in use among florists for group- ing in bouquets than the Ageratum; its small, fringe-like heads filling in so softly around the more unyielding blossoms; toning down all harsh outlines, and harmonizing tints too antagonistic >to each other, by its unobtrusive presence. There are only "" two varieties in color: one a most delicate blue, the other white; and two in height, a dwarf and a tall kind. It produces a fine effect when grown in masses in the garden, or is well adapted for pot culture, the dwarf having the preference, the blossoms being about the same size. It is a native of Mexico and the West Indies. TIER air, her manners, all who saw admired; Courteous, though coy, and gentle though retired ; The joy of youth and health her eyes display'd. And ease of heart her every look convey'd. 'T'HE nymph did like the scene appear, Serenely pleasant, comely fair; Soft fell her words as blew the air. — Prior. —Crahbe. "lirHAT are these wondrous civilizing arts, This Roman polish, and this smooth behavior. That render man thus tractable and tame? — Addison* 'PASE in your mien, and sweetness in your face. You speak a siren, and you move a grace; Nor time shall urge these beauties to decay. While virtue gives what years shall steal away. -Tickell. TN simple manners all the secret lies: Be kind and virtuous, you'll be, blest and wise. — Tottng. /^F softest manners, unaffected mind; ^^ Lover of peace, and friend of human kind. ~Pope. A MORAL, sensible, and well-bred man Will not affront me, and no other can. — Cowper. <^ -^^m ^«-u^. ^rr»-~c^f* "m' y ^iQrimonta paroiflaua. Natural Order: Rosacece — Rose Family. GRIMONY, a plant well known to the Greeks and Romans, and by them very highly esteemed for its healing properties, was at one time thought superior to all others known to science as medicinal. Some authors derive the name from rQj the Greek '■'■argema, the web or pearl of the eye, a disease of which it was supposed to cure." Several plants under ^ this name are found throughput the United States, in the fields and woods. The flowers are small and yellow, in long, slender racemes. The plants vary in height from one to three feet, some of them being quite aromatic. T70R she hath lived with heart and soul alive ■*■ To all that makes life beautiful and fair; Svreet thoughts, like honey-bees, have made their hive Of her soft bosom-cell, and cluster there. — Amelia B. Welhy. 'pHROUGH all his tuneful art how strong •'• The human feeling gushes! The very moonlight of his song Is warm with smiles and blushes. —J. G. Wltittier. T UNDERSTOOD not that a grateful mind ■*■ By owing owes not, but still pays, at once Indebted and discharg'd. —Milton. Q OUL, where thoughts like to white-winged angels, ^ Brood in the hush of this dim, dark eve, Whisper to me thy sweet evangels. Whisper and sigh, but do not grieve; Out of the depths of thy charmed chambers Raise me a song that shall thrill afar; Kindle thy fires, blow bright thine embers. Gleam on Aer soul like the gleam of a star. — Barton Grey. w E owe thee much ; within this wall of flesh There is a soul counts thee her creditor,. And with advantage means to pay thy love. — Shakespeare. T^H ANKS, thanks .to thee, my worthy friend, -*■ For the lesson thou hast taught. — Longfellow. TF you have lived, take thankfully the past; * Make, as you can, the sweet remembrance last. — Dry den. J.^S ^^ -^^ 2lilantU0 glanMosa. Natural Order: Rutacece—Rue Family. XURIANT in aspect is this Chinese tree, the botanical name of which is derived from its Malay name, ailanto, that is, Tree of Heaven. It grows to a great height, the trunk is usually very straight, and the leaves, a yard or more in length, are composed of smaller leaflets arranged along the central stem, with one at the tip, similar to the leaves of the butternut. They are abundant, and form a plentiful and delightful shade. The tree grows rapidly; the wood is soft and of no utility. 'T^HE planted seed, consigned to common earth, •*■ Disdains to molder with the baser clay, But rises up to meet the light of day. Spreads all its leaves and flowers and tendrils forth. And, bathed and ripened in the genial ray, Pours out its perfume on the wandering gales, Till in that fragrant breath its life exhales; So this immortal germ within my breast Would strive to pierce the dull, dark clod of sense; With aspirations winged and intense, Would so stretch upward, in its tireless quest To meet the Central Soul, its source, its rest. — Charlotte Anne Lynch, \ RESTLESS, strong, impetuous will, Eager to do and dare the worst, Emulous ever to be first. Attaining, yet aspiring still. —Kate J. Hill. TTP from its trammels the freed spirit wings, ^ Higher to soar; Attar immortal a pure essence flings. Sweet, evermore ! —Mary B. Dodge. a % E^^2= ATATURE never stands still, nor souls either. They ever go up or go down; And hers has been steadily soaring — but how has it been with your own .' She has struggled, and yearned, and aspired- — grown purer and wiser each year; The stars are not farther above you, in yon luminous atmosphere! —Julia C. R. Dorr. 6 ■^^ :^- ^JlmggbaluB puniila. Natural Order: Rosacece—Rose Family. HE Almond is a beautiful little shrub, sending forth its deli- cate pink, crape-like blossoms early in the spring, completely covering each branch from base to apex, while the foliage is almost unseen. The ancients had a beautiful custom of wreathing poetic fables with everything, and there is scarcely a flower but what is clothed with some affecting tale of dis- appointed lovers. The Almond tree was said by them to have sprung from the dead body of Phyllis, princess of Thrace, who was watching for her betrothed husband's return. On the day appointed for his arrival, she watched and waited anxiously, and at last, hopeless and despairing, killed herself upon the shore, and was changed into this shrub. ^XX. rjUT dreadful is their doom whom doubt has driven To censure fate, and pious hope forego: Like yonder blasted boughs by lightning riven. Perfection, beauty, life, they never know. But frown on all that pass, a monument of woe. -Beattie, TV 1 ETHINKS we stand on ruin ; nature shakes •'■' About us; and the universal frame 's T^HERE is no light shed on my way, Ev'n hope's pale beam has fled. So loose, that it but wants another push To leap from its hinges. ■ —Lee. H And those I loved have gone for aye To the cold realms of the dead. — Marcia Hall. OW like gall and wormwood to the taste The cup that we have longed to drain may prove. — Lydia yane Pierson. ^k /^H! my darling, earth is weary. Life, without thee, sad and dreary. Ocean's song a Miserere! And my sun is burning low, Fainter yet life's embers glow. Tides will ebb that cannot flow. — James Franklin Fills . TTTHO sees laid low, At a single blow. The sweetest thing in his life, may know What bitter ruth For my heart, in sooth. Was born of this naked, terrible truth. — Mary E. Bradley. ■^^^ ^^ %QtXDt Americana. Natural Order: AmaryllidacecB — Amaryllis Family. HIS plant is a native of the tropical portions of America, although the same species are fo'und in the burning sands of the Eastern Hemisphere. The leaves are thick and fleshy, tapering to a point, and dentate on the edges. They some- times grow as much as six or eight feet in length, each leaf coming out one close above the other, with no interval on the stem. The flower-stalk rises from the center of the surrounding leaves to the height of twenty to thirty feet, bearing on the summit a pyramidal panicle of numberless yellow flowers. Formerly it was said to bloom only once in a century. It is now known to bloom |r) from eight years upward, according to the attention given it, and the ""•region where it grows. Another variety, with smaller leaves of almost invisible green, is completely covered with white, bead-like dots, forming a striking contrast to the color on which they rest. \x\t\. /^H sorrow! where on earth hast thou not sped ^ Thy fatal arrows! on what lovely head Hast thou not poured, alas! thy bitter phial, And cast a shadow on the spirit's dial. — Anna Estelle Lewis. TN tears, the heart oppressed with grief. Gives language to its woes; In tears its fullness finds relief, When rapture's tide o'erfiows! Who, then, unclouded bliss would seek On this terrestrial sphere, When e'en delight can only speak. Like sorrow, in a tear? — Meiastasio. TJ ALF of the ills we hoard within our hearts, Are ills because we hoard them. —Proctor. ■nUT where the heart of each should beat, There seemed a wound instead of it, From whence the blood dropped to their feet. Drop after drop — dropped heavily. As century follows century Into the deep eternity. —Elizabeth Barrett Browning. AM dumb, as solemn sorrow ought to be; Could my gi-iefs speak, the tale would have no end. 8 -Oiway, --or — ±\ ^1 ^logBta ritrio^O^(^. Natural Order: Verbenacece — Vervain Family. RESERVING of all praise is the Aloysia, sometimes called Lemon Verbena. It is from Paraguay, and received its name in honor of Queen Mary Louisa, of Spain, the mother of Ferdinand VII. It is cultivated as a greenhouse shrub, for the aromatic odor of its delicate leaves, the least touch of which yields the delightful fragrance of the lemon. Frequently it is placed in the ground in summer, and in a dry cellar in winter. It should be trimmed back in the spring before the leaf buds begin to start, as otherwise it is inclined to a straggling growth. The flowers are small, appearing in spikes. They seldom bloom in this latitude. The young branches are used by florists in bouquets. ■^ttrgb^n^ss. QOME grave their wrongs on marble; he, more just, Stoop'd down serene, and wrote them in the dust. — Dr. S. Madden. w HILE yet we live, scarce one short hour perhaps. Between us two let there be peace. —Milton. r, there be One of jou all that ever from my presence I have with saddened heart unkindly sent, I here, in meek repentance, of him crave A brother's hand, in token of forgiveness. — Joanna Baillie. ''yiS easier for the generous to forgive Than for offense to ask it. —Thomfson. TTNEEL not to me: •'^*- The power that I have on you, is to spare you; The malice toward you, to forgive you; live And deal with others better. — Shakespeare, PJ*ORGIVE and forget! why the world would be lonely. The garden a wilderness left to deform. If the flowers but remember'd the chilling winds only. And the fields gave no verdure for fear of the storm. — Charles Swam, 'HE narrow soul SPi TF ever any malice in your heart 'T' Were hid against me, now forgive me frankly. Knows not the God-like glory of forgiving. —Shakespeare. — Rov/e, 9 1 -^^^Tl ^IgSSUnt inftlittltium. Natural Order: Cruciferce — Mustard Family. ^ONG the ancients the Alyssums were supposed to possess some charmed property, which had power to control and subdue violent and ungovernable paroxysms of temper, and keep the disposition mild and passive. Its name is derived £j from the Greek «, not, and lussa, rage. It is a perennial of ff^^easy culture, and gladdens the garden from June to October with its fine leaves, delicate white flowers and sweet perfume. The R'ock (Saxatile) Alyssum is a native of Candia, and has yellow blos- soms in close corymbous bunches. QAID I she was not beautiful? Her eyes upon your sight ^-^ Broke with the lambent purity of planetary light, And as intellectual beauty, like a light within a vase, Touch'd every line with glory of her animated face. —Willis. 'T^ELL me not that he 's a poor man. That his dress is coarse and bare; Tell me not his daily pittance Is a workman's scanty fare; Tell me not his birth is humble. That his parentage is low; Is he honest in his actions? This is all I want to know. —'Joseph Comer. TTERE only merit constant pay receives; Is blest in what it takes, and what it gives. —Popt. /^H, how much more doth beauty beauteous seem. By that sweet ornament which truth doth give! The rose looks fair, but fairer we it deem For that sweet odor which doth in it live. — Shakespeare. 'TJ'AR better in its place the lowliest bird Should sing aright to Him the lowliest song. Than that a seraph strayed, should take the word And sing his glory wrong. —-yean Ingelow. Beauty provoketh thieves sooner than gold. — Shakespeare. /^OOD actions crown themselves with lasting bays; Who well deserves needs not another's praise. —Heath. TT is witness still of excellency To put a strange face on its own perfection. — Shakespeare. lO c-?^ rffi Ill ~m ■ 1 ®Ompl)r£na :p£r£nm0. Natural Order: Amarantacece — Amaranth Family. V (3UTH AMERICA has contributed this variety of the Ama- ranth to the flora of the United States. It is a plant about [' two feet high, with narrow, tapering leaves, and flowers simi- l lar in shape to those of the common red clover. They are ^,t;rimson in color, and equally fadeless and durable as in the annual species. Because of this quality they have been the chosen emblem of immortality from the early days of Homer down to the poets of modern times. A VOICE within us speaks that startling word — " Man, thou shalt never die ! " Celestial voices Hymn it into our souls; according harps, By angel fingers touch'd, when the mild stars Of morning sang together; sound forth still The song of our great Immortality. "T^ IS immortality deciphers man, ■'• And opens all the mysteries of his make, Without it, half his instincts are a riddle, Without it, all his virtues are a dream. — YoUTlg. —R. H. Dana. IMMORTALITY o'ersweeps All pains, all tears, all time, all fears — and peals Like the eternal thunders of the deep Into my ears this truth — Thou liv'st forever! — Byron. PRESS onward through each varying hour; Let no weak fears thy course delay; Immortal being! feel thy power. Pursue thy bright and endless way. — Andrews Norton. A LL, to re-flourish, fades; As in a wheel, all sinks, to reascend. Emblems of man, who passes, not expires. 'T'HE spirit of man Which God inspired, cannot together perish With this corporeal clod. — Milton. r^OL,D in the dust this perish'd heart may lie, ^ But that which warm'd it once shall never die. — Campbell. II 6^r ©OlTlpljrtnci globoStt. Natural Order: Amarantacece — Amaranth Family. HE Globe Amaranth is a tender annual from the flowery vales of India. It is valued chiefly for its heads of bright, round, purple flowers, which, if gathered when freshly blos- somed, will retain their brilliancy for years. The white variety is cultivated for the same purpose, the two forming very pretty bouquets foi" winter. The seeds are enveloped in a cottony substance, which should be removed before planting, as it hinders the process of germination. T CHANGE but in dying, and no holier vow ^ From lips mortal e'er came than I breathe to thee now; It comes from a heart with love for thee sighing; Believe me, 'tis true — I change but in dying. — John S. Adams. T WAS not false to thee, and yet My cheek alone look'd pale! My weary eye was dim and wet, My strength began to fail; Thou wert the same; thy looks were gay, Thy step ,was light and free : And yet, with truth my heart can say, I was not false to thee. — Mrs. Norton. %^^ pHANGELESS as the greenest leaves ^^ Of the wreath the cypress weaves — Hopeless often when most fond — Without hope or fear beyond Its own pale fidelity. — Miss London. T WOULD not leave thee did I know That all the world's reproach were true — That 'neath some great temptation's power Thy soul had lost its native hue; Had dyed itself with darkest guilt; Had plunged without remorse in crime: Not even then would I forsake — Thine, and thine only, for all time. —H. C. 'pHE mountain rill Seeks with no surer flow, the far, bright sea, Than my unchang'd aiTection flows to thee. — Parft Benjamin, GO ! and with all of eloquence thou hast, The burning story of my love discover; And if the theme should fail, alas! to move her, Tell her when youth's gay summer-flowers are past, Like thee, my love will blossom till the last! —Charles F. Hoffman. 12 t^5^ Spwktlta formosiasima. Natural Order: Amaryllidacece — Amaryllis Family. UMEROUS varieties of these beautiful tropical bulbs are to be found with florists and seedsmen, the most common being, perhaps, those known as the Atamasco, Belladonna, and Jacobea lilies, from their superb, lily-like flowers. There are, however, about a hundred and fifty others, differing in their coloring, time of blooming, or shape of flower, that are worthy all the enthusiasm they have inspired. The root is similar to a large onion, either tapering upward or flattened, according to the species ; the leaves thick, long and narrow ; the flower-stalk about a foot high. They are grown in pots, either as window or greenhouse plants. The Amaryllis receives its name from a nymph, mentioned in the Eclogues of Virgil, where Corydon thinks the cruel anger and proud disdain of Amaryllis was easier to bear than the cool indifference of Alexis, whom he so madly loved. 'PRIDE, self-adorning pride, was primal cause r Of all sin past, all pain, all woe to come. -Pollock. TTTAKEN, thou fair one! up, Amaryllis! '• Morning so still is; Cool is the gale; The rainbow of heaven, With its hues seven, Brightness hath given To wood and dale; Sweet Amaryllis, let me convey thee; In Neptune's arms naught shall affray thee; Sleep's god no longer power has to stay thee. Over thy eyes and speech to prevail. — Carl Mickctel Belhnan. H OW poor a thing is pride! when all, as slaves, Differ but in their fetters, not their graves. — Daniel. 'T^HOUGH various foes against the truth combine 1 Pride, above all, opposes her design; Pride, of a growth superior to the rest. The subtlest serpent, with the loftiest crest. Swells at the thought, and kindling into rage. Would hiss the cherub Mercy from the stage. — Coivper. T 'LL go along, no such sight to be shown, ^ But to rejoice in splendor of mine own. — Shakespea re. 13 Ft* ®l)Uici Cicrii&£Utalt0. Natural Order: Coniferoe — Pine Family. HIS tree is almost identical with the White Cedar, and is frequently mistaken for it. It is very abundant along the rocky shores of lakes, rivers, and swamps of the northern parts of the United States and the Canadian provinces. The trunk is crooked and covered with evergreen foliage from bottom to top, the branches diminishing in length toward the apex. The wood is very light and soft, yet it is said to be durable. The classical name is derived from the Greek word thuo, I sacrifice, as its fragrance made it a favorite wood for sacrificial fires. QO we grew together, ^ Like to a double cherry, seeming parted, But yet a union in partition. Two lovely berries molded on one stem; So with two seeming bodies, but one heart. — Shakespeare, TF life for me hath joy or light, •'■ 'Tis all from thee; My thoughts by day, my dreams by night, Are but of thee, of only thee ; Whate'er of hope or peace I know, My zest in joy, my balm in woe. To those dear eyes of thine I owe; 'Tis all from thee. My heart, ev'n ere I saw those eyes, Seem'd doom'd to thee; Kept pure till then from other ties, 'T was all for thee, for only thee. Like plants that sleep till sunny May Calls forth their life, my spirit lay. Till touch'd by love's awak'ning ray, It lived for thee, it lived for thee. — Moore, T CHANGE but in dying! the trials of earth May gather around me and darken m-'j path, But true as the needle, which points to the pole, Will my heart turn to thee — thou beloved of my soul. 'pHE task befits thee well. To gather firmness as the tempests swell Around me still, companion, wife and friend, To cling in fond endurance to the end. — Victor Hugo, —T. Drew. OUT green above them Thy branches grow; Like a buried love, or a vanish'd joy, Link'd unto memories none destroy. — Miss Jew,sbttry, H ^^^^ fa^^^- -^ <^c. MlmUS 3llll£l"Hana. Natural Order: Ulmacea — Elm Family. NE of the most beautiful trees in the United States is the American Elm. Nothing can surpass the exquisite beauty of its long, pendulous branches, that hang from its ample crown like brown threads strung with dark-green leaves. The trunk rises erect to a considerable height, whence it stretches upward innumerable arms to sustain the wealth of foliage whose shadow -^lies so enticing on the grass beneath. Clusters of smaller twigs adorn the body of the tree, where they sway with all the grace of an ostrich plume, catching the slightest motion of the tojnng breeze, as if the sun and air filled them with an ecstatic joy. The Elm thrives best in moist lands, particularly lowland pastures, where it makes a rapid growth. It has been much used around the sequestered homes of New England, and the effect has been most picturesque. r\ HEAVEN, he cried, my bleeding country save! ^^ Is there no hand on high to shield the brave? Yet though destruction sweep those lovely plains, Rise, fellow-men! our country yet remains! —Campbell. Q NATCH from the ashes of your sires The embers of their former fires. And he who in the strife expires Will add to theirs a name of fear That tyranny shall quake to hear. — Byron. T^HE sword may pierce the bearer, Stone walls in time may sever; 'Tis heart alone. Worth steel and stone. That keeps man free forever! — Moore. JUDGE me not ungentle. Of manners rude, and insolent of speech. If when the public safety is in question, My zeal flows warm and eager from my tongue. H — Rovje. E who maintains his countr^^'s laws Alone is great; or he who dies in the good cause. —Sir A. Hunt. r <(k ir- Silta ^tnttricano. Natural Order: Tiliacece — Linden Family. XSSWOOD is the common name for this forest tree in our Northern States. It grows to a great height, and abounds in a wholesome mucilaginous juice. Its tender young twigs are often pulled and eaten by school children for this prop- erty. The inner bark is sometimes manufactured into rope. The wood is very soft and white, and is used for the paneling of carriages and in cabinet work, as it is easily wrought. The celebrated Russia matting is manufactured from a species of European Linden, while the East Indians rely upon the native species for their rice bags, fishing nets and lines. "ITTEDDED love is founded on esteem, • ' Which the fair merits of the mind engage, For those are charms which never can decay; But time, which gives new whiteness to the swan, Improves their luster. —Fenton. 'T^ HOUGH fools spurn Hymen's gentle powers, •'■ We, who improve his golden hours, By sweet experience know That marriage, rightly understood. Gives to the tender and the good, A paradise below. —Cotton. TJAVE I a wish? 'tis all her own; All hers and mine are rolled in one — Our hearts are so entwined. That like the ivy round the tree, Bound up in closest amity, 'Tis death to be disjoined. —Lindley Murray. 'pEMPTING gold alone In this our age more marriages completes Than virtue, merit, or the force of love. — Wandesford. U ET still the woman take "11 THAT thou art is mine; Our state cannot be sever'd ; we are one, An elder than herself; so wears she to him So sways she level in her husband's heart. One flesh; to lose thee were to lose myself — Shakespeare. i6 —Mifton. < — ^r^ •p?~Tt Si- "^^^if ^nkome&a t)2pnotk0. Natural Order: Ericacece — Heath Family. EPHEUS, an ancient king of Ethiopia, had a very proud and haughty wife named Cassiopeia, and a daughter Andromeda. ^ His wife was so vain of her beauty that she contested with b Juno for the supremacy. For such temerity, Jupiter issued a decree that her daughter should be bound to a rock on the coast, that" she might be devoured by sea-monsters. Perseus, a son of Jupiter, and adopted son of the king of Seriphos, undertook an expedition against the Gorgon Medusa, and upon his return discov- ered the luckless Andromeda languishing in the cords that bound her, and after overcoming dangerous obstacles, rescued and married her. Her name was given to a constellation in the heavens, and botanists have also named this little shrub in her honor. T ET wit her sails, her oars let wisdom lend; The helm let politic experience guide: Yet cease to hope thy short-lived bark shall ride Down spreading fate's unnavigable tide. TTNWILLING I forsook your friendly state, ^ Commanded by the gods and forced by fate. — Dryden, r\ THOU who freest me from my doubtful state, Long lost and wilder'd in the maze of fate! Be present still. —Pope. — Prior. QOME taste the lotus, and forget What life it was they lived before; And some stray on the seas and set Their feet on every happy shore; But I — I linger evermore. — Jatties Maurice Thompson. in ATE steals along with ceaseless tread, And meets us oft when least we dread; Frowns in the storm with threatening brow. Yet in the sunshine strikes the blow. — Co-wper. w TTERE I walk the sands at eve, Here in solitude I grieve. Break the spells we loved to weave. — James Franklin. C 'T^HE day too short for my distress; and night, Ev'n in the zenith of her dark domain. Is sunshine to the color of my fate. — Toung. Jks fc i ' ^^ 17 1 -.41 ^^^' ^IttmOlte COronarici. Natural Order: Ranunculacece — Crowfoot Family. IND- FLOWER is a frequent appellation of this beautiful ^ little plant, which comes from the countries bordering ^on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean, known col- lectively as the Levant. We find quite a beautiful fable concerning it in heathen mythology: Anemone was a nymph greatly beloved of Zephyr, and Flora, being jealous of her beauty, banished her from court, and finally transformed her into the flower that bears her name; whence it is sometimes taken to express withered hopes. It is also connected with the story (already given) of the love of Venus for Adonis, on which account the language has been made "Anticipation," as she spent one-half the year longing and watch- ing for his return. T' ''O the fond, doubting heart its hopes appear Too brightly fair, too sweet to realize; All seem but day-dreams of delight too dear; Strange hopes and fears in painful contest rise, While the scarce-trusted bliss seems but to cheat the eyes. — Mrs. Tighe. OHE looked from out the window From her white and weary forehead ^ With long and asking gaze, Droopeth the dark hair. From the gold-clear light of morning Heavy with the dews of evening. To the twilight's purple haze. Heavier with her care; Cold and pale the planets shone. Falling as the shadows fall. Still the girl kept gazing on. 'Till flung 'round her like a pall. — X. E, La7idon, TN our hearts fair hope lay smiling Sweet as air, and all beguiling; And there hung a mist of bluebells on the slope and down the dell; And we talked of joy and splendor That the years unborn would render, And the blackbirds helped us with the story, for they knew it well. — 'Jean 1 tiff e low. i8 i-^ Angelica attopwrpuirfa. Natural Order: UmbellifercB — Parsley Family. HIS plant is the largest of the species, the stalks attaining the height of from four to six feet. It grows usually in a wild or half-naturalized state, in fields and meadows, possesses strong aromatic properties, and is sometimes used in medicine. The garden Angelica is supposed to be a native of Labrador, and is the plant cultivated and used the same as celery, the blanched stalks adding a good relish when other salads are scarce. The poets of Lapland fancied they derived inspiration from wearing it as a crown; hence its application. T^HE poets may of inspiration boast, ^ Their rage, ill governed, in the clouds is lost; He that proportioned wonders can disclose, At once his fancy and his judgment shows; Chaste moral writing we may learn from hence. Neglect of which no wit can recompense. The fountain which from Helicon proceeds, That sacred stream should never water weeds. Nor make the cup of thorns and thistles grow, Which envy or perverted nature sow. —Roscommon. T)OETS are limners of another kind. T7 YES planet calm, with something in their vision ■'■ To copy our ideas in the mind; ^-^ That seemed not of earth's mortal mixture born Words are the paint by which their tho'ts are shown. Strange mythic faiths and fantasies Elysian, And nature is the object to be drawn. — Granville. And far, sweet dreams of " fairy lands forlorn." — Sarah Helen Whitman. 'T'HE poet's eye, in a fine frenzy rolling. Doth glance from heaven to earth, from earth to heaven; And, as imagination bodies forth The forms of things unknown, the poet's pen Turns them to shapes, and gives to airy nothing A local habitation and a name. —Shakespeare. 19 II W^' ^pOCgnam aniiroaCEmtfaUoin. Natural Order: ApocynacecB — Dogbane Family. MONG our wild field-flowers we meet with this plant, some- times called' Dogbane, because," according to Pliny, some of the species were supposed to be fatal to those animals, as is, indeed, the extract of one of the genus, which is obtained from the seeds of the strychnos nux vomica of India. It is sold under the name of strychnine, and is fatal not only to canine race, but to all animal life. This plant is about three feet with opposite leaves from two to three inches long, rounded at ise, and sharp at the point. The flower is small, white, striped •ed, and is rather pretty. A H ! doom'd indeed to worse than death, To teach those sweet lips hourly guile ; To breathe through life but falsehood's breath, And smile with falsehood's smile. — Mrs. Osgood. ■piRST, I would have thee cherish truth. r As leading-star in virtue's train; Folly may pass, nor tarnish youth, But falsehood leaves a poison-stain. — Eliza Cook. TiriNNING his carriage, every look Employed whilst it concealed a hook; When simple most, most to be feared; Most crafty when no craft appeared; His tales no man like him could tell; His words, which melted as they fell, Might even a hypocrite deceive, 'And make an infidel believe. —Anon. 'T'HE man of pure and simple heart Through life disdains a double part; He never needs the screen of lies His inward bosom to disguise. —Gay. A ND though I stand -^ In a lonely land, Afar from the touch of a tender hand, Or a mouth to kiss — It is better this Than to cling to u falsehood and dream it bliss. — Mary E. Bradley. ATO falsehood shall defile my lips with lies Or with a veil of ti-uth disguise. —Sandys. 30 IPgrnS ttialuB. Natural Order: Rosacece — Rose Family. ITH lavish hand have the fruits been bestowed upon southern (..•5 and tropical climates, both in regard to variety and abund- sance; but the apple, which is superior to them all, on account of the various ways it may be used, the length r, of time which it will keep in perfection, and the frequency with which it may be eaten without satiating the appetite, is a particular boon to the dwellers of cold climates, for there it obtains ^ its greatest size and most perfect flavor. The blossom is sweet-scented, and has a delicate pink flush. An orchard in bloom is a charming sight. T MIND the apple blossoms, how thick they were that spring! Yes, and I'm likely to mind them as long as any thing. Some of the boughs, I remember, were just a sight to see; The buds were as red as roses, all over the top of the tree. I held a branch while she stripped it, till, shaken out of place, A bee from one of the broken flowers came flying into her face. She screamed, and I — I kissed her, just for a cure, you know. And she blushed till her cheeks were pinker than the pinkest apple blow. — Kate Putnam Osgood. What plant we in this apple tree.' Buds, which the breath of summer days Shall lengthen into leafy sprays; Boughs where the thrush, with crimson breast, Shall haunt, and sing, and hide her nest; We plant, upon the sunny lea, A shadow for the noontide hour, A shelter from the summer shower. When we plant the apple tree. —Bryant. /^OME, let us plant the apple tree: ^ Cleave the tough greensward with the spade; Wide let its hollow bed be made; There gently lay the roots, and there Sift the dark mold with kindly care. And press It o'er them tenderly. As round the sleeping infant's feet We softly fold the cradle sheet; So plant we the apple tree. %, TF others be as fair. What are their charms to me, I neither know nor care. For thou art all to me. —Mrs. Seba Smith. 21 -fe^* |}runU0 ^nnmiaca. Natural Order: Rosacece — Rose Family. N the Apricot we have a tree that is thought to have origi- nated in Armenia, but which is also found in the countries adjacent, and as far east as the Celestial Empire and Japan. Its introduction into Europe is said to have been effected by Alexander the Great, since whose time it has been generally cultivated there. The tree is medium in size, being from fifteen to twenty feet high. The flowers are white, and make their appearance in April or May, before the putting forth of the leaves. The fruit is of a purplish-golden hue, from one to two inches in diameter, and is palatable either to be eaten in its natural state or made into a preserve or jelly. It is cultivated in some parts of the United States, and thrives best in a temperate or warm climate. 'T^O shun th' allurement is not hard To minds resolved, forewarn'd and well prepared; But wondrous difficult, when once beset. To struggle through the straits and break th' involving net. — Dtyden. T PICTURE easeful moments spent * Among broad, shadowy branches, lifting Their gloss to some pure firmament Where spheres of palid fleece are drifting; (t//2 I see the flexuous vine-coil drowse, The deep, dark mosses glimmer greenly. And watch between close-tangled boughs The clear-curved breaker flashing keenly. —Ed^ar Fawcett. \TO fort can be so strong. No fleshy breast can armed be so sound, But will at last be won with battery long, Or unawares at disadvantage found; Nothing is sure that grows on earthly ground — And who most trusts in arm of fleshy might. And boasts in beauty's chain not to be bound. Doth soonest fall in disadventurous fight. And yields his catiiF neck to victors most despight. —Sjienser. ^^* v^^- -^m m ^i (ffptgtca repms. Natural Order: Ericacea — Heath Family, OT infrequently called Trailing Arbutus, and sometimes May- flower, this plant is found in mountainous and hilly districts in our Northern States and British America. It is a procum- bent shrub, and derives its botanical name from efi and gaea, two Greek words signifying lying on the ' ground, from the habit of the plant. The flowers appear in spring from April to May. They are white, frequently with a blush of red cast over them, and are very fragrant. It has been suggested that this plant be adopted, under the name of Mayflower, as the floral emblem of our country, corresponding to the Rose of England, the Fleur-de-lis of France, etc. %\\Xi 1^\t\\\. T KNOW the wildwood haunts where thou abidest, ■^ And there, the mossy nooks where most thou hidest, Arbutus, sweet and shy. —W. C. Richards. ARBUTUS graceful trailing, ■' *■ Amid brown mosses vailing, Thy pink-wax clusters hailing. Thy fragrance we adore. D' Mayflower! Anew we name thee! A nation now we claim thee — No dastard e'er defame thee, Symbol forevermore! —Emily T. Bennett. WAS not born for courts or great affairs; I pay my debts, believe, and say my prayers. —Pope. ARLINGS of the forest! Tinged with color faintly. Blossoming alone. Like the morning sky. When earth's grief is sorest Or, more pale and saintly, For her jewels gone — Wrapped in leaves ye lie — Ere the last snowdrift melts, your tender buds Even as children sleep in faith's simplicity, have blown. —Rose Terry. CHARM hast thou no forest flower can boast,' Thou little beaming herald of the spring! How thrilled thy smile when on our rock-bound coast The wearied pilgrims found thee blossoming! —H. N. Jenks. Pi,^ 23 A fela M5- w^ ^r£tt)USa bulbosa. Natural Order: Or chidace(B— Orchis Family. AMP places, such as swamps and low, marshy meadows, are the chosen retreats of this beautiful plant. Each plant bears one handsome, large, fragrant flower, of a rich purple hue. derives its name from Arethusa, a nymph of great beauty, who served in the suit of the goddess Diana. She attracted the attention of the river-god Alpheus, while bathing in his river, the Alpheius of Arcadia. He immediately fell in love with her perfections, and she fled away abashed. To save her from his pursuit, she was changed by Diana into a fountains tm. 'T^HE clouds dispell'd, the sky resum'd her light, ■^ And nature stood recover'd of her fright, But fear, the last of ills, remain'd behind. And horror heavy sat on every mind. —Dryden. A RETHUSA arose From her couch of snows, In the Acroceraunian mountains, — From cloud and from crag With many a jag. Shepherding her bright fountains. She leapt down the rocks With her rainbow locks Streaming among the streams; — TJ IS hand did quake And tremble like a leaf of And troubled blood through his As it a running messenger had Her steps paved with green The downward ravine Which slopes to the western gleams; And gliding and springing, She went ever singing In murmurs as soft as sleep; The earth seemed to love her, And heaven above her. As she lingered toward the deep. —Shelly. aspen green, pale face was seen, been. —Spenser. TJIS fear was greater than his haste; For fear, though fleeter than the wind, Believes 'tis always left behind. —Butler. m T^HOU shalt be punish'd for thus frighting me, For I am sick and capable of fears; Oppress'd with wrongs, and therefore full of fears. — Shakespeare. S 34 .^ ■'f-T^ M ffi^^^" ^xi^t0l0iclxm^ ^rtstoloc[)ia atpljO. Natural Order: Aristolochiacece — Birthwort Family. < ERE is a climbing shrub found in our Middle and Southern States, generally in upland woods, frequently attaining the height of thirty feet or more. The leaves are large and ^^^^^jj^j^ y heart-shaped, arranged alternately on each side of the stem. i^^]JK^o^^^*r'„ The flowers are particularly striking, blooming singly, each Gvo^oyo tube being long and turned up in the form of a tobacco-pipe, and of ^^^^ a brownish color. Hence the shrub is frequently called Dutchman's Jinpatieug babamma. Natural Order: Balsaminacece — Jewel-Weed Family. f> ADY-SLIPPER, or the ordinary Balsam, is familiar to all as a product of our gardens. It is a native of the East Indies, and is worthy of notice. Within the last few years the double varieties have been grown as pot-plants, in which state they require very rich soil, and to have the tip of '<-^"" the main branch pinched off, when it will throw out side branches and form larger plants. They appear in every variety of color, and the fancy ones are streaked or mottled, many of them being nearly as double as the blossoms of that beautiful shrub the camelia japonica. The seed-pods burst when slightly pressed, from which circumstance they receive their Latin name, Impatiens, noli me tangere (impatient, touch me not). IIIHAT! canst thou not forbear me half an hour? Then get thee gone, and dig my grave thyself, And bid the merry bells ring to thine ear That thou art crown'd — not that I am dead. — Shakespeare, A WRETCHED soul, bruised with adversity, We bid be quiet, when we hear it cry; pREACH patience to the sea, when jarring winds But were we burdened with like weight of pain As much, or more, we should ourselves complain. My soul will be as calm. — Shakespeare. Throw up her swelling billows to the sky! And if your reasons mitigate her fury, — Smith. r^O, then, my song, speed swiftly to her; Out of the depths of the soul comes sorrow; ^ Sing to her, plead with her late and long; But, out of the depths of these days that cease. Hover around her, and gently woo her; May come, like light 'round the feet of the morrow, Perhaps she will hear thee some day, O Song! Love's soft glory, our love's calm peace. — Barton Grey. H ! how impatience gains upon the soul. When the long-promised hour of joy draws near! How slow the tardy moments seem to roll! —Mrs. Tig-he. 0' % 41 V;^^ itlmt^elia CinMegi. Natural Order: Loasacece — Loasa Family. N the Golden Bartonia we have a beautiful annual from California, with an oval, lance-shaped leaf, indented similar to the thistle; the stems are procumbent and often a yard in length. The flowers, which much resemble a poppy, are of a most brilliant yellow, deepening toward the center into the true orange shade, and measuring from two to three inches in diameter. Within the center the numerous thread-like stamens spread themselves out over the petals, like a delicate fringe. The seeds should be sown where the plants are to grow, as they are transplanted with difficulty. TTAD I but pearls of price — did golden pills Of hoarded wealth swell in my treasury, Eas}' I'd win the fawning flatterer's smile And bend the sturdiest stoic's iron knee. — A. A. Locke. T HINK'ST thou the man whose mansions hold The worldling's pride, the miser's gold, Obtains a richer prize Than he who in his cot, at rest. Finds heavenly peace a willing guest, And bears the earnest in his breast Of treasure in the skies ? —Mrs. Sigourney. A MIGHTY pain to love it is, And 'tis a pain that pain to miss; But, of all pains, the greatest pain It is to love but love in vain. Virtue now, nor noble blood, Nor wit, by love is understood; Gold alone does passion move; Gold monopolizes love —Cowley. r\ KNEW I the spell of gold, I would never poison a fresh young heart With the taint of customs old ; I would bind no wreath to my forehead free. In whose shadows a thought might die. Nor drink, from the cup of revelry. The ruin my gold would buy. —Willis. Tl/fADAM, I own 'tis not your person My stomach 's set so sharp and fierce on ; But 'tis your better part, your riches, That my enamor'd heart bewitches! - Butler. A MASK of gold hides all deformities; Gold is heaven's physic, life's restorative. —Decker. 42 r \,j^---» ■ ^' ©ramtm ba0ilicum. Naturm. OrtnEn: LaMatce—Mint Family. WEET BASIL, or Royal Ocimum, is a very aromatic herb from Persia, where it is much planted in graveyards. It is also indigenous to the East Indies, where its seeds are considered an antidote to the poison of serpents. It is an annual, about a foot high, with a soft, oval leaf, various in color, which possesses a very agreeable fragrance. The flowers, which are nearly white, appear during the summer. French cooks are very partial to this herb in flavoring their various dishes, and for this purpose it is extensively grown in the vegetable gardens of Europe, as well as in America. Apparently from confounding the word with basiliscus, a basilisk, or possibly because of its use as an antidote, whence it ma}' have come to represent a serpent hater, it has been taken as a symbol for hatred, but the following is the proper language. w 6 QOFT be the sleep of their pleasant hours, *~^ And calm be the seas they roam ! May the way they travel be strewed with flowers, Till it bring them safely home! —Oliver Twlss. 'T^O wish thee fairer is no need, "^ More prudent, or more sprightly, Or more ingenious, or more freed From temper flaws unsightly. What favor then not yet possess'd Can I for thee require, In wedded love already blest To thy whole heart's desire? —Covjfet QO may'st thou live, dear! many years. In all the bliss that life endears. Not without smiles, nor yet from tears, Too strictly kept. —Thomas Hood. TF, then, a fervent wish for thee The gracious heavens will heed from me, What should, dear heart, its burden be.' —J. G. Wliillier. AND what am I to you.? A steady hand To hold, a steadfast heart to trust withal; Merely a man that loves you, and will stand By you, whate'er befall. -J,a„ Ingelow. 43 ^ iHSrica terifera. Natural Order: Myi-tcacece — Sweet Gale Family. AYBERRY, a useful shrub, varying in height from two to eight feet, and flowering in April or May, is found in dry forests from Nova Scotia to Florida. It has a grayish bark and branching top, and its fruit consists of a globular stone, covered with white wax, which is separated by heat, usually boiling water. This product constitutes the Bayberry tallow of commerce, sometimes called myrtle wax. A bushel of berries yields about four pounds of wax. The botanical name comes from the Greek muro, to flow, because the stamens contract on the slightest touch, and are thence conceived to be easily irritated, even to tears. IDE temperate in grief! I would not hide The starting tear-drop with a stoic's pride, I would not bid the o'erburthen'd heart be still, And outrage nature with contempt of ill. Weep! but not loudly! He whose stony eyes Ne'er melt in tears, is hated in the skies. — Euphorion. 'T*HE rose is fairest when 'tis budding new, T^WO other precious drops that ready stood, And hope is brightest when it dawns from fears; •*■ Each in their crystal sluice, he, ere they fell. The rose is sweetest wash'd with morning dew, Kiss'd, as the gracious signs of sweet remoi-se And love is loveliest when embalmed in tears. And pious awe, that fear'd to have offended. —Scott. —Milton. T ET me wipe off this honorable dew ^^ That silverly doth progress on my cheeks. — Shakespeare, r^OME, chase that starting tear away, ^ Ere mine to meet it springs. —Moore. lipTH a shriek heart- wounding loud she cried, TTIUE not thy tears! weep boldly, and be proud While down her cheeks the gushing torrents ran, ^ -^ To give the flowing virtue manly way : Fast falling on her hands. -Rowe. 'Tis nature's mark, to know an honest heart. - Hill. ^ V?^ -=^ Wk ifagUS agbatka. Natural Order: CupuHferce — Oak Family. S nothing beautiful escapes the eye of the poet, numerous have been the tributes paid to this noble tree. It is lofty and abun- * dant in the forests of the Eastern States, and not unfrequently found throughout all sections of the United States, as well as fjQ^ in Europe. It grows straight and tall, rising sometimes to the height of one hundred feet on the banks of the Ohio, £ with a trunk nine feet in circumference. It has a gray, unbroken bark and long, sweeping branches, but not so pendulous as those of the elm, C and is scarcely equaled by any other tree in the shade it affords. Cattle are fond of its leaves in spring, when they are very tender, with a slight acid flavor. The nuts are partially triangular, and, though troublesome to eat, are sweet and nutritious. A valuable oil, but little inferior, it is said, to the olive, can be extracted from them. ;uu0r$ .rpi. T KNOW a walk where beeches grow — Where feathered songsters fill the air With music sweet, and flowers blow Blooming and fair. And there I've oft with pleasure wooed The muses nine in solitude. —Pred. W. Webber. QIX: nay, at six in any case ^ He could not come! 'tis evening chime, And if I reach the trysting place Whole hours before the trysting time, 'Tis not with any hope to see Unseemly soon my love appear; He is no idle maid like me; He has high things to do and bear. And not for worlds would I that he For love should weakly eager be. — Mrs. Eliza S: Randolph. QHE starts, for she doth hear ^^ My loving footstep near; She turns to bid me stay. With cheeks that burn for joy, With looks half kind, half coy — This is her heart's sweet way! So am I nothing loath. But answer oath for oath, And linger lovingly In silken chains — ma mie! — Edward Renaud. 45 w *5i (3Sr JJwnta biscolor. Natural Order: Begonlacea — Begonia Family. EGONIAS were so named by the French Botanist, Plumier, in honor of Michael Begon, a governor of Santo Domingo, and a patron of science. They are natives of Jamaica, Brazil, the East and West Indies, and other tropical countries. The large-leaved varieties have been vulgarly called Elephant's Ears, which they may perhaps resemble m shape, but the exquisite beauty of their coloring eliminates from the mind every ugly and unpleasant synonym. Some of them are a dark green with a band of silver, or groupings of silver blotches ; or again entirely bronze, according to the individual plant. This species is grown chiefly for its foliage; the flowers are mostly white or faintly tinted, blooming on short stems. There are several kinds, however, with small waxy leaves that make a splendid appearance when in bloom, being hand- some in color and of fine texture. The stems of the large foliage variety are very much distorted. bfarmil^* QHE did corrupt frail nature with some bribe ^ To shrink mine arm up like n wither'd shrub, To make an envious mountain on my back, Where sits deformity to make my body ; To shape my legs of an unequal size ; To disproportion me in every part Like to a chaos. —Shakespeare. AMI ^ In to blame if nature threw mv bodv so perverse a mold? yet when she cast Her envious hand upon my supple joints, Unable to resist, and rumpled them On heaps in their dark lodging; to revenge Her bungled work, she stamped my mind more fair. ■PVEFORMITY is daring; It is its essence to o'ertake mankind By heart and soul, and make itself the equal — Ay, the superior of the rest. There is A spur in its halt movements, to become All that others cannot, in such things As are still free for both. —Byron. And as from chaos, huddled and deform'd, The gods struck fire, and lighted up the lamps That beautify the sky; so she inform'd This ill-shap'd body with a daring soul, And, making me less than man, she made me more. — L4ec. 46 le (JlaiTipanula rotUUbifolia. Natural Order: Campanulacece — Bellwort Family. AMP, cool and rocky places are the favorite abodes of this simple little flower (known also as the Harebell), and it is accordingly found in great abundance in the New England States and the Dominion of Canada. The family of the Campanulas is quite extensive, numbering about five hundred species. The flowers, though simple, are various in colors, and are worthy of attention. In this species they are blue, which is the pre- vailing tint, though others run through different shades of purple, from violet to lilac, and white. The Campanula pyramidalis is the hand- somest and most stately, growing from three to five feet, blooming the second year from the seed, and producing blossoms by the hundred J^ ian$lanl lenrL 'T^HEN come the wild weather, come sleet or come snow, We will stand b_v each other however it blow. Oppression and sickness, and sorrow, and pain. Shall be to our true love as links to the chain. — Lott^fetlaw. 'T'O keep one sacred flame Through life unchilled, unmoved. To love in wintry age The same that first in youth we lov'd, To leel that we adore With such refined excess, That tho' the heart would break with more, It could not live with less; This is love — faithful love; Such as saints might feel above. TITHEN all things have their trial, you shall find Nothing is constant but a virtuous mind. —Shirley. m^ T OVE, constant love! Age cannot quench it — like the primal ray From the vast fountain that supplies the day, Far, far above Our cloud-encircled region, it will flow -Vs pure and as eternal in its glow. — Parii Benjamin. 47 C *OULD genius sink in dull decay, And wisdom cease to lend her ray: Should all that I have worshiped change, Even this could not my heart estrange; Thou still wouldst be the first — the first That taught the love sad tears have nursed. — Mrs. Embury. I f k^^ b^f ff ^txbttVS OUlgCiriB. Natural Order: Berberidacece — Berberry Family. ROWN in our gardens as an ornament, this graceful, bushy shrub is very generally known. The leaves are a dark green, with serrated edges, each notch being bristly. The flowers are yellow, hanging in small clusters. The fruit is brilliant and attractive, of a bright scarlet in color, oblong in shape, ■^ and appearing more like pendulous groups of coral ear-drops, ^^^^V than anything else. The leaves, as well as fruit, have a sharp acid '^y taste, the latter being frequently used for making jelly, while from the root can be prepared a yellow dye. 'T^HOSE hearts that start at once into a blaze, And open all their rage, like summer storms At once discharged, grow cool again and calm. — C. Johnsoti. T7IE ! wrangling queen! •^ Whom everything becomes — to chide, to laugh, To weep. Whose every passion fully strives To make itself in thee, fair and admired. — Shakespeare, 'T'HE ocean lash'd to fury loud. Its high wave mingling with the cloud, Is peaceful, sweet serenity, To anger's dark and stormy sea. — /. W. Easlbum. W THEN anger rushes, unrestrain'd, to action. Like a hot steed, it stumbles in its way: The man of thought strikes deepest, and strikes safest. — Savant IV/fY rage is not malicious; like a spark ■'■'■^ Of fire by steel enforc'd out of flint, It is no sooner kindled, but extinct. —Goffe. A LL furious as a favor'd child Balk'd of its wish ; or, fiercer still. A woman piqued, who has her will. — Byron. -fe- QHE is peevish, sullen, froward, ^ Proud, disobedient, stubborn, lacking duty; Neither regarding that she is my child. Nor fearing me as if I were her father. — Shakespeare, 48 Si ^ a fSrf ^ mg trees ^bganq. T70R faultless was her form as beauty's queen, And every winning grace that love demands, With mild attemper'd dignity was seen Play o'er each lovely limb, and deck her angel mien. — Mrs. Tighe. TTER face so fair, as flesh it seemed not, ^ ^ But heavenly portrait of bright angels' hue, Clear as the sky, withouten blame or blot. Through goodly mixture of complexion's dew. — Spenser. pRACEFUL to sight, and elegant to thought, ^ The great are vanquish'd, and the wise are taught. — Tmmg. 'T'HE silk star-broidered coverlid '■ Unto her limbs itself doth mold, Languidly ever; and, amid Her full black ringlets, downward rolled, Glows forth each softly -shadowed arm, With bracelets of the diamond bright. Her constant beauty doth inform Stillness with love, and day with light, — Tcnnysov^ 49 Bttulo leuttt. Natural Order: Betulacece — Birch Family. NOWN as "the black, cherry or sweet Birch, and sometimes called mountain mahogany from the hardness of its wood, this valuable tree abounds in the United States from New England to Ohio, and often reaches a height of seventy, and a diameter ^of three, feet. Children are very fond of the inner bark of this tree in springtime, when it has an aromatic fragrance and pleasant flavor. It is from the Paper Birch that the Indians obtain the bark for their light and buoyant canoes, in which they glide in safety through the most dangerous waters. The Yellow or Silver Birch is the artist's tree -par excellence. Its beautiful outer bark, like satin in luster, peels from around the trunk and branches, and hangs in the most fantastic rolls and curls, resting on an undertone of warm and tender brown, making it one of the choicest and most illuminat- in a woodland sketch, and one that always delights a painter's heart. ^ i glaeU P:,0»i;lt«r«u:A. ? Ballota nigra. Natural Order: Labiatce — Alint Family. ERE is an unattractive foreign plant supposed to have been introduced into this country through the commerce of the nations, as many of our now obnoxious weeds have found their way, concealed in various grains imported for seed. ^ It is now frequently found naturalized in the fields and by ' the waysides. The stem is from two to three feet high, having broad, opposite leaves covered with a soft down. It derives its name from the Greek word ballo, to throw, or reject, on account of its offensive odor. It blooms in July, the flowers being either purple or white, and of little beauty. T AKE my esteem, if you on that can live ; But frankly, sir, 'tis all I have to give. ' — Dryden. T TE came too late! Her countless dreams Of hope had long since flown. No. charms dwelt in his chosen themes, Nor in his whisper'd tone; And when with word and smile he tried Affection still to prove, She nerved her heart with woman's pride, • And spurn'd his fickle love. —Elhahetli Bogart. TTTHERE is another sweet as my sweet. Fine of the fine, and shy of the shy .'' Fine little hands, fine little feet — Dewy blue eye. Shall I write to her.' shall I go.' Ask her to marry me by-and-by? Somebody said that she'd say no. — Tentivson. TF you oblige me suddenl}' to choose. My choice is made — and I must you refuse. — Drydeti. TIKE a lovely tree She grew to womanhood, and between whiles Rejected several suitors. —Byron. HAVE heard - But you shall promise ne'er again To breathe your vows or speak -your pain. — Prior. T\0 \ not in plainest truth *-' Tell you — I do not, nor I cannot love you.' ■ — Shakeapeare. 5° J?^ l\ >^ *Y^— "Tra r ^ ^j StCipljgkci tl'ifolici. Natural Order: Safindacece — Soapberry Family. PECULIAR to this handsome shrub, found in various sections of the United States, are the bladder-like capsules or pods, from which it derives its name, and in which are contained the ' seeds or nuts. These are hard, bony, smooth and polished. The flowers, which bloom in May, are white and hang in short, pendulous clusters, somewhat like bunches of grapes, whence the scientific Greek name, Staphylea. It grows to the height of six, eight, or even ten feet, chiefly in low lands, in moist woods, amongst the underbrush. The wood is firm and white, and well adapted for cabinet work. % IriHing i^arati^r* /^H! there are some ^ Can trifle, in cold vanity, with all The warm soul's precious throbs; to whom it is A triumph? that a fond, devoted heart Is breaking for them ; who can bear to call Young flowers into beauty, and then crush them. AROUND him some mysterious circle thrown '■ ^ Repell'd approach and show'd him still alone; Upon his eye sat something of reproof, That kept at least frivolity aloof. —Byron. T TE was perfumed like a milliner; And twixt his finger and his thumb he held A pouncet-box, which, ever and anon He gave his nose — And still he smiled and talked; And as the soldiers bare dead bodies by, He called them " untaught knaves unmannerly, To bring a slovenly, unhandsome corse Betwixt the wind and his nobility." —Shakespeare. — Letiiin E. London. "\rOU oftentimes can mark upon the street The gilded toy whom fashion idolizes; Heartless and fickle, swelled with self-conceit, Avoiding alway what good sense advises. —W. H. C. 'T'HE joy that vain amusement gives, O, sad conclusions that it brings, The honey of a crowded hive. Defended by a thousand stings. 'Tis thus the world rewards the fools That live upon her treacherous smiles, She leads them blindfold by her rules, And ruins all whom she beguiles. — Cowper. 5^j5^ - 51 'B^ ff Boi'CtgO offictnttli0. Natural Order: Boraginacece — Borage Family. — -tr-5-TK:£j:«ftLS?3Tn NGLAND and the rest of Europe as well as America now own this plant in a naturalized state, though it is generally believed to have been originally indigenous to the region of Aleppo, in Turkey. It is cultivated in the kitchen garden for its young leaves, which are considered excellent for salads, pickles and pot-herbs. It is an annual, about two feet high, with oval leaves growing alternately on each side of the stem, the whole plant being rough and covered with hairs. It is also grown as an ornamental plant in the flower garden. The flowers are a pale blue, appearing in spring on the ends of the branches. The plants of this whole family abound in mucilaginous juices containing much niter, and are said never to possess any poisonous or harmful quality. Ittntpitts$$. T HE reed in storms mav bow and quiver, Then rise again; tlie tree must shiver. — Byron, I do not love Much ceremony; suits in love should not, Like suits in law, be rock'd from term to term. — Shirley. OUDDENLY all the sky is hid As with the shutting of a lid. — James Ritssell Lowell. Although The air of Paradise did fan the house. And angels offic'd all, I will begone. — Shakespeare. 'T'HIS is some fellow, Who, having been prais'd for bluntness, doth affect A saucy roughness, and constrains the garb; Quite from his nature! he can't flatter, he, An honest mind and plain — he must speak truth: And they will take it so; if not, he 's plain. These kind of knaves I know, which in this plainness Harbor more craft, and far corrupter ends, Than twenty silly ducking observants, That stretch their duty nicely. -Shakespeare. 52 'Si mj -:^d^ te=*r" cSfH SopOimrta Offinnalia. Natural Order": Caryopkyllacece — Pink Family. > J£^ A LADY ! In the narrow space Between the husband and the wife, But nearest him — she showed a face With dangers rife. —Jean Ingelmu. 53 ..^ ^^=^ BmUS aempcVOivniS. Natural Order: Euphorbiacece — Spurge family. 'NGRAVERS on wood are much indebted to this tree for the blocks they use to work on, which, after having been sawed and made perfectly smooth, receive a slight coating of some white substance, usually white lead or Chinese white, to render the drawing more conspicuous. The artist's work is done in pencil or India ink. The engraver then follows with delicate touch the lines before him, and cuts the picture into the wood beneath. The botanical name of this shrub comes from the Latin. The word Buxus, box, is itself derived from the Greek -puxos, pyx, or small box, and sem-pervirens is from the two Latin words semper, always, and virens, present participle of the verb virere, to be green. There are several varieties of this genus which are natives of Europe. The species known scientifically as the Buxus Nana, or Dwarf Box, is much used as a bordering for walks both here and abroad. licitism. f\^ his dark face a scorching clime ^ And toil, had done the work of time, Roughen'd the brow, the temples bared, And sable hairs with silver shared. Yet left — what age alone could tame — The lip of pride, the eye of flame ; The full-drawn lip that upward curl'd, The eye that seem'd to scorn the world. That lip had terror never blench'd; Ne'er in that eye had tear-drop quench'd The flash severe of swarthy glow, That mock'd at pain and knew not woe. —Sir Walter Scott. VTOR box, nor limes, without their use are made, , Smooth-grain'd and proper for the turner's trade; Which curious hands may carve, and seal With ease invade. —Virffil. T^HE rolling wheel, that runneth often 'round, ^ The hardest steel in tract of time doth tear; And drizzling drops, that often do redound. Firmest flint doth in continuance wear : K 54 Yet cannot I, with many a dropping tear. And long entreaty, soften her hard heart. That she will once vouchsafe my plaint to hear Or look with pity on my painful smart. — Spenser. SIP' ©miata tinctoria. Natural Order: Legumuiosce — Pulse Family. HIS is a perennial shrubby plant, about a foot high, bearing bright yellow flowers in the axils of the leaves or branches, blooming singly, and on short stems, in May and June. Cowper speaks of its blossoms as "yellow and bright as bullion unalloyed," and Mary Howitt says: " But ne'er was flower so fair as this, In modern days or olden ; It groweth on its nodding stem Like to a garden golden." It is a native of Europe, but is found naturalized in some parts of the United States, and is useful to the dyer in forming a yellow dye, ^or a green when combined with woad. The color is obtained from any part of the plant. TTUMBLE we must be, if to Heaven we go; High is the roof there, but the gate is low; Whene'er thou speak'st, look with lowly eve — Grace is increased by humility, —Robert Herrick. 'T^HE cedar's shade like a cloud may lie ■^ Athwart the lily's brightness — Yet why complain? it leaves no stain To mar the blossom's whiteness; And darkly thus may pride and power TTUMILITY is the eldest-born of virtue, And claims the birthright at the throne of heav'n. -Murphy. TT E AVEN'S gates are not so highly arched As princes' palaces ; they that enter there Must go upon their knees. —"John Webster. Appear to press the lowly, Yet never may the shadow stay Where Faith, like blossom holv, Keeps white the heart; to such there will be given A blest assurance of the love of Heaven. > — Mrs. Hale. T AM content to touch the brink Of the other goblet, and I think My bitter drink a wholesome drink. Because my portion was assigned Wholesome and bitter. Thou art kind, And I am blessed to my mind. — Elizabeth Barrett Browning^. 55 1^ .e^ i\ SorgljUin oulgave. Natural Order: Graminem — Grass Family. 'ARIOUS parts of the United States are favorable to the culti- vation of this corn, which is manufactured into brooms, con- stituting a special industry of most of the Shaker communities, besides many private persons. It looks very much like the Indian corn as regards its leaves and height. When the panicle is sufficiently mature, the stalk is bent down at the top until ripe ?' enough to cut. It is a native of the East Indies, and has been chosen as an emblem of labor. The Sorghum saccharatum, or Chinese sugar cane, is supposed to be another variety, which yields a saccharine juice, whence its name; but even this, it is said, does not give a product equal to the crystallized syrup of the East India species of the same character. TABOR is health. Lo! the husbandman reaping, L How through his veins goes the Hfe current leaping! How his strong arm in its stalwart pride sweeping, True as a sunbeam the swift sickle guides. —Mrx. Osgood. llyf AN hath his daily work of body or mind Appointed, which declare his dignity; r^ IVE me the fair one, in country or city, ^ Whose home and its duties are dear to the heart, Who cheerfully warbles some rustical ditty. While other animals inactive range. While plying the needle with exquisite art. And of their doings God takes no account. — Wood-worth. — Miltoiu /~^OME, my fair love, our morning task we lose. Some labor e'en the easiest life would choose; Ours is not great, the dangling boughs to crop, Whose too luxuriant growth our alleys stop. — Drvdfn. U C^O till the ground," said God to man, — ^-^ "Subdue the earth, it shall be thine;" How grand, how glorious was the plan ! How ^vise the law divine. —Mrs. Hale. 'T'HIS my mean task Would be as heavy to me as odious; but The mistress, which I serve, quickens what's dead. And makes my labors pleasures. —Shakespeare. V'SRy— « 56 , (S-T-*— cy ^cm BrOtl'Clllta tCtrulm. Naturai, Order: Scrofhulariacece — Figwort Family. OM Peru and Brazil comes this delicate little annual, one among many recent additions to our gardens. It received its name from Linnaeus in honor of his intimate friend .(who was afterward his enemy), Johan Browall, bishop of Abo, in Sweden. It is about a foot high, and is^ delicate and graceful in appearance, being covered continually with innu- merable flowers, which are very peculiar in shape, bearing a fanciful resemblance to a salver with two deep indentations in the sides. The plant is well calculated for pot culture. The varieties are white, rose, and a purplish blue. JX/IY croivn is in m;y heart, not on my head; Not deck'd with diamonds and Indian stones, Nm- to be seen: my crown is call'd content; A crown it is that seldom kings enjoy. — Shakespeare. f\ GRANT me, heav'n, a middle state — ^^ Neither too humble nor too great: More than enough for nature's ends, With something left to treat my friends. —Mallet. TTNFIT for greatness, I her snares defy, ^ And look on riches with untainted e^'e. To others let. the glitt'ring baubles fall ; Content shall place me far above them all. —CtmrcMll. TTAPPY the life that in a peaceful stream. Obscure, unnoticed, through the \ale has flow'd; The heart that ne'er was charm'd by fortune's gleam Is ever sweet contentment's blest abode. —Perrhal. l\/rERE store of money is not wealth, but rather The proof of poverty and need of bread. Like men themselves is the bright gold they gather: It may be living, or it may be dead. m. It may be filled with love and life and vigor, To guide the wearer, and to cheer the way ; It may be corpse-like in its weight and rigor. Bending the bearer to his native clay. Joliii Boyle O'Reilly. IDE honest poverty thy boasted wealth; So shall thy friendships be sincere, tho' few. So shall thy sleep be sound, thy waking cheerful. —Harvard. 57 s^ imSit0S0< 2lncl)UBa Officinalt0. Natural Order: Boraginacece — Borage Family. UR gardens, fields and roadsides' everywhere furnish this rough perennial plant, which produces an abundance of sweet- scented purple flowers during the entire summer. The leaves are long and rough, from which it has received in England the name of Ox-tongue, and the stem is covered with bristly hairs. The root is used in medicine, producing a gentle moisture through the system. The root of one of the species yields the red dye that was so much used by the Athenian ladies as a rouge when that classic city was in its prime. 'T^HERETO when needed, she could weep and pray, •'■ And when she listed she could fawn and flatter, Now smiling smoothly, like to summer's day, Now glooming sadly, so to cloak the matter; Yet were her words but wind, and all her tears but water. — Spenser, T7VEUY man in this age has not a soul Of crystal, for all men to read their actions Through ; men's hearts and faces are so far asunder That they hold no intelligence. — Beaumont and Fletcher. A glittering volume may cover A story of sorrow and woe ; And night's gayest meteors may hover Where danger lies lurking below. ^O smooth he daubed his life with show of virtue. He lived from all attainder of suspect. WET there came a time To my proud love's prime. When that proved base I had deemed sublime. By the cool stream's bed My flowers hung dead. And the serpent, hissing, upreared its head! —Mary E. Bradley. 58 — Shakespeare. QO, friend, be warned! He is not one Thy youth should trust, for all his smiles Frank foreheads, gemal as the sun, May hide a thousand treacherous wiles. And tones like music's honeyed flow May work — God knows! — the bitterest woe. Paul H. Hayne. V^^-^ — > StirpUB laCUStrtB. Natural Order: Cyferacece — Sedge Family. OST uncommon and peculiar is the appearance of the Bulrush or Clubrush, as it is occasionally called, which makes it quite noticeable wherever it appears among other grasses; the leaves being tubular, with various fine grooves or channels ^— 5— --^runninsr up and down their length. The Lake Bulrush is * i the largest of the species; growing in low lands, muddy marshes, and on the margins of streams and ponds. In early times it was much used in scouring tin, copper and pewter ware, but modern arts having supplied us with much better substitutes, it now remains unmolested. It was in some species of Bulrush or reed found along the borders of the Nile, that the infant Moses was dis- covered and rescued by the maids of the Egyptian princess. |ttb«tbion. OHE will, and she will not — she grants, denies, ^ Consents, retracts, advances, and then flies. — Granville. 'T^HREE things a wise man will not trust: The wind, the sunshine of an April day. And woman's plighted faith. I have beheld The weathercock upon the steeple point Steady from morn till eve, and I have seen The bees go forth upon an April morn, Secure the sunshine will not end in showers: But when was woman true.' —Smdliey. 'T^HE shepherd told me all his pain; — I ran and told it all again; But Phillis gave herself such airs It fills poor Colin's breast with cares; And I can hardly tell, I'm sure. If she will grant at last a cure, — I 've told you all, and what think you.' I won't repeat: so tell me — d,o\—.\frs. Norlon. 11 y[ OST fair is e'er most fickle. A fair girl Is like a thousand beauteous things of earth, But most like them in love of change. r*LOUDS turn with every wind about; They keep us in suspense and doubt; Yet oft perverse, like woman-kind, — Peprhold, Are seen to scud against the wind : Is not this lady just the same.' For who can tell what is her aim .' —Swift. .59 1^ &. Cappa ITiajOV. Natural Order: Comfositce — Aster Family. ' UDGED by the popular verdict, the Burdock is an unattractive weed, one of the coarsest and most obnoxious of the plants that infest the roadsides, barnyards and fields, yet the roots are used in medicine as a tonic and alterative and to produce a gentle per- spiration. The leaves are large, often nearly two feet long, with coarse cords or veins running through them, and the entire plant is pervaded by a bitter, disagreeable odor and taste. It grows about three or four feet in height, and is pyramidal in shape. The burrs are the most disagreeable part, as each little scale that forms the ..floral sheath is armed with a hook, by which it fastens to anything it may touch, and if ripe and dry it adheres most tenaciously. It is a naturalized plant from Europe, and blooms in July and August. The flowers are a delicate pink. 'T^HERE is some soul of goodness in things evil, Would men observingly distil it out; For our bad neighbors make us early stirrers; Which is both healthful and good husbandry. — Shakespeare. T TO my chimney's shrine Brought him, as Love professes, And chafed his hands with mine, And dried his dripping tresses. But when that he felt warmed; Let's try this bow of ours, And string, if they be harmed. Said he, with these late showers. Forthwith his bow he bent. And wedded string and arrow, And struck me, that it went Quite through my heart and marrow. Then laughing loud, he flew Away, and thus said, flying: Adieu, mine host, adieu! I'll leave thy heart a-dying. — Anacreon. g P^^Tv^ A H! charming isle in the warm, green sea! O sirens! tempting me to wrong. What value have your meads to me.? — yames Maurice T/w»tpso». 60 ■'^m !B(inunCUlU0 CUXIS, Natural Order: Ranunculacece — Crowfoot Family. UAINT is the fancy that attaches in the minds of the young to this common plant, so beautifully characterized by the poet Robert Browning as "the little children's dower." The very name calls up the pictxire of children crouching in the grass, and holding the golden blossoms under each other's chin to see if by the reflection they love butter, feel- ing assured that the least yellow gleam is indicative that their bread should be thickly spread with that golden and necessary product of the dairy. The leaves drop from the plant easily, and frequently the least touch will cause the petals of the flowers to fall in a golden shower. 'T^HOU hast no truth to prove, fair Eloise; *■ And I say thou art false, who loved thee most; Then spare us both these feints and artful words. I could forgive thee if thou didst not play The actress with me now. And now I go ; But ere I go, I'll say I do forgive thee. —Frames A. Fuller. C WHO should be trusted now, when one's right hand Is peri'ur'd to the bosom.' Proteus, I am sorry, I must never ti-ust thee more. But count the world a stranger for thy sake; The private wound is deepest. —Shakespeare. ^HIS, this has thrown a serpent to my heart. While it o'erflowed with tenderness, with joy. With all the sweetness of exulting love ; Now naught but gall is there, and burning poison. Our doubts are traitors. And make us lose the good we oft might win. By fearing to attempt. —Shakespeare. IFE'S sunniest hours are not without The shadow of some lingering doubt. — Whiitier. T - Thompson. r\ DOUBT! O doubt! I know my destiny; ^ I feel thee fluttering bird-like in my breast; I cannot loose, but I will sing to thee. And flatter thee to rest. There is no certainty, " my bosom's guest," No proving for the things whereof vc wot; For, like the dead to sight unmanifest. They are, and they are not. —Jean Ingelow. 6i ^ , fTV-^ 1} ©nctbtum |)apUio majUB. Natural Order: Or chidacece— Orchis Family. LORISTS have had their interest much aroused by a very- expensive class of plants called Orchids, partly on account of their curious and beautiful flowers, and partly because of their strange manner of growth and individual appear- ance. They are divided into two classes, terrestrial and aerial. The aerial ones are confined chiefly to tropical climates, some growing in damp woods, resting on trees, while others are found on dripping rocks among mountains and near water courses. The large Butterfly Orchis is one among the finest of that family known as Oncidium, and is a native of Trinidad. The blossom has the form of a butterfly, from which it takes its specific name papilio, a Latin word having the same significance. In color the flower is of a dark brown striped or barred with yellow. The large projection, called the lip, is yellow at the center with a brown edge or margin. The flowers come successively from the old flower-stems for years, one coming continuously to supply the place of the faded one. fJtbl^* W HAT nothing earthly gives, or can destroy, The soul's calm sunshine, and the heartfelt joy. —Pope. 'T^HE valley rings with mirth and joy, Among the hills the echoes play A never, never ending song, To welcome in the May. The magpie chatters with delight; The mountain raven's youngling brood Have left the mother and the nest; And they go rambling east and west * In search of their own food; Or through the glittering vapors dart. In very wantonness of heart. — Wordsvjorth. A T^HE weak have remedies, the wise have joys; Superior wisdom is superior bliss. —rouH". LITTLE of thy merriment, Of thy sparkling light content, Give me, my cheerful brook, — That I may still be full of glee And gladsomeness where'er I be, Though fickle fate hath prison'd me In some neglected nook. — Lowell. 62 w (ffacolta COCCtaea. Natural Order: Compositce — Aster Family, CARLET Cacalia is a native of the East Indies, where nature revels in the most brilliant hues conceivable to the human mind, and where flowers assume shapes more innumerable than in this our cool and more temperate climate. Yet we must admit >the most of them behave admirably in their adopted homes, sometimes diminishing their stature, but always remaining objects worthy of attention. The Cacalia blossom is shaped like a beautiful little brush or tassel, and is sometimes called Venus's Paint Brush, or Tassel Flower. There are two varieties grown in our gardens, one an orange scarlet, the other a golden yellow. They appear to better advantage in masses when not too thickly sown, and if the withered flowers are removed, will bloom profusely until frost. jihukliutt* TF we from wealth to poverty descend, * Want gives to know the flat'rer from the friend. — Dryden. 'T^HOU dehghtest the cold world's gaze, And gay is the playful tone, ^ When crowned with the flower and the gem, As to the flattering voice thou respondest; But thy lover's smile should be dearer praise But what is the praise of the cold and unknown Than the incense thou prizest from them. To the tender blame of the fondest.' — John Everett. VTO adulation; 'tis the death of virtue! Who flatters is of all mankind the lowest, Save he who courts the flatterer. —Hannah More. T AM not form'd, by flattery and praise. By sighs and tears, and all the whining trade Of love, to feed a fair one's vanity; To charm at once and spoil her. —Thompson. 63 A SPIRIT, pure and fine and true As ever dwelt in human form; A love as deep, as fond, as warm. As ever loving woman knew. —Kale J. Hill. ^^ ®ac.ttt0--g.i#t gl^crmimg. (HereUfi gvauMfloi'Ua Natural Order: Cactacece — Cactus Family. ERE is one of a class of plants which we should more fre- quently find in our dwellings than we do, as there are none that demand so little attention, requiring only a rough soil, containing a free admixture of coarse sand and small ^^ fragments of rocks or potsherds, and a little water once or twice a week. They endure any amount of heat, but will ■not withstand a positive frost. The Cereus grandiflorus is a native i^^ of Mexico and the West Indies, where it grows to a large size, as do ^|[^ the other varieties. The blossom is magnificent, appearing at night, ^@9 and wasting before day approaches. The flower is sometimes cut "S^Q when in its prime, and preserved in a large glass jar with alcohol, as a curiosity. T7 LOWER of the night! mysteriously awake When earth's green tribes repose, why stealthful thus Comest thou to meet the stars — unfolding soft, Beneath their tranquil ray, thy peerless form? Flower of the night! chaster than Alpine snaws — Unvisited by aught save Hea\en's sweet breath — Why hide thy loveliness from mortal eye. Why pour thy fragrance to the unconscious night? —H. I. Johns. ''T'lS not the fairness of the brow. Nor brightness of the eye ; Nor yet the cheek whose radiant glow Can with carnation sie, That has a power to chain my gaze, Or hold it in control; The beauty that I most admire Shines spotless from the soul. .1/;-.-. R. T. Eldredge. TITHO hung such beauty on such rugged stalk. Thou glorious flower? Who pour'd the richest hues In varying radiance o'er thy ample brow? —^[rs. S^mirney. 64 - t^r- (SfreUS flag£lltformt0. Natural Order: Cactacece — Cactus Family. ^'HIP or Snake Cactus, as it is familiarly called, is from the (■"^arid plains of South America. The stem is about half an sinch in diameter, having ten angles, and attaining the length of five or six feet. It is much too frail to stand alone, and should be supported on a trellis or tied to an 'upright stick. The flowers are extremely handsome, coming out from the clusters of spines that adorn the stem. The tube is long and slender, and the petals a brilliant pink, remaining in perfection a number of days, when they are succeeded continuously by others for 'several weeks. '^i^n Isrrtf^ I FEEL my sinews slackened with tlie fright, And a cold sweat thrills down all o'er my limbs, As if I were dissolving into water. —Dryden. TTTHEN the sun sets, shadows that show'd at noon OIS hand did quake But small appear most long and terrible; And tremble like a leaf of aspen green, So when we think fate hovers o'er our heads, And troubled blood through his pale face was seen Our apprehensions shoot beyond all bounds. —Lee. As it a running messenger had been. —Spenser. IV TEXT him was fear, all arm'd from top to toe, Yet thought himself not safe enough thereby. But fear'd each shadow mo\'ing to or fro. And his own arms when glittering he did spy, Or clashing heard, he fast away did fly; As ashes pale of hue, and winged heel'd. And evermore on danger fix'd his eye, 'Gainst whom he always bent a brazen shield. Which his right hand unarmed fearfully did wield. — Spenser. IMAGINATION frames events unknown In wild fantastic shapes of hideous ruin. And what it fears creates! —Hannah More. F 65 I; AM fearful; wherefore frowns he thus.' Tis an aspect of terror. All 's not well — Shakespeare, Qtalaolarta Ijgbn^a. Natural Ordeu: Scrofhulariacece—Figwort Family. "ALCEOLARIAS came originally from South America and New Zealand. There are two species of this plant, difl'ering ^entirely from each other, in regard to the foliage. One is herbaceous, with large,' oval, downy leaves, and grows about a foot and a half high; the other is a shrub with small, oval leaves resembling those of the sage, except that they are a purer green. The flowers are alike in shape, the herbaceous having rather the largest. They are like a pouch or bag of velvet, sometimes of a plain color, and again covered with dots; indeed they often remind one of the plump body of a beautiful spider, only they have not spina- rets and legs. The blossoms, which are superb in color, are often large enough to hold a teaspoonful of water. faujli^. /^F all the passions that possess mankind, ^ The love of novelty rules most the mind; In search of this, from realm to realm we roam; Our fleets come fraught with ev'rj folly home. —Foote, QTILL sighs the world for something new, For something new; Imploring me, imploring you Some will-o'-wisp to help pursue. Ah, hapless world! What will it do, Imploring me, imploring you. For something new? -Ral/,1, Hoyt. p RANGE is written on the tide. On the forest's leaf'v pride; On the streamlet, glancing bright. On the jewel'd crown of night; All where'er the eye can rest Show it legibly imprest. —Clinch. T HAVE lived in cities all my birth. Where all was noise, and life, and varying scene; Recurrent news which set all men agape. New faces, and new friends, and shows and revels, Mingling in constant action and quick, change. 66 — Boker. — t-^i^ "-f^^.-f? 'K Hi£l}ai'bia ^ett^topica. Natural Order: Aracex—Arum Family. is' EAUTIFUL in name (from the Greek kallos) and justly merit- ing the distinction, is this lily-like plant. Its scientific name does joint honor to the French botanist, L. C. Richard, and its sup- posed original seat, Ethiopia, though its true habitat is farther south, in the region of the Cape of Good Hope, this charming, familiar plant is only adapted to house culture in cold climates. It has large, arrow-shaped leaves on long leafstalks. The flower is of a beautiful creamy white, and similar to a cornucopia in shape, or tQ our own wild-wood plant, Jack-in-the-pulpit, and blooms during winter and spring. The plants of this order are pervaded by a volatile substance which in some becomes poisonous. The corms and root-stalks abound in starch, which in a few cases are rendered edible when the volatile substance is expelled by cooking. jmiittit^ JbhuI^. T AM come, I am come! from the purple-browed sky, The spirit of beauty to thee ; I ride on the wings of the rose-scented air, I sit on the lips of the \iolet fair, And weave me a wreath of the sun's golden hair, As his tresses go glancingly by. And glimmer the foam of the sea. —Carlos D. Stuart. \ NATIVE grace Sat fair proportion'd on her polish'd limbs, Veil'd in a simple robe, their best attire. Beyond the pomp of dress; for loveliness m mAj— *.LS;" Needs not the foreign aid of ornament, But is, Avhen unadorn'd, adorn'd the most; Thoughtless of beautv, she was Beautv's self. Recluse amid the close embowering woods. — Thompson. T NEVER saw aught like to what thou art, A spirit so peculiar in its mold. With so much wildness and Avith vet a part Of all the softer beauties we behold. — Frances A. Fuller. 67 i ^algCdtttljUa floi'tbua. Natural Order : Calycanthacece — Calycanth Family. UR Southern States, more especially the Carolinas, are the native seats of this fragrant shrub, whence it is sometimes called Carolina Allspice. It is generally found in fertile soils along water courses, is of a straggling growth, and does not attain a very great height — usually from three to four feet only. It is also frequently cultivated in gardens and shrub- beries, where it has received the praise of many for the odor of its blossoms, which have a strawberry or fruit-like fragrance. The bark when broken also exhales a spicy perfume. The flowery are of a dull, lurid purple, and bloom on very short stems. r\ BLESSED bounty, giving all content! ^ The only fautress of all noble arts, That lend'st success to every good intent, A grace that rests in the most godlike hearts, By heav'n to none but happy souls infused, Pity it is that e'er thou wast abused. — Drayton, TTOW few, like thee, inquire the wretched out, And court the offices of soft humanity ! Like thee, reserve their raiment for the naked. Reach out their bread to feed the crying orphan. Or mix the pitying tears with those that weep! — Rowe, TJ ALF his earn'd pittance to poor neighbors went : They had his alms, and he had his content. — Walter Harte. ■pROM thy new hope, and from thy growing store, Now lend assistance, and relie\'e the poor. — Dryden. ^ODLIKE his unwearied bounty flows; First loves to do, then loves the good he does. — Sir jF, Deuham. He that's liberal To all alike may do good by chance. But never out of judgment. —Beaumont and Fletcher. 68 For his bounty, There was no winter in't; an autumn 'twas, That gl•e^v the more by reaping. ^Shakespeare, ■^^^ F Camellia jjaponicct. Natural Order: Camelliacece — Tea Family. APAN is the original habitat of this shrub, whence its name in part — Japonica, Japanese; while the first part is derived from the German botanist, Kamel, Latinized into Camellus. It is a . native of China, as well as of Japan, where it grows to a large tree. It is graceful and handsome as one could desire for any !^ place or occasion. Its blossoms are among the loveliest that nature yields, but lack the fragrance of those of its rival, the rose, which they much resemble; they are, however, more stately, the petals being much thicker, more waxy and symmetrical. There are, it is said, now nearly a thousand varieties, chiefly derived from seed. In order to perpetuate the same variety in color, they are propa- gated from slips. TV T E'ER shall thy dangerous gifts these brows adorn, To rne more dear than all their rich perfume, The chaste Camellia's pure and spotless bloom, That boasts no fragrance and conceals no thorn. — Wni. RoRcoe, QH.E, the gayest, sweetest blossom, ^ Smiling 'neath the summer skies, Glorious lips and swelling bosom, Golden hair and sparkling eyes, Softly breathing amorous sighs, While the doves around are cooing, And the simple lovers wooing. Holds the moonbeams in surprise. -Carlos D. Stuart. F^ACH ornament about her seemly lies, By curious chance, or careless art, composed. — Tasso. npHE fairness of her face no tongue can tell, For she the daughters of all women's race, And angels eke, in beautie doth excel, Sparkled on her from God's own glorious face. And more increast by her own goodly grace, That it doth far exceed all human thought, Ne can on earth compared be to aught. — Spenser. 69 ? 'S-ai f ''t Canary #tass* |pl]olcivis (EttltaviillStS. Natural Ouder: -GraminecE — Grass Family. "^'ERIVING its name from the Greek word -phalaris, meaning white or brilliant, as the seeds are shining and smooth, the "Canary Grass is a native of the Canary Islands, -and its 'seeds form the chief food of the delightful little Canary bird, '"as well as some other small wild birds. It is sometimes found ^sparingly naturalized in the iields in America. There is a native plant belonging to the same genus found in low, wet grounds and ditches, known technically as the Phalaris arundinacea, or Reed Canary Grass, and familiarly as Ribbon Grass. 'r A TTEMPT the end, and never stand to doubt; Nothing 's so hard, but search \\\\\ find it out. — Merrick. T7EW things are possible to listless indolence; V But unto him whose soul is in his task, (Who scorns 'mid ease or sloth to bask Till it 's accomplished), there is no chance. No prison which long in durance Can keep success; the unconquerable will Bends all before it; pierces through each iriaze R Impenetrable to superficial gaze. Encounters every obstacle and still Bears off from each the palm; then, human soul, If for some noble object thou dost strive And wouldst triumphant reach the final goal. Swerve not aside ere yet thou dost arrive; [irol. Be patient, faithful, firm, and e\en fate shall not con- — 'James Walker. EVOLT is recreant when pursuit is brave. Never to faint doth purchase what «-c crave. — ^farltetl. TTOW noble is a good resolve. There's heavenly hope attending it, And fair and pleasant thoughts involve A latent bliss befriending it: — If strong the strife and great the pain. Greater 's the triumph — trv again. — John Swaiti. PERSEVERANCE is a Roman virtue. That wins each godlike act, and plucks success E'en from the spear-proof crest of rugged danger. — Harvard. 70 (^ Iberis Itinbelleta. Natural Order : Cruclferce— Mustard Family. BERIS, or Candytuft, is so well adapted for bouquets that an ample bed of it should be found in every garden, for it will bear any amount of clipping and still yield an abun- dance of flowers until destroyed by frost. The plants bear removal so poorly that it is best to sow them where they are to bloom, and to pull up all the superfluous ones. It is a native of Spain, and takes its name from the ancient appellative of that country, which was Iberia. It is most excellent for winter use, grown in pots or in vases; and is also planted as a border in flower gardens. The flowers are white, purple or crimson, and some of them are very fragrant. %Xt\\\tt\viX\. TN the well-framed models, With emblematic skill and mystic order, Thou show'dst where tow'rs on battlements should rise; Where gates should open, or where walls should compass. /^UR fathers next, in architecture skill'd, Cities for use, and forts for safety, build; Then palaces and lofty domes arose; These for devotion, and for pleasure those. 'Sir R. Blackmoi-e. — Prior. "tlTESTWARD a pompous frontispiece appear'd, On Doric pillars of white marble rear'd, Crown'd with an architrave of antique mold, And sculpture rising on the roughen'd gold. —Poft. H IS .son builds on, and never is content Till the last fai-thing is in structure spent. —Drvdeli. TTERE stair on stair, with heavy balustrade. And columned hybrids cut in rigid stone. And vase, and sphinx, and obelisk, arrayed. And arched wide bridges over wheel way s thrown . Valleys of heaven the gardens seemed to be, Or isles of cloudland in a sunset sea. . TET my due feet never fail To walk the studious cloistei's pale. And love the high embowed roof, With antique pillars massy proof; And storied windows richly dight, Casting a dim, religious light. —Milton. 71 .:-^^ ^B^ ^ Campanula liuiium. Natural Order: Campanulacece — Bellwort Family. NPRETENDING but handsome is this species of the Campa- nula, introduced into this country from Germany. The stem is from two and a half to three feet high, and produces flowers that are large and attractive, continuing in bloom from early summer until fall. The blossoms are bell-shaped, as in the other varieties, the distinctive differences consisting in diversity of foliage, and dissimilarity o^ style. Some are tall and stately, while others are mere cushions of verdure and flowers. The color of their blossoms is usually blue, though sometimes lavender or white. iralHuit^. TTOUNTAIN of mercy! whose pervading eye Can look within and read what passes there, Accept my thoughts for thanks, I have no words; My soul, o'erfraught with gratitude, rejects The aid of language. —Hannah More. 'T^HE benefits he sow'd in me met not Unthankful gi'ound, but yielded him his own With fair increase; and I still glory in it. — Masnin^er, 'T^O a generous mind The heaviest debt is that of gratitude, When 'tis not in our power to repay it. — FrankHn, "llfHEN gratitude o'erflows the swelling heart. And breathes in free and uncorrupted praise For benefits received ; propitious heaven Takes such acknowledgments as fragrant incense. And doubles all its blessings. —Lillo. T FIND a pious gratitude disperse Within my soul ; and at every thought of him Engenders a warm sigh within me, which, fe. Like curls of holy incense, overtake Each other in my bosom, and enlarge With their embrace his sweet remembrance. — Shirley, GROW impatient, till I find some way Great offices with greater to repay. —Dryden. 72 . ^^ (Harilamim Ijtrauta. Natural Order: Cruciferce— Mustard Family. ■■ROWING wild, this plant is found in various parts of the United States, in some instances adding the name of the State in which the variety is produced to its own. It is also called Cuckoo Flower, and Bitter Cress. It flourishes in wet places, near streams or springs. The flowers are white and small. The blossoms of some of the other species are larger than "^■^^^ the above, and are frequently rose or purple in color. Its name is •o^^^Sj" derived from kardia, heart, and damao, to overcome, alluding to some supposed medicinal properties. /^H! blest is the fate of the one who hath found ^^ Some loadstar to guide through the wilderness round; And such I have found, my beloved one, in thee, For thou art the star of the desert to me. —Samuel Lover. ''T^IS his one hope — all else that round his life And leave no impress; worldly lips revile So fairly circles, scarce he values now; With sneer and stinging jibe, but idly by. The pride of name, a lot with blessings rife, Unfelt, unheard, the impatient arrows fly ; Determined friends, great gifts that him endow— Careless he joins a parasitic train, Are shrunk to nothing in a woman's smile; Counsel, reproof, entreaty, all are lost Like windy waters, which their strength exhaust r^O but look on her eyes! they do light •'-' All that Love's world compriseth! Do but look on her hair! it is bright As Love's star when it riseth! Do but mark — her forehead 's smoother Than words that sooth her! And from her arched brows such a grace Sheds itself through the face, As alone there triumphs to the life. All the gain, all the good of the elements' strife. — Jonson. Fops, fools and flatterers, whom her arts enchain. Nor counts aught base that may to her pertain; Immersed in love — or what he deems is such. — F. G. Tuckerman. /~\H! then speak, thou fairest fair! ^ Kill not him that vows to serve thee; But perfume this neighboring air Else dull silence sure will starve me; 'Tis a word that 's quickly spoken. Which, being restrained, a heart is broken. — Beaumont and Fletcher. ALL nature fades extinct; and she alone -' ^ Heard, felt and seen, possesses every thought, Fills every sense, and pants in every vein. — T/tompson. 73 if—Ti 1 Ccibdta (HavbtUaUs. Natural Order: Lobeliacea — Lobelia Family, a m \THIEU LOBEL, a French botanist resident in England ^ d physician to James the First, was honored by having jF ids this class of flowers named for him, while this variety btained its distinctive title from its rich scarlet or cardinal olor. It is a tall plant of exceeding beauty, found in '??<'■ meadows, especially near streams of running water, where its bright face is mirrored on the gleaming surface. It was intro- duced into England from America, of which it is a native, during colonial times, and has ever since enjoyed the admiration of florists and amateur cultivators. The flowers are of a deep scarlet, and each blossom about two inches in length, arranged on a fine, nod- ding stem. These appear during the whole summer. Jrj^brmini, TTTHEN knaves come to preferment, they rise as Gallows are raised in the low countries, one Upon another's shoulders. 'TT'IS sweet, beloved, to have thee nigh, In pleasant converse thus with me. For while these social moments fly, I feel my heart still clings to thee. Yes, clings to thee with stronger ties Than e'er I felt or knew before, As day by day some charm supplies That makes me bless thee more and more. — Thomas G. Spear, — Webster. TF to feel the deep de^■otion Of a pilgrim at a shrine, If to weep with fond emotion Be to love thee, I am thine. If to treasure every token. Every look and every sign. Every light word thou hast spoken. Be to love thee, I am thine. Mrs, V, E. Howard. TIE who cannot merit Preferment by employments, let him bare His throat unto the Turkish cruelty, Or die or live a slave, without redemption. — 'John Ford, 74 iX' A' ND where his frown of hatred darkly fell, Hope withering fled — and mercy sigh'd farewell! — Byroit. TJ ARSH scorn hath hail'd thy blighted name, Thou frail but lovely thing; And the precious flower of fame Is slowly withering! —Mrs. Norton. OHALL it not be scorn to me To harp on such a molder'd string? I am sham'd through all my nature To have lov'd so slight a thing. —Tennyson. 'T'HINK not there is no smile I can bestow upon thee. There is a smile, A smile of nature too, which I can spare. And yet perhaps thou wilt not thank me for it. — 'Joanna Baillie. 'T'AKE back, take back thy promises; Take back, take back thy love. They say 'tis all ideal bliss Fleeting as sunbeams move; And that 'twill quickly pass away, And not a chord remain To vibrate at aflfection's touch. With such sweet joy again. Then give me back the light, warm heart I held in youth's bright morn ; It can't endure indifference, 'Twould break beneath thy scorn. — Mrs. Locke. TTENCE! Leave my door! I know thee not, dark woman ! Hence away ! —Mrs. Sigmirney. 75 'S^ JDiontl^nS torgopljsllns. Natural Order: Caryofhyllacex—Pink Family. '•MONG the most delightful of all our flowers are the Carna- tions, in all their diverse colors, being called the flower of Jove or Jupiter, the chief god among the Romans, whence its name — Dios., of Zeus, or Jupiter, and anthos, a flower; the ;,^ distinctive epithet is also from two other Greek words, S^karuon, a nut, and j)hyllon, a leaf. They are variously called bizarres, flakes, or picotees, according to their colors and markings, being spotted, striped or plain. The varieties number, it is said, over four hundred, and many of them yield the exquisite odor of the clove, or other sweet perfume. r 0il£U£ 2lvni£i-ta. Natural Order: Caryophyllacece — Pink Family. 'ARIETIES of this plant to the number of about one hundred, of which perhaps a dozen are indigenous to the United States, have been noted by botanists. It is cultivated as a garden annual, many varieties having been introduced from Europe — the rose-colored from Sicily, and the red from Portugal, while Russia has furnished a perennial species. They all bloom plenti- ?' folly, and are appropriate for planting in the borders, or for rock- work. The stem is about a foot and a half high, and the flowers mostly a purplish pink, white, and red. Beneath each joint there is a glutinous substance that retains any light insect that touches it. It derives its name from Silenus, the reputed foster-father and drunken '^i companion of Bacchus, who, when caught asleep and encircled with a cordon of flowers by mortals, could be compelled to prophesy; so the ancient Greeks imagined. TTIGH walls and strong the body may conilne, And iron gates obstruct the prisoner's gaze, And massive bolts may baffle his design, And vigilant keepers watch his devious v/ays; Yet scorns the immortal mind this base control ! No chains can bind it and no cells enclose; Swifter than light it flies from pole to pole, And in a flash from earth to heaven it goes. C\ LIBERTY! the prisoner's pleasing dream, The poet's muse, his passion and his theme; Genius is thine, and thou art Fancy's nurse; Lost without thee the ennobling powers of verse; Hei-oic song from thy free touch acquires Its clearest tone, the rapture it inspires. —Coivper. — Aiwnymmis, T TE gives the signal of command, ■'■■'■ He waves — he drops — the lifted hand! It was a sound of clashing steel — Why starts he thus.' what doth he feel.? The clanking of his iron chain Hath made him prisoner again ! —Mrs. Norton. 76 MunVpttUS iDirginimm. Natural Order: Coniferce — Pine Family. EARLY all the Pine family are pleasing to the eye for the diversity as well as the continuity of their foliage. There are somewhat over a hundred species in the order, and all of them of infinite importance to man, growing as some of them do in immense forests, they yield an unbounded supply of timber for various architectural purposes, being light, easily wrought and durable. This includes all the pines, hemlocks, spruces and cedars. The large, straight trunks of the White Pine are in great demand for the masts of vessels, while other varieties yield the resinous sap from which resin, tar, pitch and turpentine are manufactured. The Red Cedar is a middle-sized tree, found in the United States, but principally in rocky situations near the sea- coast. Its wood is of a reddish cast, compact, fine grained, and almost imperishable, so well does it resist all the processes of decay. I Jitu^ for %\t\. T70R thee I will arouse my thoughts to try All heavenward flights, all high and holy strains; For thy dear sake I will walk patiently Through these long hours, nor call their minutes pain. TV TOW, the plaintive ^tones inspiring ■^ Still more sweet and yearning swell, Till my spirit bursts its bondage. That had chained it with its spell; — Frances Anne Kemble. And I'm hastening with affection To my hidden darling there, Where the cedar boughs are waving In the rustling evening air. -L. Syh'estre, ITTE will walk this world, Yok'd in all exercise of noble aim. And so through those dark gates across the wild That no man knows. — Tennyson. 77 djdiiiontum infljUS. Natural Order: Papaveracece — Poppy Family. UITE familiar, from growing wild by the roadsides and in the fields, especially in moist places, as well as from being cultivated in gardens, is this plant of the poppy family. It is a fleshy herb, with leaves formed of leaflets arranged in pairs on a central stem, arid one odd one to finish the tip; they are of a sea or bluish green in color, and are quite smooth. The flowers, are yellow, and are not lasting. Its name is derived from the word chelidon, the Greek name for the swallow, as it was supposed to blossom with the arrival of that bird. It has become a natura,lized plant in the United States, its native place being Europe. 'T^HERE is a gentle element, and man ■*■ May breathe it withi a calm, unruffled soul, And drink its living waters till his heart Is pure; and this is human happiness. ,— Willis. TF solid happiness we prize, Within our breast the jewel lies. And they are fools who roam; The world has nothing to bestow. From own selves our joys must flow, And that dear hut — our home. —Cotton. TJAPPINESS depends, as nature shows. Less on exterior things than most suppose; Jtf! rPJ, Vigilant over all that He has made. Kind Providence attends with gracious aid. Bids equity throughout His works prevail, And weighs the nations in an even scale. — Cowper. T T E is the happy man whose life e'en now Shows somewhat of that' happier life to come; Who, doomed to an obscure but tranquil state, Is pleased with it, and, were he free to choose, Would make his fate his choice; whom peace, the fruit Of virtue, and whom virtue, fruit of faith, Prepare for happiness; bespeak him one Content indeed to sojourn while he must Below the skies, but having there his home. — Covjper. 78 ffi SS=^' !2lutl)£mis nobilis. Natural Order: Compositce — Aster Family. HERE are two species of this humble plant ; the first inodorous, naturalized in fields, byways and lanes, and is called Corn Chamomile; and the second a perennial fi-om Great Britain and other parts of Europe. It is frequently cultivated in gardens, and is well known for its strong, agree- able odor. The flowers are much used in medicine for their tonic and anodyne properties. It was called Anthemis, from antkos, Greek for flower, by reason of its profusion of flowers. itnn. TS love so very plenty in this weary world of pain, That you cannot let all else go by and trust me once again? — Christian Reid. 'TTHE end will soon come, and tho' outcast I be, * Perhaps there is One will have pity on me; Who will to the injured His mercy extend. And be to the outcast protector and friend, —j, H. S. 'T^HEN gently scan thy brother man. Still gentler sister woman ; Though both may gang a kennie wrang. To step aside is human. —Bums. "yiS mercy! mercy! ■*- The mark of heav'n impress'd on human kind, Mercy that glads the world, deals joy around: Mercy that smooths the dreadful brow of power, And makes' dominion light; mercy that saves, Binds up the broken heart, and heals despair. — Rowe. r^OME unto me, when weary of life's burdens. When, oh! so tired of all its hopes and fears — When, 'midst the fury of the storms and tempests, Thou shalt be waiting as the heaven nears. AT AY, the divine in it lingers there still, •'■ ' God's care in all ; Rose leaves but drop at the beck of His will Fetters which thrall. — Mary B. Dodge. TN mercy and justice both, *■ Through heaven and earth, so shall my glory excel. But mercy first and last shall brightest shine. —Milton. 79 il l.'jU-*u- (JiftStauea VtSCa. Natural Order: Cufulifer<^ — Oak Family. RANGE and Italy, or parts of them, use the nut of this tree to some extent as an article of diet, a substitute for flour and potatoes, principally among the poorer classes, who pre- pare it by some process of cooking; the nut there, however, iJfr' being nearly double the size of the ones we are familiar °^^ with. The Italian nut venders are also found on street corners of our large cities. In some portions of the United States I ~Q(- the tree grows plentifully, though seldom forming masses in the woods. In July the blossoms hang like tassels all over the tree, ' completely covering it as if with a yellowish mantle. The nut is of a beautiful brown, and is inclosed in a formidable burr, beset on all sides with sharp, thon:y spines. The timber is useful in some kinds of building, being strong, elastic and durable, without much weight. The Chestnut was a favorite tree of Salvator Rosa, and flourished in the moun- tains of Calabria. It is said to have derived its name from Casthaneea, a city of ancient Greece. H OW little do they see what is, who frame Their hasty judgments upon that which seems. — Southey. TTTITHIN the oyster's shell uncouth The purest pearl may bide; — Trust me, you'll find a heart of truth Within that rough outside. ■ — Mrs. Osgood. 'T'HE deepest ice that ever froze Can only o'er the surface close; The li%'ing stream lies quick below. And flows, and cannot cease to flow. —Byron. "T^IS not the fairest form that holds The mildest, purest soul within; 'Tis not the richest plant that folds The sweetest breath of perfume in. T HY plain and open nature sees mankind But in appearances, not what they are. — Frowde. — Dawes. APPEARANCES to save, his only care; ■^ *■ So things seem right, no matter what they are. —Cfmrcfiill. 80 ^e^ !l Stdlaria m£Ma. Natural Order: CaryophyllacecB — Pink Family. EARLY everywhere north of Mexico the Chickweed may be found generally in moist, shady places. It is a small, delicate, grain-like herb. The leaves are oval, the stem round and jointed, and rather procumbent. The flowers are small, white and star-like, whence its botanical name.. At night the leaves, in pairs, close around the young stems. Birds are very fond of picking at the seeds, as well as the green leaves, espe- cially canaries, giving rise to its popular name, Chickweed. The leaves possess certain cooling and nutritive properties that render them desirable for consumptives. They are also useful to allay external inflammation, by being moistened and applied warm. T HAVE sought the intensest ways to best adore you, I have lain my soul's last treasure at your feet; Yet I tremble as in thought I bend before you, With abasement and abashment and defeat, Knowing well that all the love I ever bore you Is requital weak of worth and incomplete! — Edgar Fawcett. I'VE seen grand ladies plumed and silked, But not a sweeter maiden — But not a sweeter, fresher maid Than this in homely cotton, Whose pleasant face and silky braid I have not yet forgotten. — Christina Georgina Rossetti. 'T^HERE ever is a form, a face, Of maiden beauty in my dreams, Speeding before me like the race To ocean of the mountain streams — With dancing hair, and laughing eyes, That seem to mock me as it flies. — Halleck. IVIY spirit bows before a nameless shrine. Seeking to offer there The heart's devotion to some nymph divine As pure and true as fair. — W, F, Lattgey. 8i J "^ (llicl)0rium intgbua. Natural Order: Compositce— Aster Family. ERE is an oriental herb in height from two to three feet, found naturalized in fields and byways. The flowers are large and conspicuous, blooming in pairs in the axils of the leaves, and are a pale blue in color. The root is used in ssA France, and indeed in America, for the adulteration of coffee, (2xo"j^-p fQj. -^yhich purpose it is roasted, ground, and flavored with burnt sugar. Its name is of Egyptian origin, being in Egypt called chikouryeh. It is known in England as Succory. The Endivia variety, so called, is a native of the East Indies, and' is sometimes used for salads. yrith^itl ^mncm^. ■pOR him light labor spread her wholesome store, Just gave what life requir'd, but gave no more; His best companions, innocence and health; And his best riches, ignorance of wealth. —Goldsmith. pRUDENCE, thou virtue of the mind, bj which r We do consult of all that's good or evil, Conducting to felicity; direct My thoughts and actions by the rules of reason; Teach me contempt of all inferior vanities ; Pride in a marble portal gilded o'er, Assyrian carpets, chairs of ivory, The luxuries of a stupendous house. Garments perfum'd, gems valued not for use, But needless ornament; a sumptuous table, And all the baits of sense. —Nahb. T OOK forward what 's to come, and back what 's past; Thy life will be with praise and prudence graced; What loss or gain may follow, thou mayst guess; Thou then wilt be secure of the success. —sir J. Denlmm. qPHE wise with prudent thought provide W"^'^ ^"J' ^reat designs thou dost intend, Against misfortune's coming tide. -Piuacm. * ' Think 83 on the means, the manner and the end —Sir y. Denliam. ^^ E Sister --l!j0i:xMje. (EflUisttpljUS Cljincnsi©. Natural Order: Composites — Aster Fainily. HE Chinese are exceedingly fond of flowers, and often take exquisite pains in their cultivation, the Aster being one of their especial favorites. With infinite patience they place the various colors so as to form, according to their taste, an artistic mass in gardens and pleasure grounds. The varieties now supplied by seedsmen are numerous, the colors the most perfect that one could wish, and filled with petals to the center. They bloom from midsummer until late in the autumn, or until frost sets its sharp teeth in their prodigal blossoms. On the approach of winter, those that have unexpanded buds can be lifted and transferred to the house, and if wasted flowers are clipped will remain in bloom some time. The scientific name is derived from the Greek, and signifies beau- tiful crown. S\ (Utinl^. TIIHAT you desire of him, he partly begs To be desir'd to give. It much would please him, That of his fortunes you would make a staff To lean upon. Shakespeare. TN all places, then, and in all seasons. Flowers expand their light and soul-like wings, TARGE was his bounty, and his soul sincere; Heaven did a recompense as largely send; He gave to misery all he had — a tear; Teaching us, by most persuasive reasons. He gain'd from heav'n — 'twas all he wished, a friend. How akin they are to human things. —Gray. —LoiigfelloTu. QUCH moderation with thy bounty join That thou may'st nothing give that is not thine to give. — Denham. A ND, more than all, ye speak Of might and power, of mercy, of the One Eternal, who hath strew'd you fair and meek. To glisten in the sun; Pi To gladden all the earth With bright and beauteous emblems of His grace. That showers its gifts of uncomputed worth In every clime and place. — Mary Anne Brovjne. S3 l\ r ^alltat£pt)US filj'mcnsis. Natural Order: Compositce— Aster Family. ESCRIPTION of this flower would be unnecessary, were it not the progenitor of all our handsome double, quilled, bou- quet, pyramid and the many other varieties of asters that 'have originated under careful and discriminating cultivation. ' The blossom originally presented a yellow disk or center, sur- *rounded by a single row of petals, of a purple color ; now we have nearly all colors and shades, except yellow. Such is the wonderful power of human thought, skill, patience and perseverance, when applied to flowers; who. can doubt its equal power when enlisted in the eleva- tion of mankind or in the improvement of the individual. TOVE'S heralds should be thoughts, Which ten times faster glide than sunbeams, Driving back the shadows over lowering hills. — Shakespeare. DOSE leaves, when the rose is dead, Are heaped for the beloved's bed; And so thy thoughts, when thou art gone. Love itself shall slumber on, —Shelly. 'T'HOUGHTS of my soul, how swift ye go! Swift as the eagle's glance of fire, Or arrows from the archer's bow. To the far aim of your desire! —Whittier. 'pHE car without horses, the car without wings. Roars onward and flies On its pale iron edge, 'Neath the heat of a thought sitting still in our eyes.' T^HOUGHTS flit and flutter through the mind. As o'er the waves the shifting wind; Trackless and traceless is their flight. As falling stars of yesternight. Or the old tidemarks on the shore. Which other tides have rippled o'er. -Bozorm^. to me —Miss Barrett, lyTANY are the thoughts that come In my lonely musing; And they drift so strange and swift. There 's no time for choosing Which to follow, for to leave Any, seems a losing, _c, p. Cranch. k2p sj^ S4 (JIl)r2Santl)£mum Carinatum. Natural Order: Co7nfositce— Aster Family. EELSHAPED goldfiower is the significance of the scientific name of this plant — carinatum, from the Latin carina, a keel; and Chrysanthemum, from two Greek words, chrysos, golden, and anthemon, a flower. It is not naturalized in this country, though it has now been cultivated here for a number of years. It is nearly a century since they were introduced into Great Britain (in 1789). They are indigenous to Northern Africa, China, Japan, and other Oriental countries. The primitive color was yellow, hence the Greeks called it Chrysanthemum; but now the colors are various, being white, crimson, maroon, and yellow of several shades. They blossom very late in the fall, and, if transferred to the house, will bloom until Christmas, requiring only to be kept from positive freezing. OOUL, wilt thou love, where to love is losing? ^ Long wilt thou wander in ways that err; Dally with hopes, that thy barren choosing Finds fleeting as steps of a wayfarer. Wilt thou not turn and say to her spirit, Lo! I that love thee will love no more? This is a hard thing that we inherit; To love and to weep, lo! this is sore. —Barton Grey. "ITTAN brightener of the fading year, * • Chrysanthemum ; Rough teller of the winter near. Chrysanthemum : Gray, low-hung skies and woodlands sere, Wet, leaf-strewn ways with thee appear; Yet well I love to see thee here. Chrysanthemum ! Yes, well I love to see thee here, Chrysanthemum ! Thou comest when the rose is dead. Chrysanthemum — When pink and lily both have fled. Chrysanthemum ; When hollyhocks droop low the head. And dahlias litter path and bed. Thou bloomest bright in all their stead,' Chrysanthemum, And back recall'st their beauty fled. — W. C. Bennttt. ^^ 85 ^V3) ^ ?i5 V^!^-. ^tnerario omellotbea. Natural Order: Comfositce — Aster Family. RIGHT and beautiful, the flower-stalks of this plant raise their aster-like clusters of blossoms well above their broad and handsome leaves, in our greenhouses in spring, when flowers are scarce, sometimes as many as fifty flowers in a crowning mass. The plant has been called Cape Aster, one of the first varieties having come from the South of Africa; but as we have species now from the colder latitudes of Siberia, as well as from the tropical climes of Jamaica and the Canary Isles, that name has been almost universally abandoned for the Latin one embracing them all. The colors are the various shades of purple or blue, usually with a white or lighter ring at the base of the petals. J[ItUHi|$ J)$Itg|ifuI. TTOW brilliant and mirthful the light of her eye, Like a star glancing out from the blue of the sky. —Whittier. ■p RIGHTLY shines the sun today, Perhaps it brings but little sorrow; We'll be happy while we may; 'Twould be folly now to borrow Griefs and cares, which may not stray, May not darken our tomorrow. Sweet content, with winning smiles, Brightens every simple pleasure; Happiness, with merry smiles. Adds its gold to all our treasure; Thus our path for many miles May be crowned from joy's full measure. -Tamar Anne Kermode. TJE is so full of pleasant anecdote, So rich, so gay, so poignant in his wit. Time vanishes before him as he speaks. And ruddy morning through the lattice peeps. TTIS sports were fair, his joyance innocent, Sweet without sour, and honey without gall ; And he himself seem'd made for merriment. Merrily masking both in bower and hall. — Spenser. TITHEN thou art near, The sweetest joys still sweeter seem. The brightest hopes more bright appear. And life is all one happy dream. When thou art near. —Robert Sweney. jM- I Citrus Itlfbtca. Natural Order: AuranticecB — Orange Family. IGHT or nine feet high in its native seats in tropical climates, the Citron differs but slightly in appearance from the lemon and orange trees, with which we are familiar, though only as house shrubs. The foliage is evergreen, the flowers resem- bling the orange blossom; the fruit is fragrant, the pulp being acid like the lemon, and grateful and cooling to the taste. The trees of this class are all easily grown in the conservatory, and in Louisiana and Florida in the open air, yielding a delightful perfume when in bloom. It gets its distinctive title, medica, from the two essential oils (citron and cedrat) which it yields. jarnag^. N O power in death shall tear our names apart, As none in life could rend thee from my heart. — Byron. /^OME from the woods with the citron flowers, ^ Come with your lyres for festal hours, Maids of bright Scio! They came, and the breeze Bore their sweet songs o'er the Grecian seas; They came, and Endora stood robed and crowned The bride of the morn, with her train around. — Mrs, Unmans, "ITTHEN on thy bosom I recline. Enraptured still to call thee mine, To call thee mine for life, I glory in the sacred ties, Which modern wits and fools despise. Of husband and of wife. — Lindley Murray. T^HE citron groves their fruit and flowers were strewing Around a Moorish palace, while the sigh Of low, sweet summer winds the branches wooing With music through their shadowy bowers went by; Music and voices from the marble halls Through the leaves gleaming, and the fountain falls. — Mrs. Hemans. ACROSS the threshold led, And every tear kissed off as soon as shed, is house she enters, there to be a light 87 Shining within, when all without is night; A guardian angel o"fer his life presiding. Doubling his pleasure, and his cares dividing. — Rogers. \ '^m t^.\ m I 1^^^ Olltantl)tt0 JBatnpkri. Natural Order: Leguminosce — Pulse Family. T is but a few years since this beautiful flower was first introduced into Europe and the United States from New Zealand, and, as it was at first considered a delicate plant to cultivate, it commanded a very high price, and was with difficulty persuaded to bloom. The trouble was too much care. It is now grown from seeds, requiring a well-drained soil, and only a reasonable supply of water, as too liberal drenching causes it to decay at the root. The leaves grow in pairs opposite each other, similar to the pea family, to which class it belongs. The flowers appear in clusters of about half a dozen, each being from two to three inches long, and of a rich scarlet, with an intensely black blotch in- the center. Uiiriu«$ 5fa«l^. ITER eyes, her lips, her cheeks, her shape, her features. Seem to be drawn by love's own hands, by love Himself in love. —Dnden. ' T HE beautiful are never desolate, But some one always loves them. —Bailey, TJ E ART on her lips, and soul within her eyes, Soft as her clime, and sunny as her skies. — Byron. ITER grace of motion and of look, the smooth And swimming majesty of step and tread, The symmetry of form and feature, set The soul afloat, even like delicious airs Of flute or harp. -Milman. QHE has such wondrous eyes. The saints in paradise Must veil their own from her. Around her snow-white neck Great pearls, like foam-bells fleck. The lustrous depths that stir With rhythmic rise and fall. To hide her heart from all — / hold a hidden key To ope the gates, ma mie! .753=533-' 88 —Edviard Renaud, J$ m \ Xant[)tum atrumartum. Natural Order: Comfositce — Aster Family. ^IKE some of the human family, certain plants have but very little biography, and what they have is not very favorable. They necessarily have had progenitors or ancestors, but not ^ the illustrious, the noted, the famous ; neither have they beauty or attractions sufficient to redeem them from ob- scurity. The Clotbur resembles the burdock, the Spanish needles, and some others of those provoking plants that scatter their seeds by adhering to whatever comes in contact, which they do readily by the hooked spines with which they are provided. They are mostly coarse plants, found in byways, fields, woods and barnyards. rittlt0«. pvETRACTION is a bold monster, and fears not To wound the fame of princes, if it find But any blemish in their lives to work on. —Mnssitiger. "T^IS not the wholesome, sharp morality, Or modest anger of a satiric spirit, That hurts or wounds the body of a State ; But the sinister application Of the malicious, ignorant and base Interpreter; who will distort, and strain The gen'ral scope and purpose of an author To his particular and private spleen. —yonson. T flRTUE itself 'scapes not calumnious strokes; The canker galls the infants of the spring, For ofit before their blossoms be disclos'd, And in the morn and liquid dew of youth. Contagious blastments are most imminent. — Shakespeare, TV TO skill in swordmanship, however just. Can be secure against a madman's thrust; And even virtue so unfairly match'd. Although immortal, may be prick'd or scratch'd. — Cowper, T'M one whose whip of steel can with a lash Imprint the characters of shame so deep, Ev'n in the brazen forehead of proud sin, That not eternity shall wear it out. — Randolph. TJAPPY are they that hear their detractions, n And can put them to mending. 89 — Shakespeare, irr -^^ Srifolium pi'atmse. Natural Order: Leguminosce — Pulse Family. NOWN more commonly, from one variety, as the Red Clover, this three-leaved product of the meadow (whence its scientific name) iSj next to common grass, the most useful plant to the husbandman for the feeding of his cattle; and of it they are exceedingly fond. It is usually grown as a mixture in with other grasses, but sometimes whole fields are devoted to it. such crops should really be grown and stored separately, so as used at discretion, for cattle, as well as people, have a discern- taste, and know as well as we that " variety is the spice of life." blossoms are fragrant, and are very enticing to bees and butter- as well as other honey-loving insects. Jjtb«$lr^* TIKE clocks, one wheel another on must drive — Affairs by diligent labor only thrive. —Chapman. AND cheerfully she plodded through ^ *■ Her many household cares; And led the flock her father left, To feed upon the hill; And guided them at sunset To the bubbling silver rill; And put them safe in fold at night, And left the watch-dog nigh. That at his honest, angry bark The coward wolf might tly; And train'd the woodbines higher yet Upon the cottage wall. And pruned the roses, where they grew, So sweet and fresh and tall ; And planted flowers and strawberries. In her small plot of gi-oundj And painted all the railing green, That fenced her garden 'round. — Mrs, Norton, /^FT did the harvest to the sickle yield, ^ Their harrow oft the stubborn glebe hath broke; How jocund did they drive their teams afield. How bow'd the woods beneath their sturdy stroke. — Gray. QHORTLY his fortune shall be lifted higher; True industry doth kindle honor's fire. —Shakespeare, A BSENCE of occupation is not rest, ^ A mind quite vacant is a mind distressed. — Cowper. 90 J^ (Haboftt 0tani&£1^0. Natural Order: PolemoniacecB — Polemonium Family. ^LIMBING COB^A, so called from Barnabas Cobo, a Span- ish missionary in Mexico (whence the common species has ^ been introduced), is a very luxuriant and beautiful plant, often growing a hundred and fifty feet or more in a single season. The most common kind produces large, bell-shaped flowers, nearly the size of a teacup, which when they first appear are a pale green, changing gradually to a beautiful dark purple under the influence of the sun and air. There is also a variegated kind, and very recently a white variety has been introduced. The seeds are large and flat, and should be planted edgewise, as, if placed flat, they are apt to rot before sprouting. It can be cultivated as an annual, or as a permanent house-plant; in either case care should be taken in pruning if entirely cut back, to see that there are young shoots sprout- ing from the root near the earth, to absorb the superfluity of sap, or the plant will perish. Itl$$t|t< T ALKERS are no good doers; be assured We go to use our hands, and not our tongues. — Shakespeare. QWEET were the tales she used to tell ^ When summer's eve was dear to us, And fading from the darkening dell. The glorj of the sunset fell. -Whittier. T NEVER with important air In conversation overbear; My tongue within my lips I rein ; For who talks much must talk in vain. —Gay. M Y lord shall never rest; I'll watch him tame, and talk him out. — Shakespeare. \ MIRTH-MOVING jest, Which his fair tongue, conceit's expositor. Delivers in such apt and gracious words That aged ears play truant at his tales. — Shakespeare. 91 TTOW hard soe'er it be to bridle wit, Yet memory oft no less requires the bit. How many, hurried by its force away, Forever in the land of gossips stray ! — Stillingjleet. 1^ 1 t— -^^^ (Jlclooia cristftta. Natural Order: Amarantacece — Amaranth Family. FEW years ago the crimson Celosia was the only variety to be met with, and now we have the white, yellow, and rose. They bloom in a flattened, pyramidal spike, frequently a foot broad, and resemble a mass of plush gathered into a gro- ;QJ tesque shape, the crest of the flower being usually deeper in K tint and softer in texture. They are garden annuals, but are equally adapted for pot culture, looking well as greenhouse or con- servatory ornaments when placed against a background of striking foliage. Their flowers are lasting, and are a fine addition to winter bouquets, in which case they should be plucked before frost, and before too much wasted by the ripening of the seeds. H ! save me, ye powers, from these pinks of the nation. These tea-table heroes ! these lords of creation. —Salmagundi. QOME positive, persisting fops we know, ^ Who, if once wrong, will needs be always so; But you with pleasure own your errors past, And make each day a critique on the last. —Pope. pOXCOMBS are of all ranks and kind. They're not to sex or age confined; Of rich, or poor, or great, or small, , 'Tis vanity besets them all. —Gay. QHINE out, fair sun, till I have bought a glass, '^ That I may see my shadow as I pass. —Shakespeare. "r?V'RY morning does This fellow put himself upon the rack. With putting on 's apparel, and manfully Endures his tailor, when he screws and wrests His body into the fashion of his doublet. —Shirley. T70PS take a world of pains To prove that bodies may exist sans brains; The former so fantastically dress'd. The latter's ab.sence may be safely guess'd. — Park Benjamin, "NJATURE made ev'ry fop to plague his brother. Just as one beauty mortifies another. —Pope. 92 -i^^ rtfi ^quiUgia ^anall£nst0. Natural Order: Ranunculacece — Crowfoot Family. ERH APS ten varieties of this plant are in cultivation, some of them being our own wild ones naturalized, while others have been imported from Siberia, Mexico and elsewhere. They are various in color of blossom, usually combining two shades or complementary tints in one flower, as red and yellow, blue „^ and white, some even having three. The petals are curiously spurred, from which they have been compared to the talons of the eagle, whence their Latin name, from aquila, an eagle. The resem- blance of its flowers to a fool's cap has given rise to its symbolism. \%\\v^. T EAVE such to trifle with more grace and ease, L Whom folly pleases, or whose follies please. —Pope. T7AME 'S but a hollow echo; gold, pure clay; Honor, the darling of but one short day ; Beauty, the eye's idol, but a damask'd skin; State, but a golden prison to live in. — Sir Henry Wotten. TTTHAT is social company But a babbling summer stream? What our wise philosophy But the glancing of a dream.' — Christopher Pearse Cranck. ZITHERS the siren sisters compass 'round, ^-' And empty heads console — with empty sound. T T IS passion for absurdity, 's so strong, ■^ He cannot bear a rival in the wrong, Tho' wrong the mode comply : more sense is shown In wearing others' follies than our own. — Yoiniff. —Pope. 'T'HE morning's blush, she made it thine. The morn's sweet breath, she gave it thee; And in thy look, my Columbine! Each fond-remember'd spot she bade me see. — 'Jones Very, T OO many giddy, foolish hours are gone. And in fantastic measures danced away. — Rowe. 'T'HEIR passions move in lower spheres. Where'er caprice or folly steers. —Swift. 'T^HUS in a sea of follies toss'd, My choicest hours of life are lost. 93 —Swift. l\ m^ "-r*-^- 0irje0|rst» (Jlcil"£Opai0 thlCtona. Natural Order: Composites — Aster Family. ANY are the varieties of this truly handsome annual, which derives its name from two Greek words, koris, a bug, and r^^ of sis, appearance. The flov/ers are about an inch or an ^^inch and a half in diameter, and in shape like a diminutive ^"Sunflower, the rays or petals being yellow, crimson, maroon •" ''and red; or yellow with one of the darker colors forming a circle at the base. They bloom profusely during the whole sum- mer. The plants are delicate in growth and are about two feet high. They are natives of all the Southern States. !|itjtp^ ai all %mt%. /"^OULD you chain the blithe waves dancing wild in their glee? ^ Could you check the glad mockbird his carol repeating, Hold the laughing leaves still that are fluttering free, Or the sungleams that o'er the green meadows are fleeting? And why is my voice attuned like a lute To the music that all things around me are feeling. If its voice in that concert alone must be mute. If I shut out the doctrine of nature's revealing? —EUzabelli F. Ellet. P OWS of liquid eyes in laughter. How they glimmer, how they quiver! Sparkling one another after, Like bright ripples on a river. Tipsy band of rubious faces. Flushed with Joy's, ethereal spirit. Make your mocks and sly grimaces At Love's self, and do not fear it. — George Darley. /^H! why delight to wrap the soul In pall of fancied sadness? 'Twere best be merry while we live, And paint our cheeks with gladness; What if hope tells a "flattering tale," And mocks us by deceiving, 'Tis better far to be content, — There's nothing made by grieving. — L. Labree. AND her against sweet cheerfulness was placed. Whose eyes like twinkling stars in evening clear Were deck't with smyles, that all sad humors chased, And darted forth delights, the which her goodly graced. 94 —Spenser. *,-?<^ -^^?i (Hortanbruin Satirum. Natural Order: Umbelliferce— Parsley Family. |ORTIONS of Southern Europe along the coast of the Medi- terranean, and the East generally, are the native seats of the ffi Coriander in a wild state; but the cultivated varieties are to be found in all countries. The seeds, for which it is grown, are very aromatic, and are used by confectioners in manufac- Jturing many of their sweets, they being passed through some «^*l process by which their exterior is covered with a coating of sugar, J each seed still retaining its individuality. The leaves of the plant are much divided; the flowers are white, grouped in umbels, and bloom in _the month of July. \%x\i. 'T'HE sweet eye-glances that like arrows glide, The charming smiles that rob sense from the heart, The lovely pleasaunce, and the lofty pride. Cannot expressed be by any art. —Spenser. H! how much more doth beauty beauteous seem TT APPEN what thei-e can, I will be just; By that sweet ornament which truth doth give! -^ -^ My fortune may forsake me, not my virtue: The rose looks fair, but fairer we it deem That shall go with me and before me still. For that sweet odor which doth in it live. And glad me doing well, though I hear ill. —Shakespeare. _ Jonson. TTERE only merit constant pay receives; Is blest in what it takes, and what it gives. 'T^HE noble mind, unconscious of a fault. No fortune's frown can bend, or smiles exalt. —Pope. T^HE fame that a man wins himself, is best; That he may call his own. —Middleton. B E thou the first, true merit to befriend; His praise is lost who waits till all commend. —Pope. TIT'ITHOUT the stamp of merit, let none presume ll lERIT like his, the fortune of the mind. w To wear undeserved dignity. —Shakespeare. iVl Beggars all wealth. - Thompson 9Z. 95 ^I^ the courteous sink, The stare for strangeness, fit for scorn the frown, For decent yielding, looks declining down; The practic'd languish where well-feign'd desire Would own its melting in a mutual fire; Gay smiles for comfort, April showers to mo\e And all the nature all the art of love. —Parnell. 'T^HERE'S danger in the dazzling eye, That woos thee with its witching smile, Another, when thou art not by. Those beaming looks would fain beguile. — Mrs. Osgood. TTOR such are the airs Of these fanciful fairs, They think all our homage a debt; I "3 Yet a partial neglect Soon takes an effect, And humbles the proudest coquette. —Byron, ■'^ C^fiV f ^tl'Opo Bdla^onna. Natural Order: Solanacece — Nightshade Family. ATE personified (not as one, but threefold) was described in ancient Greek mythology as three women with robes of ermine, as white as snow, bordered around with purple. The first is named Clotho, the second, Lachesis, and the ^ third, Atropos (literally, not turning), because she is immuta- ^t^^ble and unalterable. "To them is intrusted the manage- ment of the thread of life : for Clotho draws the thread between her fingers; Lachesis turns the wheel; and Atropos cuts the thread. That is, Clotho gives life and brings into the world, Lachesis deter- mines the fortunes that shall befal us here, and Atropos concludes our lives." The flower of this plant is of a pale purple, the berries of a glossy black, freely charged with a purple juice. The whole plant is poisonous, especially the berries. Fortunately it is not naturalized in the United States. ■pjEATH is the crown of life; Were death deny'd, poor men would live in vain; Were death deny'd, to live would not' be life; Were death deny'd, ev'n fools would wish to die. T^EATH 's but a path that must be trod, 'pHE bad man's death is horror; but the just If man would ever pass to God. ■•■ Keeps something of his glory in his dust. — Parnell. — Babbiitff ton. 'T^HE world recedes; it disappears! Heav'n opens on my eyes! my ears With sounds seraphic ring. —Pofe. T BREATHE in the face of a maiden, I kiss the soft mouth of a rose; Yet not that I hate them, but love them. My black wings are spread forth above them, And round them my pinions enclose; I love them so well that they die; Yet my heart with their sorrow is laden. And sad with their cry. —Ellis. ite jj-^f- s^ li (Eusnita cpilinuin. Natural Order: Convolvulacece — Convolvulus Family. UROPE is the native seat of the Dodders, which are of several kinds, yet so similar in nature that the description of one gives an idea of all. This plant is an inhabitant of the fields, being destitute of foliage, having a reddish orange stem of a parasitical nature — that is, having no power of provid- ing nutriment for itself, as it depends upon some neighboring plant around which it twines. The root then decays, when it receives its nourishment from the plant that supports it, by means of small projecting filaments, with which it penetrates them, absorbing their juices. This particular species grows on flax, whence its name, from the Greek e-pi, on, and linon, flax; the origin of the name Cuscuta is unknown. The flowers are a yellowish white. \Y the tears I shed were tongues, yet all too few would be, To tell of all the treachery that thou hast shown to me. — Bryant. T70R vicious natures, when they once begin To take distaste, and purpose no requital. The greater debt they owe, the more they hate. — Thomas May. 'T'HE pioudest of you all Have been beholden to him in his life: Yet none of you would once plead for his life. — Shakespeare. T COULD stand upright Against the tyranny of age and fortune ; But the sad weight of such ingratitude Will crush me into earth. —Denham. T HAVE been base; Base ev'n to him from whom I did receive All that a son could to a father give: Behold me punish'd in the self-same kind; Th' ungrateful does a more ungrateful find. —Dryden. T^ISHONOR waits on perfidy. The villain '-' Should blush to think a falsehood ; 'tis the crime Of cowards. -C. 'Johnson. QEE how he sets his countenance for deceit, ^ And promises a lie before he speaks. —Dryden. "5 ^ -^ .#^' -^m !|tin^$i^ {xu\ '^ryWWii;^, 'T'HERE still exists a rank which far transcends The stars and coronets that shine in courts : It takes no sounding name to make men stare; No blazoning heraldry proclaims its pomp; Its modfest title is, plain honesty. —AU:\- Bell. TJONOR and glory were given to cherish; Cherish them, then, though all else should decay; Landmarks be these, that are never to perish, Stars that will shine on the duskiest day. — From the Gentian. 'TPHE gentle mind by gentle deeds is known. For man by nothing is so well bewraved As by his manners, in which plain is shown Of what degree and what race he is grown. — Spenser. "pUT let not all the gold which Tagus hides, And pays the sea in tributary tides. Be bribe sufficient to corrupt thy breast. Or violate with dreams thy peaceful rest. — Dryden, ii6 (!lomtt0 flortlla. Natural Order: Cornacea — Dogwood Family. ROWING in our Northern States, and generally throughout the temperate zone, this tree is well known. Anyone living near woodlands must be familiar with its white blossoms that lie like a pall of snow over the tree. It is about twenty or twenty-five feet in height, the body being small and covered ■'■^ with a rough bark, which possesses excellent tonic properties, similar to the celebrated barks of the cinchona trees of Peru, and known as Peruvian or Jesuit's bark, as it was first introduced into medical practice by the missionaries of that society. The name is from the Latin cornu, horn, because of the hardness of its wood; z.xidi jlorida, flowery. T7ACH thought was visible that roU'd within. As through a crystal case the figured hours are seen; And heaven did this transparent veil provide Because she had no guilty thought to hide. — Dryden. Though homely be its garb, though coarse its fare. And though it live unnoticed by the crowd; Still, spite of fashion's fools, the honest man Is yet the highest noble of the land! ^'fl -T^Sa i\. tJIorallorljtja obontorljija. Natural Order: Orchidacece — Orchis Family. N old woods, from Canada to Carolina and Kentucky, this singular plant may be found. It consists in a collection of small, fleshy tubers, connecting and branching like coral, whence it is called Coral root, which is a literal translation of its Greek botanical name; while odontorhiza in the same language signifies tooth root. It has no leaves or verdant foliage, the flower stalk being fleshy, about a foot high, with a num- ber of flowers in a long spike. The color of the blossom is brownish green, with a white lip spotted with purple. It usually grows in old woodlands throughout the northern and middle States. 1 lanpr. r^ OOD I would now repay with greater good, ^ Remain within — trust to thy household gods And to my word for safety, if thou dost As I now counsel — but if not, thou art lost! — Byron. QPEAK, speak, let terror strike slaves mute, *~^ Much danger makes great hearts most resolute. — Marston, T T E that stands upon a slippery place Makes nice of no vile hold to stay him up. — Shakespeare. T HUS have I shun'd the fire for fear of burning; And drench'd me in the sea, where I am drown'd. — Shakespeare. /^UR dangers and delights are near allies; ^ From the same stem the rose and prickle rise. — Aleyn. 'T^HE absent danger greater still appears. Less fears he who is near the thing he fears. — Daniel. 'pHOU little knpw'st What he can brave, who, born and nurst In danger's paths, has dared her worst! VTOW I will unclasp a secret book, •^ ' And to your quick-conceiving discontents I'll read you matter deep and dangerous; 117 — Moore. As full of peril and advent'rous spirit, As to o'erwalk a current, roaring loud, On the unsteadfast footing of a spear! — Shake.tpeare. -fe^ ^ ■^ if I <^i^ f i^OUStCiuia Cttrulea. Natural Order: RubiacecB — Madder Family. ILLIAM HOUSTON, M.D., the friend and correspondent ^ of the botanist Miller, has received the distinction of having tthe name of this elegant little plant changed in his honor. It was formerly called Hedyotis from the Greek hedus, sweet, and ott, to the ear, from its supposed value in curing deafness. Its flowers are a pale blue with a yellowish center, and when found in large patches, as it sometimes is, it gives the ground quite a coerulean tinge^ The Dwarf Pinks are found usually in low, moist grounds by the roadsides and in the fields, blooming during most of the summer. Some of the other varieties have pink or white flowers. 'T^HE bloom of opening flowers' unsullied beauty, Softness and sweetest innocence she wears, And looks like nature in the world's first spring. T HE angels watch the good and innocent, And where they gaze it must be glorious. TTOPE may sustain, and innocence impart Her sweet specific to the fearless heai-t. —Spraffue. ly /[ ISFORTUNE may benight the wicked; she Who knows no guilt, can sink beneath no fear. — Habbington, T7AIR sunbright scene! — (Not sunny all — ah ! no) — I love to dwell. Seeking repose and rest, on that green track, Your farthest verge, along whose primrose path Danced happy childhood, hand in hand with Joy, And dove-eyed Innocence, (unwaken'd yet Their younger sister Hope), while flowers sprang up Printing the fairy footsteps as thej' passed. — Mrx. Southev. TTAPPY the innocent whose equal thoughts Are free from anguish as they are from faults. — Wallrr. T AM arm'd with innocence, INNOCENCE shall make Less penetrable than the steel-ribb'd coats False accusation blush, and tvrannv That harness round thy warriors. —Madden. Tremble at patience. —Shakespeare. Il8 ^^' 1} Sgjer^s liXje leil lll£3£ila luteola. Natural Order: Resedacece — Mignonette Family. NOWN familiarly as the Dyer's Weed, but botanically by the Latin words reseda, from its medicinal value in assuaging pain, and luteola, yellow, from the dye which it furnishes, sometimes called Dutch pink, this plant is of the same species as our ?- well-known garden favorite, the mignonette. Both are mostly native on the coast of the Mediterranean; this one, however, has become partially naturalized in the United States. It is said that its flowers follow the course of the sun, inclining east, south and l^""west by day, and north by night. Ifstgn. w HEN men's intents are wicked, their guilt haunts them, But when they are just, they're armed, and nothing daunts them. pURPOSE is but the slave to memory, Of violent birth, but poor validity; Which now like fruits unripe, stick on the tree, But fall unshaken when they mellow be. — Shakespeare. — Middleton. ACTIONS rare and sudden do commonly ^ Proceed from fierce necessity : or else From some oblique design, which is asham'd To show itself in the public road. — Sir Wm. Dave7iant. VrOU have sent so many posts Of undertakings, they outride performance ; And make me think your fair pretences aim At some intended ill, which my prevention Must strive to avert. —Nabh. HONEST designs justly resemble our devotions, TTTHEN any great design thou dost intend, ^X7^Ki.-«V* lira »-»-iiic74- -noir onH iMrotl" fi-»v fVio t-Onrai-H " " Which we must pay, and wait for the reward. — Sir Robert Howard. Think on the means, the manner and the end. — Denham. 13 RING, therefore, all the forces that you may. And lay incessant battery to her heart; Plaints, prayers, vows, ruth, and sorrow, and dismay, Tljese engines can the proudest love convert. —Spenser. 119 J^^^ ll?> JDiospgi'OB £b£Utl0. Natural Order: Ebenacece —Ebony Family. ^NE hundred and sixty species, most of which are found within the tropics, are included in this order. The Ebony is the wood of the above named," and some others which are found in Madagascar and Ceylon. Its usual colors are green, black ?and red, the black being the most valuable when free from J rind or veins, and is of a very astringent taste. It is often used in the manufacture of chess-men and toys, and is also suitable for inlaid or mosaic work. In its green or unseasoned state it readily ignites, owing to the abundance of grease it contains, and, if placed on burning coals, yields an agreeable perfume. Sir Samuel W. Baker, • in his "Eight Years in Ceylon," says: "The Ebony grows in great perfection and large quantity. The tree is at once distinguished from the surrounding stems by its smaller diameter and its sooty trunk. The bark is crisp, jet-black, and has the appearance of being charred. Beneath the bark the wood is perfectly white until the heart is reached, which is the fine black ebony of commerce." lij^l. QLEEP chains the earth, the bright stars glide on high, *^ Filling with one eifulgent smile the sky; And all is hush'd so still, so silent there, That one might hear an angel wing the air. — Mrs, Lewis, fe. /~JH, Night! most beautiful, most rare! ^ Thou giv'st the heavens their holiest hue! And through the azure fields of air Bring'st down the golden dew! For thou, with breathless lips apart, Didst stand in that dim age afar. And hold upon thy trembling heart Messiah's herald star! —7". B, Read, I30 VTIGHT is the time when nature seems God's silent worshiper, And ever with a chastened heart In unison with her. I lay me on my peaceful couch, The day's dull cares- resigned. And let my heart fold up like flowers In the twilight of the mind. — Sarah J. Clark. M -Sffi %%V^niint. .lHosa rubigmaaa. Natural Order: Rosacea — Rose Family. USTY ROSE is the literal meaning of the Latin botanical name of this shrubby plant, the epithet rusty being applied because of the parasitic fungus that attaches to it. Familiarly known as the Sweetbrier, or Eglantine, it is one of our sweetest native roses, so simple and unpretending that it has a home in the hearts of all lovers of plants. A golden Eglantine, a violet and marigold constituted the three prizes at the Floral Games of Tou- louse, the most ancient in Europe, which still survive, with the addition of four other prizes, after the lapse of more than four hundred years. Planted beneath our windows and around our doors, it freights the atmosphere with its odor, and gratifies the eye with its delicate blos- soms. There are many varieties cultivated, some of which are double. Its stem is armed with stout thorns, and the color of the berry when ripe is orange red. lom^. TJOME is the sphere of harmony and peace, The spot where angels find a resting place, When, bearing blessings, they descend to earth. — Mrs. Hale, rOME is the resort "T^IS sweet to hear the watchdog's honest bark TJ^ •'■ Bay deep-mouth'd welcome as we draw near home; ■'^ * Of love, of joy, of peace and plenty, where. 'Tis sweet to know there is an eye will mark Our coming, and look brighter when we come. — Byron. Supporting and supported, polish'd friends And dear relations mingle into bliss. — Thompson. T LOVE that dear old home! my mother lived there '■ Her first sweet married years, and last sad widow'd ones. The sunlight there seems to me brighter far Than wheresoever else. I know the forms Of every tree and mountain, hill and deil ; Its waters gurgle like a tongue I know; — It is my home. —Mrs. Frances K. Butler. 121 ^1 r ^rtH SambutUS Caimknsia Natural Order: CafrifoliacecB — Honeysuckle Family.. AMED botanically Sambucus, this shrub is known in Denmark as the Hylde, and in England and America as the Elder. Its scientific name is closely related to sambuca, a musical instru- ment of the Romans made from the wood of the Elder, trian- gular in shape, and crossed with strings, the music of which was held in little esteem, as its tones were- sharp and shrill in quality. It is found in thickets in the United States and Canada, growing about old stumps and fence corners. The flowers are small and of a creamy white, bloom in large clusters as broad as a plate, and have a heavy, sweetish odor, though not disagreeable. The ber- ries are round and of a dark purple color, and full of juice ; they are used for pies, preserves, and also canned for winter use. U} fe \t^ L TN duty prompt at ev'ry call, He watch'd and wept, he prayed and felt, for all; And as a bird each fond endearment tries To tempt its new-fledged offspring to the skies, He tried each art, reproved each dull delay, Allured to brighter worlds, and led the way. pRESS bravely onward! not in vain Your generous trust in human kind ; The good which bloodshed could not gain Your peaceful zeal shall find. — Whittier. — Goldsmith. "ITIHERE zeal holds on its even course, Blind rage and bigotry retire ; Knowledge assists, not checks, its force. And prudence guides, not damps, its fire. —J. Weslty. Q PRE AD out earth's holiest records here, Of days and deeds to reverence dear; A zeal like this what pious legends tell.' — Spraffue. N such a theme 'twere impious to be calm, Passion is reason, transport, temper, here. -Young. '7EAL and duty are not slow. But on occasion's forelock watchful wait. —Milton. 122 §K -^^^S J 'cm 0^1' (SxXtCea Cotettana. Natural Order: Onagracece — Evening Primrose Family. UTETIA of the Parisians is the name by which the city of ^ Paris was known to Julius Csesar, and Lutetiana is therefore '^^^ equivalent to Parisian. Circe was, according to heathen my- :^thology, the wife of the king of the Sarmatians, whom she poisoned, and for which she was banished by her subjects. She fled to Italy, and fell in love with Glaucus, a sea-god, who was in love with Scylla. Circe poisoned the water in which Scylla bathed, and thus turned her into a sea-monster. The two words constitute the botanical name of this plant, which is found in our own country from Carolina to Illinois. It grows in damp, shady places. Its flowers are rose color, and small; its fruit is inversely heart-shaped, having conspicuous hooks. T F you can look into the seeds of time, And say which grain -will grow and which will not, Speak then to me, who neither beg nor fear Your favors, nor your hates. —Shakespeare. "T^IS thine to sing, how, framing hideous spells In Sky's lone isle, the gifted wizard seer, Lodg'd in the wintry cave with fate's fell spear. Or in the depths of Uist's dark forest dwells; How they, whose sight such dreary dreams engross. With their own vision oft astonish'd droop; When, o'er the watery strath or quaggy moss. They see the gliding ghosts unbodied troop. Or, if in sports, or on the festive green. Their destin'd glance some fated youth descry, Who now, perhaps, in lusty vigor seen, And rosy health, shall soon lamented die — For them the viewless forms of air obey ; Their bidding heed, and at their beck repair. They know what spirit brews the stormful day, And heartless, oft like moody madness, stare To see the phantom train their secret works repair. —Collins. piTY me! I am she whom man Hath hated since ever the world began ; I soothe his brain in the night of pain. But at morning he waketh — and all is vain. — Barry Cornwall, I3'3 .4 rscT' ~^^ik ^ m €i£l)Orium £n^ix)a. Natural Order: Comfosita — Aster Family. ^■^CATTERED widely throughout Europe and America, though a native of the East Indies, the Endive is of the same genus as the Chicory, already described on page 82. Its name in the 1' vernacular is a formation from the Latin name intybus. It is an , annual of a hardy nature, and is often cultivated for and forms -■{r an excellent salad, but is more used abroad than in America. It is of value in medicine, possessing cooling and anti-scorbutic prop- erties, and French physicians use it as a remedy for jaundice. The leaves are a dark green and much curled. I^httin^. DETTER to hunt in fields for health unbought, Than fee the doctor for a nauseous draught, The wise for cure on exercise depend, God never made His work for man to mend. — Dry den. "ITIE own that numbers join with care and skill, A temperate judgment, a devoted will; Men who suppress their feelings, but who feel The ]painful symptoms they delight to heal; Patient in all their trials, they sustain The starts of passion, the reproach of pain ; With hearts affected, but with looks serene, Intent they wait through all the solemn scene. Glad if a hope should rise from nature's strife To aid their skill and save a lingering life. — Crabbe. "ITTHEN nature cannot work, the effect of art is void, For physic can but mend our crazy state. Patch an old building, not a new create. — Dry den. TTE intent on somewhat that may ease Unhealthy mortals, and with curious search Examines all the properties of herbs. —John Philips. 'T'HE ingredients of health and long life are Great temperance, open air, Easy labor, little care. —Sir Philip Sidney. Jtf! fe. MICKLE is the powerful grace that lies In plants, herbs, stones, and their true qualities. — Shakespeare. 124 ^ 5^^" ..£1:=^- OST/ SeilUltt aCXL Natural Order: Crassulacece — Orpine Family. LANTS of this genus grow in very thin soil, sometimes in the crevices of bare rocks, and, as the Latin name indicates, would seem to be sitting there. The English Moss, which ^ is so often called Wall Pepper, is frequently cultivated as a border for flower beds, and as an ornament to old walls, the surface of which it soon covers, as it spreads rapidly L'.-'land requires so little for sustenance. The whole plant contains an acrid juice. The flowers are yellow. W THE He Serene, And HEN the whole host of hatred stood hard by, To watch and mock thee shrinking, thou hast smiled Witli a sedate and all-enduring eye ; When fortune tied her spoiled and fa\orite child. He stood unbowed beneath the ills upon him piled. — Byron. star of the unconquered will, O fear not in a world like this, rises in my breast. And thou shalt know ere long- and resolute, and still. Know how sublime a thing it i^. calm, and self-possessed. To suffer and be strong. "Loitgfelloiv. T^RUE fortitude is seen in great exploits '^ That justice warrants, and that wisdom guides; All else is towering phrensy and distraction. — Addison, GIRD your hearts with silent fortitude, Suffering yet hoping all things. — Mrs. Hemaus. ■pORGETFUL of ourselves, * Giving but little heed To the confusing strife. The winding ways of life. Yet careful of its anxious cry of need. T N war was never lion's rage so fierce ; In peace, was never gentle lamb more mild. — Shakespeare. Thus we may meet the storm, Still brave, and true, and strong; And, like a golden chain. Some lives may take the gain. Some hearts be gladdened by our simple song. — Tamar Atme Kei'mode. A l^ ""^1 ^n /~\H, breath of public praise, •^^ Short-lived and vain! oft gain'd without desert, As often lost unmerited. —Harvard. — Howel. rv PINION, the blind goddess of fools, foe ^^ To the virtuous, and only friend to Undeserving persons. - Chapman. H E lov'd his kind, but sought the love of few; And valued old opinions more than new. — Park Benjamin. VTET in opinions look not always back; Your wake is nothing, mind the coming track. — O. W. Holmes. T ET not opinion make thy judgment err; The evening conquest crowns the conqueror — Lady Alimony. /^PINION governs all mankind, ^^ Like the blind's leading of the blind. —Butler. m C\tiy he sits on high in all the people's hearts; And that which would appear offense in us. His countenance, like richest alchemy, Will change to virtue and to worthiness. — Sliake.'ipeare. 126 1 ^SCClllonia rubva. Natural Order: Saxifragacece — Saxifrage Family. UITE an acquisition to the flora of our Southern States will be made whenever these plants shall become naturalized there. They are native of South America, and are con- fined exclusively to mountainous regions. In cold climates all the Escallonias (of which there are about seven genera >• and sixty species) are confined entirely to the greenhouse or con- servatory, but where the temperature is warm or comparatively mild they survive the winter in open air. They are shrubby in growth; the leaves are evergreen, appearing alternately on each side of the branches; the blossoms are scarlet, white or pink, and are delicate and waxy in texture. The plants require a light and friable soil, and are said to bloom and thrive best when planted in the ground in the conservatory. intun* /^PINION is that high and mighty dame ^^ Which rules the world; and in the mind doth frame Distaste or liking; for, in human race. She makes the fancy various as the face. <^ .VA^^-eJ-ST" m r^sT- ?^=S^ c^ic (^f X£rantl)£mum annuum. Natural Order: Comfositce— Aster Family. NUSUAL favor marks the progress of this class of plants, which is steadily advancing in the estimation of flower fan- ciers; for where a few years ago we had only the Gom- phrena, we now have a dozen different kinds, all interesting, and most excellent for winter bouquets on account of their ■^imperishable flowers. They are noticeable, when the flower is expanded, for the lack of moisture in their petals, being crisp under the fingers, whence their botanical name, signifying, in Greek, a dry flower. They usually bloom solitary, or one on a stem. The colors of the various kinds are rose, white, purple, yellow, and red, each kind of plant having a variety of colors. Most any seedsman would gladly furnish their names, and the cultivator would experience a new sensa- tion in seeing them bloom. For winter use they should be cut when most perfect, and dried in the shade. "yiS the Divinity that stirs within us, 'Tis Heav'n itself that points out an hereafter, And intimates eternity to man. -Addison. 'T'HE dream, which tells me life is short, Foretells its endless day ; The mind, which wakes one thought of heaven, May never know decay. I love those dreams which link to heaven The soul with friendly ties; BSisL. Though sin makes dark the vale of tears, These brighten distant skies. Oh ! when the spirit, freed from clav, Its wings impatient furls, How will it soar in haste awav, To live in mystic worlds! — W. R. Motltgomery, 'T'HE eternal life beyond the sky, Wealth cannot purchase, nor the high And proud estate; The soul in dalliance laid — the spirit Corrupt with sin — shall not inherit A joy so great. —From the Spanish. 127 5^^ RS^ m atorium tkgans. Natural Order: Compost'ice — Aster Family. ERY few of these plants are under cultivation, and though the species is quite numerous, they are with few exceptions entirely unattractive. The Eupatorium elegans is admitted to the greenhouse for its fragrant flowers, which are white; the Eupatorium aromaticum, also admired for its odor, has flowers of the same color, which bloom in the fall. The boneset and hoarhound belong to this same family, and, though useful, are homely herbs. They are said to have been named for Mithridates the Great (also called Eupator, that is, of a noble father, or well f born), king of Pontus, who brought about a war with the Romans, and when conquered by Pompey, and conspired against by his own son, Pharnaces, rather than be taken prisoner by the Romans, com- mitted suicide by taking poison, b. c. 63. H, my good lord, that comfort comes too late; Tis like a pardon after execution. —Shakespeare. 'TpHINK not tomorrow still shall be your care; Alas! tomorrow like today will fare. Reflect that yesterday 's tomorrow's o'er, — Thus one "tomorrow," one "tomorrow" more, Have seen long years before them fade away, And still appear no nearer than today. —Gifford. "^TOUR gift is princely, but And falls, like sunbeams, ^MISSION to do what is necessary ^ Seals a commission to a blank of danger; And danger, like an ague, subtly taints Even then when we sit idly in the sun. —Shakespeare, TTOIST up sail while gale doth last, Tide and wind stay no man's pleasure ; Seek not time when time is past, Sober speed is wisdom's leisure. After-wits are dearly bought, Let thy fore-wit guide thy thought. — Robert Southwell. it comes too late, on a blasted blossom. — Sitchling. TTE came too late! Neglect had tried Her constancy too long ; Her love had yielded to her pride, And the deep sense of wrong. —Elhaheth Bogart, & ffl 128 ^ [iputt|. QOME did all folly with just sharpness blame, ^ While others laughed, and scorned them into shame; But, of these two, the last succeeded best, As men aim Tightest when they shoot in jest. — Dry den. ■p^EAR heart, for whom I wait from year to year, Counting as beads each slowly-lagging day. What joy detains thee? In what distant sphere Art thou content to keep so long away? — 'Joel Benton. O EPROVE not in his wrath incensed man, Good counsel comes clean out of season then ; But when his fury is appeas'd and pass'd. He will conceive his fault and mend at la-.t. . — liajidnlph. T70RBEAR sharp speeches to her. She 's a lady So tender of rebukes that words are strokes. And strokes death to her. —Shakespeare. Prithee forgive me; I did but chide in jest; the best loves use it Sometimes: it sets an edge upon affection. y—Middleton. How dare you let your voice Talk out of tune so with the voice of God In earth and sky? —Mrs. Osgood. 129 ^^ ®Upl)Orbia apknkns. Natural Order: E up horbiacece— Spurge Family. HIS is a class of plants that are widely dispersed. Many "of them are entirely wanting in beauty or any other quality to recommend them to notice, particularly those found in the temperate regions of North America. The few admitted within the precincts of the conservatory, greenhouse or dwell- /; ing are from the tropics, chiefly from South America. The above variety much resembles some of the Cacti; the stem is thick, fleshy and branching, and fortified with strong, sharp thorns. The leaves are few and oval; the flowers small, but of a brilliant scarlet. It is a native of Madagascar, and is only grown as a greenhouse or parlor plant, where it can have heat in winter. According to Pliny, it was named by Juba II., the king of Mauretania, in honor of his physician, Euphorbus. ^1 -<-¥ }\ 1-f—'^_- "m^ ®UtOCa Dtscfttt. Natural Order: HydrofhyllacecB — Waterleaf Family California is the native seat of this charming little annual, which has proved quite attractive and desirable for the various shades of the blue flowers, which retain their freshness well when severed from the plant for bouquets. There is some diversity in their habit, some being erect or almost so, and others are represented in botanical works as nearly procum- The flowers are tubular bell-shaped, about an inch long, blooming in racemes. There are a few novelties in this genus with different colored flowers, some of which are biennials. They bloom freely, but require a light soil. AND his gift, though poor and lowly it ma}' seem to other eyes, Yet may prove an angel holy, in a pilgrim's guise. —Whittier. A CCEPT of this ; and could I add beside What wealth the rich. Peruvian mountains hide ; If all the gems in eastern rocks were mine, On thee alone their glittering pride should shine. — LyttletOH. T FORM'D for thee a small bouquet, A keepsake near thy heart to lay, Because 'tis there, I know full well That charity and kindness dwell. -Miss Gould. QHE prizes not such trifles as these are: ^ The gifts she looks from me are pack'd and lock'd Up in my heart, which I have given already. But not delivered. T GAVE the jewel from my breast, She played with it a little while As I sailed down into the west. Fed by her smile: — Shakespeare. Then weary of it — far from land. With sigh as deep as destiny, She let it drop from her fair hand Into the sea. —Jean Ingelaw. TinN her with gifts, if she respects not words; Dumb jewels often, in their silent kind, More quick than words do move a woman's mind. ^Slittkespeaye. 130 -S? ffia? m (£lXpi)OVbxa l)2pericifoUa. Natural Order: Eufhorbiacece — Spurge Family. YEBRIGHT is a simple little plant found in dry soils in the United States. It is an annual, about a foot and a half high, ^with smooth, purple stem, and leaves marked with oblong blotches. The blossoms are white, appearing in clusters dur- ijing the summer. A medicine prepared from it was formerly used for diseases of the eye. There is also another plant S^ called Eyebright, a native of the White Mountains, with bluish-white flowers appearing in spikes. Its classic name is Euphrasia, meaning cheerfulness, in Greek, from the same root as Euphrosyne, one of the three graces. Your J^«$ m\ JiimHt|in5» AND then her look — -O, where s the heart so wise, Could, unbewilder'd, meet those matchless eves? Quick, restless, strange, but exquisite withal, Like those of angels. —Moore. QOME praise the eves they love to see, ^ As rivaling the western star; But eyes I know well worth to me A thousand firmaments afar. — '^ohn Stirling . 'T'HOSE laughing orbs that borrow From azure skies the light they wear, Are like heaven — no sorrow Can float o'er hues so fair. — Mrs, Osgood, w ["INE things to sight required are: The power to see, tho light, the visible thing. Being not too small, too thin, too nigh, too far. Clear space and time, the form distinct to bring. —Sir y, Davies, T NEVER saw an eye so bright. And sometimes swam in tears; And yet so soft as hers; It seem'd a beauty set apart It sometimes swam in liquid light, For softness and for sighs. -Mrs, WeWv. LI- 'II. ITER eyes, in heaven. Would through the airy region stream so bright That birds would sing, and think it were not night — Sfiake-ipeare, II m •~*JK3- if 1 2lnetl)Um grat)£0kns. Natural Order: Umbelliferce — Parsley Family. 'ENNEL, also called Dill, is found in country gardens along with coriander, anise and caraway, all of which produce seeds 'valuable for their pungent and aromatic flavor. The Fennel grows abundantly along the chalk cliffs of England in a wild iK'^ and uncultivated state. Another species is cultivated to a ■^oo great extent in Italy. It is also found wild in the United States, and once introduced it propagates itself for years. The leaves I are much divided, and spread out like a fine, thready plume. The flowers are small and yellow, blooming in umbels like the parsnip. ^Its botanical name is from the Greek anethon, through the Latin anethum, both signifying Dill or anise; and graveolens (Latin), heavy- smelling. Fennel is irova. foeniculmn, Latin diminutive oi foenum, hay; the etymology of Dill seems lost; the Anglo-Saxon, German and Danish have the word substantially in the same form, but of what significance is not known. urf^^ aH J'ritb^, 'yO sing thy praise, would heav'n my breatti prolong, Infusing spirits worthy such a song. Not Thracian Orpheus should transcend my lays. —Dryden. T TE gave you all the duties of a man; Trim'd up your praises with a princely tongue, Spoke your deservings like a chronicle; Making you even better than his praise. — Shakespeare. ■pOR praise too dearly loved, or warmly sought. Enfeebles all internal strength of thought; And the weak soul, within itself unblest. Leans for all pleasure on another's breast. — Goldsmith, FN praise so just let ev'ry voice be join'd, And fill the general chorus of mankind! —Pope. VTATURE did her so much right As she scorns the help of art; In as many virtues dight 132 As e'er yet embraced a heart. So much good so truly tried. Some for less were deified. — William Browne. sP^' CSl 1 1 ^igella CDamaarmO. Natural Order: Ranunculacece — Crowfoot Family. NATIVE of the south of Europe and the Levant, deriving its distinctive epithet from the world-renowned and ancient Damascus, this curious annual is grown as an ornamental flower in gardens and borders of walks. It is called NigeUa rflj from its black seeds, and has a variety of popular names — Love-in-a-mist, Devil-in-a-bush, and Ragged Lady. The blossoms of the different kinds are purple, blue, and white. They bloom single or solitary, and are encircled with fine, feather-cleft leaves, like the foliage on other parts of the plant, which much resembles the aromatic garden fennel. 11 THAT 's the bent brow, or neck in thought reclin'd? The body's wisdom to conceal the mind. A man of sense can artifice disdain, As men of wealth may venture to go plain. —Toung. "VrOU talk to me in parables; You may have known that I'm no wordy man; /"VTHERS by guilty artifice and arts Of promised kindness practice on our hearts; Fine speeches are the instruments of knaves. With expectation blow the passion up; Or fools, that use them when they want good sense. She fans the fire without one gale of hope. — Otviay. Granville. SERPENT heart, hid with a flowering face! Did ever dragon keep so fair a cave.? —Shakesfeare. pATIENCE! I yet may pierce the rind Wherewith are shrewdly girded round The subtle secrets of his mind. A dark, unwholesome core is bound. Perchance, within it. Sir, you see, Men are not what they seem to be. — Paul H. Hayne. T .fe^TS- 'HEN quit her, my friend! Your bosom defend. Ere quite with her snares you're beset. — Byron. ..1^^ )\ sg^ Wtv \n%< ^ntigramina rl}i50pt)Dlla. Natural Ordek: Fllices — Fern Family. 'HAT is more beautiful than the gracefully sweeping Fern, -that clothes the ragged, rocky clifts, hanging like so many > plumes from every crevice, to catch the moisture of the L^ timid spring that slips out to trickle over the green moss and hide in its bosom? Oh, marvelous is nature in her sim- plest simplicity! The Walking Fern is one of the rare ones, to be found in rocky woods. The frond or leaf is about six or seven &" inches in length, and its peculiarity consists in bending the long, slender tip backward until it reaches the ground, when it takes root, from which a plant arises the following year. The botanical names were probably given it because of its peculiarities, and denote, in Greek, root-leaved counterpart or transcript. T HE enquiring spirit will not be controll'd; We would make certain all, and all behold. — Spraffite^ T HE skies in the darkness stoop nearer and nearer, QEARCHING those edges of the universe, A cluster of stars hangs like fruit in the tree, We leave the central fields a fallow part; The fall of the water comes sweeter comes clearer; To feed the eye more precious things amerce. To what art thou list'ning, and what dost thoii see.' And starve the darkened heart. Let the star-clusters glow, — >ra« nge ow. Let the sweet waters flow, 'T'HRO' the buzzing crowd he threads his way. And cross quickly to me. -'Jean Inffelow. To catch the flying rumors of the day. — Sprafrite, pURIOSITY! who hath not felt ^-' Its spirit, and before its altar knelt.' /"'ONCEAL yerseP as weel's ye can Fra' critical dissection ; But keek thro' every other man With lengthen'd, sly inspection. — Burns. — SpraffUf, 'TJUT love is such a mystery, I cannot find it out; For when I think I'm best resolved. Then I am most in doubt. — Sir John Suckling. 134 :^ JS' kB <^l iHatrimrta partljEnium. Natural Order: Comfosita— Aster Family. i YRETHRUM (hot, or spicy, from the Greek fur, fire) was formerly the botanical name of this plant, but the classifica- tion of Tournefort has recently been given precedence, and it ' is now called Matricaria, from its supposed value in certain forms of disease. The English name, identical in meaning ^^^with febrifuge, or fever-dispelling, from its medicinal proper- 4ties, is familiar to all. It is a very desirable plant for the garden, continuing in bloom the entire season. The double variety is as full of petals as a daisy, and is most excellent where many cut flowers are desired. It is in great favor among florists, as the white blossoms retain their freshness for a considerable time, even though out of water. There are varieties with red flowers mentioned, but they are not as frequent in cultivation. istt^futtt \ "lirOULD'ST thou from sorrow find a sweet relief, Or is thy heart oppress'd with woe untold ; Balm would'st thou gather for corroding grief, Pour blessings round thee like a shower of gold. IITITH a look of sad content Her mite withirt the treasure-heap she cast; Then, timidly as bashful twilight, stole From out the temple. But her lowly gift — Carlos Wilcox. Was witnessed by an eye whose mercv views In motive all that consecrates a deed To goodness; so He blessed the widow's mite More than the gifts abounding wealth bestowed. — Montgomery. T HE charities that soothe, and heal, and bless, Are scattered at the feet of man like flowers. — Wordsworth. qTHINK not the good. The gentle deeds of mercy thou hast done. Shall die forgotten all ; the poor, the pris'ner, The fatherless, the friendless and the widow, Who daily own the bounty of thy hand. Shall cry to heaven, and pull a blessing on thee. —Rovje. 135 -fe^ i\ r ^ ^ ^» <^l ^ !Digttalt0 purpurea. Natural Order: Scrofhulariacece—Fig'wort Family. 'fl ITERALLY, the purple finger-flower, this plant is of easy- culture, and well adapted for the borders of walks and beds. The blossoms, which grow in a long spike, are many, and 3 thimble-shaped, with dots of a color differing frorii the flower in the interior. The whole plant is a violent and dangerous poison when taken internally in any considerable quantity, producing delirium, convulsions and death. It becomes a valuable medicine in the hands of a skillful physician. It thrives best in par- tially shaded locations. There are a number of varieties, the flowers being white, purple, carmine, brown, and yellow. liHrijtm. THIS poor brain! ten thousand shapes of furv Are whirling there, and reason is no more. — Fieldm^. TTE raves, his words are loose As heaps of sand, and scattering wide from sense ; So high he 's mounted on his airy throne, That now the wind has got into his head. And turns his brains to phrenzy. —Dryden. H IS brain is wrecked - For ever in the pauses of his speech His lip doth work with inward mutterings, And his fixed eye is riveted fearfully On something that no other sight can spy. AM not mad; too well, too well I feel The diiferent plague of each calamity. T AM not mad; I would to heaven I were! For then 'tis like I should forget myself; O, if I could, what grief should I forget! — Shakespeare. — Shakespeare. 'T^HIS wretched brain gave way, And I became a wreck, at random driven. Without one glimpse of reason or of heaven. — Moore. TF a phrenzy do possess the brain. It so disturbs and blots the form of things. As fantasy proves altogether vain. And to the wit no true relation brings. — Sir 'John Davis. 140 ..^ t^i=r- ^^r-* iTritillarta malmgrtS. Natural Order: Liliacece—Lily Family. OT inappropriately named, from the 'Latin Jrzh'l/us, a dice-box, ^as the flower is more nearly of that shape than in the other lilies, this plant is a sister to the crown imperial, already de- scribed, both blooming in the month of May. The flower is large, nodding, and beautifully checked with pale-red, purple or yellow spots, from which circumstance the name has sometimes been interpreted "chessboard." It is indigenous throughout Europe. It is usually solitary in bloom. In Spain it is called Checkered Lily, and in other places Guinea-Hen-Flower. T HAVE learn'd to endure, I have hugg'd my despair; I scourge back the madness that else would invade; On my brain falls the drop after drop, yet I bear, Lest thou should'st discover the wreck thou hast made. —Mrs. E. Oakes Smith. 'T^HIS you have practiced. Practiced on us with rigor, this hath forced us To shake our heavy yokes off; and, if redress Of these just grievances be not granted us. We '11 right ourselves, and by strong hand defend What we are now possessed of. — Massviger. T)UT what avail her unexhausted stores, '^ Her bloomy mountains and her sunny shores, With all the gifts that heaven and earth impart, The smiles of nature, and the charms of art, While proud oppression in her valleys reigns. And tyranny usurps her happy plains.' — Addison. 'T'HEY lived unknown And history, so warm on meaner themes. Till persecution dragged them into fame, Is cold on this. She execrates, indeed. And chased them up to heaven. Their ashes ilew, The tyranny that doomed them to the fire. No marble tells us whither. With their names But gives the glorious suff'rers little praise. No bard embalms and sanctifies his song; —Cowper. TVIEITHER bended knees, pure hands held up. Sad sighs, deep groans, nor silver-shedding tears, Could penetrate her uncompassionate sire. —Shakespeare. 141 r (mm Svil\)SlCL tOCCilUa. Natural Order: Onagracece — Evening Primrose Family. ^ELICATE and beautiful for a house plant is the Scarlet Fuchsia, a native of South America; and the story of its general introduction into England is somewhat singular and ^not without a touch of romance. A gentleman, while travel- ling, passed through some town not far from the great metropolis, and there saw a plant with hanging bells, like ear-drops, which attracted his attention. Upon his arrival in London, he informed an eminent gardener of what he had seen, eulogizing the beautiful and graceful arrangement of its flowers. The gardener went immediately to the place designated, but the poor cottager declared that she could not part with it, as her "good man, who was at sea, had brought it -as a present the last time he was at home, and she did not know if she should ever see him again." He however finally possessed himself of it by offering her a large sum, and promising her the first slip. He brought it home, .divided and subdivided it, soon having a large number of plants, for which he obtained a rapid sale. ITER laugh, full of life, without any control, But the sweet one of gracefulness, rung from her soul ; And where it most sparkled no glance could discover. In lip, cheek, or eyes, for she brightened all over. ~.\roorc. 'T'HE light of love, the purity of grace, The mind, the music, breathing from her face. pRACE was in all he: ^^ In ev'ry gesture dii -Byron. er steps, heav'n in her eye, ry gesture dignity and love! —Milton. \ LOVELIER nymph the pencil never drew, For the fond Graces form'd her easy mien, And heaven's soft azure in her eye was seen. —Hayley. ITER ivory-polish'd front with seemly cheer. Graced at the bottom with a double bow. Where all the Graces in their throne appear. Where love and awful majesty do grow. %>^ Expends itself, and shows a field more clear Than candid lilies or the virgin snow; Her eyes, like suns, shoot rays more sharp than darts, Which wound all flinty, love-despising hearts. — Porda^e. 142 ^ ®mtiana ataalia. Natural Order: Gentianacece— Gentian Family. ENTIAN is a plant of excellent tonic and febrifuge properties, which are said to have been first discovered by Gentius, king of ancient Illyria, in whose honor it was named. It is found abundantly in the Western States, where the land lies low and is more or less moist, which soil seems most congenial to its ■■"^ growth. It is not unusual to find acres of land dotted freely with its blue blossoms, particularly in openings in the woods. Besides our native plants, we have other specimens from Wales, Australia, and the Alps. The two from the first-named countries have blue flowers, the latter yellow ones. The more dwarf varieties are the best adapted for rock culture. ■piRM. and resolved by sterling worth to gain r Love and respect, thou shalt not strive in vain. — Sir S. E. Brydffes. r\ HOW thy worth with manners may I sing, ^^ When thou art all the better part of me? What can mine own praise to mine own self bring? And what is 't but mine own, when I praise thee? — Shakespeare. ALL that is best of beauty is its doWer, All that is pure in piety its bequest, The subtle spring of truth, the soul of power, It gives our dreams their scope, our life its zest. — Isidore G. Ascher. KNOW transplanted human worth Will bloom to profit otherwhere. — Tennyson. 'pHERE is a joy in worth, A high, mysterious, soul-pervading charm. Which, never daunted, ever bright and warm. Mocks at the idle, shadowy ills of earth, "T^IS what the heart adores, where'er the eye Doth rest, on ocean, earth, or in the sky ; For love ne'er worships willingly a blot. But looks for what is pure, for what is fair, Amid the gloom is bright, and tranquil in the storm. For what is good, as heaven and angels are. —Robert T. Conrad.. —Sal lie A. Brock. ■pEAUTIES that from worth arise. Are like the grace of deities, Still present with us, though unsighted. — Sir y. SitcMi/tff. H3 I s ?fK^^ (©cranium OOnguineUltt. Natural Order: Geraniaceoe — Geranium Family. \ ^Y are the varieties of this beautiful plant, most of which ■e nurtured in the window or greenhouse, either for their Ijir * beauty of blossom or the delightful fragrance of their leaves. Some of them are from the Cape of Good Hope, but this beautiful species, with its blood-red flowers, t* is a native of Europe. It is well adapted to make a bril- liant show in the garden in summer, being again removed to the house in the fall. The name is derived from geranos, a Greek word meaning crane, the seeds having a long spur (supposed to resemble a crane's bill), which in planting should be cut off' with the scissors, as it tends to push the seeds out of the ground before sprouting. IttttBitsnt^. THRUST in thee? Aye, dearest, there's no one but must. Unless truth be a fable in such as thee trust; For who can see heaven's own hue in those eyes, And doubt that truth with it came down from the skies? While each thought of thy bosom, like morning's young light. Almost ere 'tis born, flashes there on his sight. /^UT of the depths of the starlit distance [up, ^-^ A pale gleam shows where the moon comes And here in the dregs of this strange existence May lurk the sweetness that crowns the cup. — C. F. Hoffman. And faith and hope and the spirit's patience Strengthen the heart and lighten the eyes. Ah, soul! my soul! there is hope for the nations, And God is holy and just and wise. — Barton Grev. T TRUST in thee, and know in whom I trust; Or life or death is equal; neither weighs: All weight is this; O let me live to thee! —rming. T T AVE I not brought thee roses fresh with youth. And snow-white lilies, pale with pure desire ? Beheld in thee my inmost dream of Truth, And felt no beauty thou didst not inspire? —Joel Benton. /^H! emblem of that steadfast mind ^^ Which, through the varying scenes of life. By genuine piety refined. Holds on its way 'midst noise and strife! 144 ''t "^'. ©labiolUB COmm«ni0. Natural Order: Iridacece—Iris Family. ;F recent introduction into general cultivation in the United States, the Gladiolus has more than answered all anticipations, and too much praise cannot be elicited in its behalf. It has a bulbous root, round and flattened Hke an onion, though less perfect in shape; the leaves are long and pointed, and shaped like a small sword {gladiolus), from which it takes its name. The flower stalk rises about two feet. The flowers are large and handsome, arranged around the stem for nearly half its length, the lower ones blooming first. The colors are brilliant in the highest degree, and the variety of hues and shades is almost numberless. The new colors are derived from seedlings. "T^IS ours bj craft and by surprise to gain; 'Tis yours to meet in arms, and battle in the plain. — Prior. T'LL ride in golden armor like the sun, And in my helm a triple plume shall spring, Spangled with diamonds dancing in the air. To note me emperor of the threefold world. —Mario. QWORD, on my left side gleaming, "^ What means thy bright eye's beaming.' It makes my spirit dance To see thy friendly glance. — From the German of Korner, A GENERAL sets his army in array In vain, unless he fight and win the day. — Sir J. Ventiam. IMPETUOUS, active, fierce, and young. Upon the advancing foes he sprung. Woe to the wretch at whom is bent His brandish'd falchion's sheer descent. — Scott. I'LL do the best that do I may, While I have power to stand; While I have power to wield my sword, I'll fight with heart and hand. — Anonymotis. m %u K In that day's feats He proved the best man i' th' field; and for his mead Was brow-bound with oak. —Shakespeare. asi (i[roUitt0 ($UropCEtt0. Natural Order: RanunculacecB—Crcywfoot Family. ERE and there in swamps throughout the north and west, the Trollius laxus, or wild Globe Flower, may be found, but the varieties in cultivation are from abroad, Europe and Asia each furnishing its quota. They can be grown from seeds, ^^as well as by division of the roots. They are ornamental i" plants, handsome in growth, with flowers varying through ?^ the different shades of yellow. The Japan Globe Flower belongs to another class of plants, and is of shrubby growth, usually six or seven feet high. The flowers appear in small clusters near the ends of the Sc) branches, being also yellow in color. TV TOT nobler are the hearts that work than hearts that only dream; For real, as the things that are, are all the things that seem. The waters gleam among the hills, the mirage on the sands. And yet alike both image forth the selfsame Maker's hands. — L. Bruce Moore. T7ANCY high commissioned; send her! She has vassels to attend her; She will bring in spite of frost. Beauties that the earth hath lost; She will bring thee, all together, All delights of summer weather. — John Keats, 'T'ELL me where is fancy bred; Or in the heart or in the head.' How begot, how nourished.'' It is engendered in the eyes. With gazing fed; and fancy dies In the cradle where it lies. — Shakespeare. ■pANCY is a fairy, that can hear. Ever, the melody of nature's voice. And see all lovely visions that she will. — Mrs, Osgood, A SILVERY haze hangs o'er the earth. And through its gauzy sheen We look in vain for summer's garb. Or spring-tide's dewy green; Bright, gorgeous tints, like Tyrian dies, Gleam on the ravished sight; I fancy an enchanted realm Revealed in mystic light. —Sallie A. Brock. 146 ■'^m itnaricx CUlgari©. Natural Order: Cucurbitacece — Gourd Family. NOWN scientifically as Lagenaria, from the Latin lagena, a bottle, the common Bottle Gourd, or Calabash, is familiar to all. It grows like a round ball, gradually extended into a handle, hen ripened, a slice is cut from one side, and the seeds are removed, thus forming a very convenient vessel for dipping water, for which purpose it was used in early times. There are upward of fifty different kinds of this interesting plant, all of them being natives of tropical countries. Some are large and gro- tesque, others small, fanciful, delicate, beautiful in shape and color, and worthy of enthusiastic admiration. Hawthorne said they were "worthy of being wrought in enduring marble." AND yet I know past all doubting, truly— -'*■ A knowledge greater than grief can dim — I know, as he loved, he will love duly. Yea, better — e'en better than I love him; M' Y winged boat, A bird afloat. Swims round the purple peaks remote:— Round purple peaks It sails, and seeks Blue inlets and their crystal creeks. Where high rocks throw, Through deeps below, T7ROM the low earth round you, ■'■ Reach the heights above you; From the stripes that wound you, Seek the loves that love you. HE who, from zone to zone, Guides through the boundless sky thy certain flight, In the long way that I must tread alone Will lead my steps aright. —William Cullen Bryant. And as I walk by the vast, calm river The awful river so dread to see, I say, "Thy breadth and thy depth forever Are bridged by his thoughts that cross to me." — 'Jean Ingelow. A duplicated golden glow. Far, vague, and dim, The mountains swim; While on Vesuvius' misty brim, With outstretched hands The gray smoke stands, O'erlooking the volcanic lands. — Thomas Bvchanan Read. God's divinest burneth plain Through the crystal diaphane Of our loves that love you. -Elizabeth Barrett Browning. H7 2lntl)0iantl)Uin oboratum. Natural Order: Graminece— Grass Family. 'HAT is more delightful to the senses of one pent up amid the brick and dust of a crowded city than to behold a spot ► of refreshing verdure? It rejoices the eye, and fills the *o soul with gladness. Who can look abroad at the waving ^ meadows and close-cropped pastures and not acknowledge the beneficence of the all- wise Creator? No other color would be so grateful to the vision, and no other color would always appear so fresh and new. The grass, along with all grains, belongs to the exten- sive order Gramineee, which contributes more to the sustenance of man and beast than all others combined. It has an element of poetry in its botanical name, which signifies sweetly-scented yellow flower; and has for ages been considered an emblem of utility. TTERE may I always on this downy grass, Unknown, unseen, my easy minutes pass! — Roscommon. T^HUS is nature's vesture wrought. To instruct our wandering thought; Thus she dresses green and gay. To dispense our cares away. —Dyer. IVTOT enjoyment and not sorrow Is our destin'd end or way. But to act that each tomorrow Finds us farther than today. _ •Longfellow. 'T'HE chiefest action for a man of spirit, Is never to be out of action ; we should think The soul was never put into the body, Which has so many rare and curious pieces Of mathematical motion, to stand still. Virtue is ever sowing her seeds. —Webster. 'T^HE even grass beneath our feet Was something greener and more sweet Than that which grew below. We breathed a purer, better air; Our lives seemed wider and more fair, And earth with love aglow. iS 148 — Henry Abbey, j^ ^fpeta ®l£Cl)OmO. Natural Order: Labiatce — Mint Family. FROUND ivy, or Gill-over-the-ground, is a very pretty plant of rapid growth, to be found about hedges, old walls, and among the rocks along the margins of creeks and, small streams. The stem, which is naturally prostrate, if suffered to lie on the ground, takes root at every joint, sending out in "^'"^ turn new creepers, which grow from a few inches to two feet in length. In a hanging basket it trails from the sides, completely enveloping it, delighting in shade and plenty of moisture. The flowers are of a bluish purple, blooming in May. The leaves are aromatic, and were formerly used in brewing ale. It is sometimes called Alehoof, and Tunhoof. It derives its scientific name from Nepete, now Nepi, in Italy; and Glechoma was the name given it by Linnaeus. J OY is no earthly flower, nor framed to bear In its exotic bloom life's cold, ungenial air. ■fTTE are all children in our strife to seize • • Each pretty' pleasure, as it lures the sight ; And like the tall tree, swaying in the breeze, Our lofty wishes stoop their tow'ring flight. — Mrs. Hemans. Till, when the prize is won, it seems no more Than gather'd shell from ocean's countless store. And ever those who would enjoyment gain, Must find it in the purpose they pursue. — Mrs. Hale. w ITH much we surfeit, plenty makes us poor. The wretched Indian scorns the golden ore. — Drayton. AH! here how sweet, my love, my own. To dream, aloof from any sorrows, Of one fair, changeless monotone — Serene tomorrows and tomorrows! Ah! sweet, in sooth, when God had furled All colors at the calm sky-verges. And night came silencing the world, And loudening the long sea-surges! — Edgar Fawcett. TITISE heaven doth see it as fit * ' In all our joys to give us some alloys. As in our sorrows, comforts. —Fountain. 149 J ^^ CgCOpoltmm COmplanattnn. Natural Order : Lycopodiacece— Club Moss Family. YCOPODIUM is one of the humbler types of vegetation that in the earher stages of our globe occupied a place of higher rank, and attained a size more worthy of consideration, as some of the specimens now existing in a fossil state amply show. When other and more important vegetation made its appearance, the less useful descended to a minor and more obscure position, till now it scarcely more than lends variety to the scene. This mossy plant has a round stem, and is frequently found creeping along the ground in woods that are moist and shady, being some five or six feet in length. There are several greenhouse varieties useful for ferneries and hanging-baskets, but they require con- siderable moisture to grow well. The name signifies leveled or horis zontal wolf's-foot. iomjtkitth 'INHERE are fancies strangely bitter in the surge of this restless sea, And hopes, and dreams, and memories, all rising mournfully; The waves that are softly breaking, with starry luster kissed. Summon a host of phantoms out of the ocean-mist. — Ckristiajt Reid. pRIEV'ST thou that hearts should change? ^^ Lo! where life reigneth Or the free sight doth range, What long remaineth.'' A WIND-HARP swelled into perfect song •'*■ 'Neath Zephyr's soft touch; But Boreas did it a grievous wrong, For he smote it too much — Spring with her flowers doth die; Fast fades the gilded sky; And the full moon on high Ceaselessly waneth. —Anonymmis. r^OME, now again thy woes impart, ^-' Tell all thy sorrows, all thy sin; We cannot heal the throbbing heart, Till we discern the wounds within. —Crahbe. He smote it so rudely, its delicate chords Wailed in musical pain. Saying, in plaintive and mystical words, " We accord not again ! " — Howard Glyndon. i^^ JJ'gasa iHultiflora. Natural Order: Cornacece— Dogwood Family. IS is a tall tree found throughout the United States, either in woodlands or along the roadside, growing both in dry and wet locations. The bark is of a light gray, and rough or broken on the surface, and at the height of fifty feet or more is a fine head of large, glossy, dark-green leaves. Its flowers are small and of a greenish color, blooming in clus- ters. The wood is much twisted and soft, but fine grained, and is used in the manufacture of naves of wheels and hatters' blocks. One of the species bears a small, blue fruit, which is the favorite food of the opossum. Jnl^uaiasm* O wild enthusiast ever yet could rest, 'Till half mankind were like himself possessed. — CoTvper. 'T^HE restless spirit charm'd thy sweet existence, QHE caught th' illusion — blest his name, Making all beauteous in youth's pleasant maze. And wildly magnified his worth and fame ; While gladsome hope illumed the onward distance. Rejoicing life's reality contained And lit with sunbeams thy expectant days. One, heretofore, her fancy had but feigned. — Willis G. Clark. —Campbell. 'VTOXJ'VH with swift feet walks onward in the way, ■*■ The land of joy lies all before his eyes. — Mrs. Butler. T GAZE upon the thousand stars ^ That fill the midnight sky; And wish, so passionately wish, A light like theirs on high. I have such eagerness of hope To benefit my kind; I feel as if immortal power Were given to my mind. — Miss Landon, Oh! the joy Of young ideas painted on the mind, In the warm, glowing colors fancy spreads On objects not yet known, when all is new. And all is lovely. —Hannah Moore. .i=S:^ i^ierarium (©ronontt. Natural Order: Compositte— Aster Family. FEW varieties of the Hawkweed from France and Italy are to be found in our gardens. The blossoms of the cultivated plants are yellow, silvery, or red in color. The flowers of the above native plant are yellow, and throughout Canada and the United States it is found in the woods in dry situa- tions. The stalk is about two feet high, and the blossom appears during the months of August and September. The ancients supposed this, as well as the other species, to strengthen the sight of birds of prey. The classic name is derived from ierax, a hawk, on account of the properties ascribed to it. TONG while I sought to what I might compare Those powerful eyes, which lighten my dark spirit, Yet found I nought on earth to which I dare Resemble the image of their goodly light. —Spenser. pREATURES there be of sight so keen and high ^ That even to the sun they bend their gaze; Others who, dazzled by too fierce a blaze. Issue not forth till evening vails the sky. — Petrarch. TTER lively looks a sprightly mind disclose, Quick as her eyes, and as unfixed as those; Favors to none, to all she smiles extends. Oft she rejects, but never once offends. —Pope. TTIS blazing eyes, like two bright shining fields. Did burn with wrath, and sparkled living fire ; As two broad beacons set in open fields Send forth their flames. —Spenser. 'Y/'OUR hawkeyes are keen and bright, Keen with triumph, watching still To pierce me through with pointed light; But oftentimes they flash and glitter Like sunshine on a dancing rill. — Tennyson. fe. TN her two eyes two living lamps did flame. Kindled above, at the heavenly light, And darting fiery beams out of the same. So passing pearceant, and so wondrous bright. That quite bereaved the rash beholders of their sight. — Spenser. * TT*— g^_ -fc (Bvm aitovata. Natural Order: Ericacece — Heath Family. )tiHluh^* OWEET, solitary life! lovely, dumb joy, That need'st no warnings how to grow more wise By other men's mishaps, nor the annoy Which from sore wrongs done to one's self doth rise; The morning's second mansion, truth's first friend, Never acquainted with the world's vain broils. When the whole day to our own use we spend. And our dear time no fierce ambition spoils. — Earl of Ancrum. /^H! to lie down in wilds apart, ^^ Where man is seldom seen or heard. In still and ancient forests, where Mows not his scythe, plows not his share. With the shy deer and cooing bird ! To go, in dreariness of mood, O'er a lone heath, that spreads around A solitude like a silent sea. Where rises not a hut or tree, The wide-embracing sky its bound! —HoTtiilt. ^E find but few Heaths among the plants of a mixed green- j«house, as the idea prevails that they require a particular fr atmosphere and condition of temperature to grow them r well. In Europe, houses are devoted exclusively to their ^ culture. The British Heaths grow in bleak and barren places, and are utilized by the poorer class to thatch their cabins, who, like the poor of every nation, are driven by necessity to make use of all the gifts of nature, when they can so ill afford the gifts of art. The most cherished Heaths come from Southern Africa, of which there are several hundred in cultivation. Anyone who has torn a fern from its place in a wild retreat, has noticed its hair-like roots. This is the case with the Heath; and a desideratum of its culture is that its roots must never become dry, neither must it rest in sodden soil; for once dry, the foliage becomes sere and brown beyond recovery, and too much water decays the roots. 153 ^eknium OUtumnak. Natural Order: Cotnpositis — Aster Family. HIS plant is named for the celebrated Helen, a daughter of Jupiter, who was so renowned for her beauty that she was seized by Paris, son of Priam, and carried to Troy, thereby causing the Trojan war. She is said to have "availed her- self of its cosmetic properties." In medicine it is a tonic, produces an insensible perspiration; and it is also made into a snuft' for medical use, which gives it the common name of Sneeze- wort. It grows in low ground or moist places in fields and by-ways, wholly uncultivated, having an herbaceous growth of from two to three feet in height. The plant blooms in August; the flowers are yellow. TT7HAT gem hath dropp'd, and sparkles o'er his chain? The tear most sacred shed for others' pain, That starts at once — bright, pure — from pity's mine; Already polish'd by the hand divine. —Byron. O AISE it to heaven, when thine eye fills with tefers, For only in a watery sky appears The bow of light; and from the invisible skies Hopes glory shines not, save through weeping ej'es. ■pLEST tears of soul-felt penitence! In whose benign, redeeming flow Is felt the first, the only sense Of guiltless joy that guilt maj' know ! —Mrs. F. A. Butler. — Moore. B UT these are tears of joy! to see you thus, has fill'd My eyes with more delight than they can hold. — CoitgreT}e. n^HANK God, bless God, all ye who suffer not ■'■ More grief than ye can weep for. That is well- That is light grieving! lighter, none befell, Since Adam forfeited the primal lot. Tears! what are tears.? The babe weeps in its cot. The mother singing, — at her marriage-bell The bride weeps, — and before the oracle Of high-faned hills, the poet has forgot Such moisture on his cheeks. — Elizabeth Barrett Brow7iinff. T^HOU weep'st: O stop that shower of falling sorrows, ^ Which melts me to the softness of a woman. And shakes my best resolves. —Trap. v^ (^fliotroptum Jperurianum. Natural Order: Boraginacece— Borage Family. ELIOTROPE is a small and elegant shrub about two feet high, a native of Peru. The flowers bloom in clusters, and are of a delicate lavender or purple tint, with the fragrance of vanilla, and are especially desirable for bouquets. It is ^said that Clytie, who had been loved and deserted by Apollo, seeing his attachment for her sister Leucothea, pined away, with her eyes gazing continually upon the sun, and was at last turned into a flower called Sunflower, or Heliotrope. The name is derived from the Greek Helios, sun, and trefo, to turn. It 9 is also called Turnsole, from its turning to Sol, the Latin for sun. It was introduced into France by Jessieu, about 1740. There are several other flowers that follow the course of the sun, the best known being probably the common yellow Sunflower. Ijuuitun* jT^EVOTION'S self shall steal a thought from heaven; One human tear shall drop, and be forgiven. —Pope. T GIVE thee prayers, like jewels strung As earth pours freely to the sea On golden threads of hope and fear; Her thousand streams of wealth untold, And tenderer thoughts than ever hung So flows my silent life to thee, In a sad angel's pitying tear. Glad that its very sands are gold. — Rose Terry. TN vain doth man the name of just expect. If his devotions he to God neglect. — Sir J. Denhavt. T LOVE her for that loving trust A love that smiles away all tears, That makes the one she loves all just, And looks not way beyond these years. And faith that's blind in loving; To see what love is proving. _c. C. C /^NE grain of incense with devotion oiFered ^^ 'S beyond all perfumes or Sabsean spices By one that proudly thinks he merits it. — Massinger. 1 ^^ :^^ \l sr ^dkborua tlirii&is. Natural Order: Ranunculacece — Crowfoot Family. VERAL plants are known under the name of Hellebore, and though belonging to different and distinct families, they all pos- sess highly poisonous qualities, as the literal translation of their botanical name would signify, "food of death," from the com- bination of two Greek words, elein, to cause death (literally to take away), and bora, food. Though fatal in inexperienced hands, they are exceedingly useful in the hands of educated medical men. The ancients were also well acquainted with their merits, as they used them for all " mental diseases, such as madness and idiocy, the best growing on the island of Anticyra in the ^gean sea." This variety is from Europe, is about three feet high, with large, nodding flowers, and is grown as an ornamental plant. ATOR might nor greatness in mortality Can censure 'scape ; back- wounding calumny The whitest virtue strikes; what king so strong Can- tie the gall up in the slanderous tongue? — Shakespeare, 'T'HE world with calumny abounds; *- The whitest virtue slander wounds; There are whose joy is, night and day, To talk a character away. —Pope, TT7HEN sland'rous tongue thy honor stings. This solace give thee rest: — Whatever fruit the autumn brings, The wasp will choose the best. — G. A, Bitrffer, T HE ignoble mind Loves ever to assail with secret blow The loftier purer beings of their kind. — W. G. Simms. IVTO wound which warlike hand of enemy ■^ Inflicts with dint of sword, so sore doth light As doth the poisonous sting which infamy Infixeth in the name of noble wight ; For by no art, nor any leeches' might It ever can received be again. —Spenser, 156 (Cannabis Sattoa. Natural Order: Urticacece— Nettle Family. ?\NNABIS (Greek and Latin for Hemp) is a common and well-known plant, naturalized in waste places in the United States. It came originally from Persia and the East Indies, where the natives make an intoxicating beverage from it. In some States it is largely cultivated for the fiber of the stalks, and when properly prepared is manufactured into the coarser grades of toweling and ropes. It grows quite tall and erect, branching at intervals, having foliage that is sharply cleft and palmate, giving the whole plant a light, airy appearance. The flowers are green, and the seeds are crowded up and down the summits of the branches. It is very apipropriate for sowing along fences, and is admirable for forming screens to shut off unsightly objects in a rear yard. In the fall, the seeds attract the dear little birds, which sometimes visit them in large flocks, after the frost and late season have exhausted other sustenance. \ii\\. H EAV'N from all creatures hides the book of fate, All but the page prescribed their present state. —Pope. T^HE Fates but only spin the coarser clue; TT7 ■*■ The finest of the wool is left for you. — Dryden. HAT fate imposes, men must need abide; It boots not to resist both wind and tide. — Shakespeare. 'T^HY downcast looks, and thy disorder'd thoughts Tell me my fate : I ask not the success My cause has found. —Addison. QUPREME, all-wise, eternal Potentate! Sole Author, sole Disposer of our fate, Enthroned in light and immortality. Whom no man fully sees, and none can see! Original of beings! Power divine! Since that I live, and that I think, is thine! Benign Creator! let thy plastic hand Dispose its own effect. —Mattheiti Prior. TTATE, show thy force; ourselves we do not owe; r What is decreed must be; and be this so. — Shakespeare. Si !2lltl)(Jft rO0£Ct. Natural Order: Malvacece — Mallow Family. ETWEEN the Hollyhocks of this generation and the unpre- tending flower of our ancestors there is a marked difference. Formerly its single blossoms used to cluster around the stalk as it grew beside the cabin of the early settler or mingled with the humble flowers in the dooryard of the villager. The Hollyhock of today — how supurb! Rufiie after ruffle has it added to its rosette, so silky and soft, unti:l it is full to repletion, and close has it crowded them along its tall stem; step by step has it advanced to the lawn, gaining admiration as it approached the acme of its perfection. The colors of the blossoms are various. The plants look well grouped, or planted in rows, or arranged as a background to lower-growing plants. It blooms the second year from the seed, or can be propagated by dividing the root. jlmittHxin. AMBITION is an idol on wliose wings ^^ Great minds are carried only to extreme: To be sublimely great, or to be nothing. — Southern. AMBITION is at a distance -'*■ A goodly prospect, tempting to the view; The height delights us, and the mountain top Looks beautiful because 'tis nigh to heaven. — Otway. T)E not with honor's gilded baits beguiled, Nor think ambition wise, because 'tis brave ; For though we like it, as a forward child, 'Tis so unsound, her cradle is her grave. — Sir W. Davenant. w HO soars too near the sun, with golden wings Melts them; — to ruin his own fortune brings. w HERE ambition of place goes before fitness Of birth, contempt and disgrace follow". — George Chapman, — Shakespeare. 'VTO\] have deeply ventured. But all must do so wlio would greatly win. — Byron. AMBITION is a spirit in the world, ^^ That causes all the ebbs and flows of nations. 158 — Crown. t m MltX Otjuifoltuin. Natural Order: Aquifoliacex — Holly Family. rLEX, signifying originally in Latin a species of oak, came finally to be appropriated as the botanical name of the Holly; rand aquifolium, from the Latin words acus, a needle, and folium, a leaf, has been added to designate its marked char- acteristic of sharp-pointed leaves. We have in the United States several species, some of which are shrubs from six to twelve feet in height, others attaining the size of trees. The leaves are glossy and evergreen, the lower ones being armed with thorns. In autumn, bright red berries deck their branches. There are over a hundred varieties now cultivated in Europe, where the}^ are all hardy, and most of them of fine appearance. In this country in northern ; latitudes they nearly all require protection from the severity of the frost, 3y a covering of some kind. The wood of the Ilex opaca is fine grained "^and compact, and is useful in wood turning: some of the others possess properties useful in medical science. T LOVE to view these things with curious eyes, ^ And moralize; And in this wisdom of the holly tree Can emblems see Wherewith, perchance, to make a pleasant rhyme, One which may profit in the after-time. Thus though abroad, perchance, I might appear And should my youth, as youth is apt, I know, Harsh and austere To those who on my leisure would intrude, Reserved and rude; Gentle at home amid my friends I'd be, Like the high leaves upon the holly tree. Some harshness show, All vain asperities I, day by day. Would wear away, Till the smooth temper of my age should be Like the high leaves upon the holly tree. — Robert Soitihey, "IITALK boldly and wisely in that light thou hast; There is a hand above will help thee on. 159 -Bailey, ^^ \! ICttB$l^* 'T'AKE heed what you say, sir! An hundred honest men! why, if there were So many i' th' city, 'twere enough to forfeit Their charter. —Shirley. AN honest man is still an unmov'd rock, Wash'd whiter, but not shaken with the shock : Whose heart conceives no sinister device; Fearless he plays with flames, and treads on ice. — Davenport. T TIS words are bonds, his oaths are oracles; His love sincere, his thoughts immaculate ; His tears, pure messengers sent from his heart, His heart as far from fraud as hea^•en from earth. — Sliakei'pearr. T O be honest, as this world goes. Is to be one pick'd out of ten thousand. — Shakespeare. AN honest soul is like a ship at sea That sleeps at anchor when the ocean 's calm ; But when she rages, and the wind blows high, He cuts his way with skill and majesty. — Beaumont and Fletcher. 'T'HE man who consecrates his hours By vig'rous effort, and an honest aim, At once he draws the sting of life and death; He walks with nature, and her paths are peace. — Toung. 23 1 60 ^S^ Cunaria bienn'tB. Natural Order: Cruciferce — Mustard Family. UN ARIA, from the Latin luna, the moon, has two varieties: the rediviva, a handsome perennial, with light-purple flowers, and rather rare in the United States; and the biennis, a large biennial with lila:c-colored flowers. Both are natives of Ger- many, and received the name from the distinguished Swiss ^ botanist, DeCandoUe, on account of their transparent moon- shaped silicles or pods,' which are the most attractive _ feature of the plant. The name has a special appropriateness not altogether arising from the shape of the pods, which is more nearly oval, but from the additional peculiarity of the silvery separating tissues or dissepiments.. As the silicles remain unchanged, they are quite an acquisition to a winter bouquet if plucked and carefully dried in autumn. rffi Conicei'tt ptriclgmenum. Natural Order: Caprifoliacecs— Honeysuckle Family. the numerous varieties of this beautiful climbing shrub, the one called periclymenum, or Woodbine, is perhaps the most common. The name is -derived from the German naturalist Adam Lonicer, or Lonitzer. Its delicate flowers are so laden with sweets that they attract that little opalescent jewel of a humming-bird more frequently from his hiding-place than any other blossom, over which it floats like the spirit of another and more gorgeous flower. For a number of years there have been several very desirable imported plants of this species in cultivation. The Tar- tarian is from Russia, having either delicate purple or white flowers: the Lonicera Japonica, a tribute from China, has yellow blossoms; and able to vie with either is our own Coral Honeysuckle — bright, brilliant and fragrant. lunbs tif Jiju^. WHOSE heart is at rest, he alone is a lover: The winters shall change not, the storms leave unshaken-, Whose love shall endure, though all blossoms be taken. Whose love shall endure when earth's durance is over, Whose love shall enfold, though the world have forsaken. — Edvjard Ellis. SEE the honeysuckle twine Round this casement; — 'tis a shrine Where the heart doth incense give, Aud the pure affections live In the mother's gentle breast By her smiling infant press'd. — Countess of Blessinfftoit. ■pECAUSE of this, ma belle, ^ Thou knowest how richly well My worship till death's ending serves and sues thee. Thou knowest, because of this, To have thee means all bliss. All anguish were to miss, to mourn, to lose thee! — Ed^ar Fawcetl, STILL I'm thy captive, yet my thoughts are free; To be love's bondsman is true liberty. — MarstoH, T HE humming-bird, with busy wing. In rainbow beauty moves. i6i Above the trumpet-blossom floats. And sips the tube he loves. -Caroline Gilman. ^-ar-» ^Umulus lupulttB. Natural Order: Urticacece— Nettle Family. TILIZED mainly in brewing, the Hop is a coarse, though not unsightly, vine, which has been named Humulus from the Latin humus, the ground, because of its tendency to creeping, unless properly supported. It is cultivated for its fertile catkins, which are of great importance in the manufacture of beer l^and ale, as they tend to preserve and give body to those liquids. The stem is an annual, decaying every fall, and springing again from the ground in the spring. It grows to a great length, and twines around its supports with the sun, from east to west. It is cul- tivated in large fields in various parts of the country, and in the fall calls together large concourses of laborers who are paid a certain sum per pole to gather the hops, which is done usually amid great hilarity. Jnjttslu^* TTE 'S poor, and that 's suspicious — he 's unknown, And that 's defenceless; true, we have no proof Of guilt — but what hath he of innocence? —Byron. A FINE and slender net the spider weaves, •^ ^ Which little and slight animals receives; And if she catch a summer bee or fly, They with a piteous groan and murmur die; But if a wasp or hornet she entrap, They tear her cords, like Samson, and escape; So, like a fly, the poor offender dies; But like the wasp the rich escapes, and flies. —Denfratii, T N the corrupted currents of this world, Offense's gilded hand may shove by justice; And oft 'tis seen, the wicked prize itself Buys out the law. -Sliakcpeare. ^ ^^™i JUSTICE is lame, as well as blind, amongst us; The laws, corrupted to their ends that make them. Serve but for instruments of some new tyranny, That every day starts up t' enslave us deeper. — Ot-way. 162 T TNHEARD, the injured orphans now complain; ^ The widow's cries address the throne in vain. Causes unjudged disgrace the loaded file. And sleeping laws the king's neglect revile. — Prior. -feS^ ^0CUlua i^tppoca0tauum. Natural Order: Safindacece— Soapberry Family. UCH admired for its beautiful foliage, the Horse Chestnut is mainly cultivated for the shade it affords. Its name in ur vernacular is an exact translation from the Greek of the latter half of the scientific name; and ^sculus, ^j^ from the Latin esca, food, was originally applied to a spe- t'cies of oak, and probably to other like trees with edible acorns or nuts. The flowers are white, marked with pink and yel- low. It is of very rapid growth, and reaches the height of thirty f^ or forty feet in a few years. The tree is a native of the northern part of the Asiatic continent. There is a similar tree, called the ^ ^sculus glabra (smooth), found in Ohio and other western States, generally known by the name of Buckeye. The nuts are an irreg- ular, rounded shape, and a rich brown in tint. They are more or less injurious to all animals except deer. 'T^HESE thoughts he strove to bury in expense, -*• Rich meats, rich wines, and vain magnificence. —Harte. r\ LUXURY ! thou curs'd by heaven's decree, ^How ill-exchang'd are things lilte these for thee! How do thy potions, with insidious joy. Diffuse thy pleasures only to destroy! TT is a shame that man, that has the seeds ^ Of virtue in him, springing unto glory, Should make his soul degenerous with sin. And slave to luxury. -Goldsmith. —Marmyon. T7ELL luxury! more perilous to youth -'■ Than storms or quicksands, poverty or chains. — Hannah More. w AR destroys men, but luxury mankind At once corrupts; the body and the mind. — Crown. TDUT just disease to luxury succeeds, And ev'ry death its own avenger breeds. —Pope. t "T^IS use alone that sanctifies expense. And splendor borrows all her rays from sense. —Pope. 163 1 .#1 ^m,. SempemOWm tectonim. Natural Order: Crassulacece— Orpine Family. Various peculiar shapes are assumed by this and other f^ plants of the same class. Some grow erect like the com- mon Orpine or Live-forever, while the Houseleek assumes 'the shape of a rosette, each thick, pointed leaf arranged in the f^most symmetrical 'order, all being so hardy that they, survive the most adverse treatment; growing in poor soil, or even on walls or ^housetops. Its name literally denotes, in Latin, the always alive of 4-oofs. The Echeveria, a native of California and Mexico, is the handsomest of the family, as the leaves are covered with a fine bloom, such as one sees on the cheek of a plum or a cluster of ^freshly-plucked grapes. The blossoms of some are scarlet, others ^-r are yellow. Many of them are most excellent for the dry air of the ^sitting-room, and do not require as much attention as most other house or conservatory plants. Tbatil^. TJER merry fit she freshly 'gan to rear, And did of joy and jollity devise, Herself to cherish and her guest to cheer. — Spenser. 'T^HE long carousal shakes th' illumined hall, Well speeds alike the banquet and the ball; And the gay dance of bounding beauty's train Links grace and harmony in happiest chain. — Byron. 'T'HE seasons all had charms for her, She welcomed each with joy: The charm that in her spirit liv'd No changes could destroy. -Mrs. Hale. V ^Xna— «J-4 ' ^EACH me half the gladness That thy brain must know Such harmonious madness From my lips would flow, The world should listen then, as I am listening now. — Percy Bysslie Shelly, 164 f tS-6^-^ ' ^OTOa WrnOSa. Natural Order: Asclepiadacece— Milkweed Family. ^REENHOUSES, conservatories and pariors in our latitudes gladly give shelter to these beautiful vines, which are indig- enous to the warmer regions of India. It has been called Hoya in honor of T. Hoy, an English florist, and carnosa from the Latin caro, flesh, because of its thick, fleshy leaves. The branches are twining, and need a support to keep them upright position. The leaves are of an oval shape, terminating in a sharp point, and are beautiful and attractive in themselves, having the appearance of green wax; and the flowers, which bloom in dense 'umbels, are supremely beautiful, being waxy in texture, and in color a most delicate rose-flushed white. The old flower-stems should not be removed, as they bloorh year after year. There is a variety that has J - a pale-yellow or whitish margin to the leaf It does not require a rich soil. It has the habit, when well growing, of starting out its vine sometimes a yard or more before the leaves make their appearance, and care should be taken not to break these naked stems, as they are rather tardy in growing again. QO stands the statue that enchants the world, So bending tries to veil the matchless boast, The mingled beauties of exulting Greece. — Thompson. 'T^O famed Apelles, when young Amnon brought * The darling idol of his captive heart, And the pleased nymph with kind attention sat. To have her charms recorded by his art. — Waller. T7ANCIES and notions he pursues, Which ne'er had being but in thought: AN hard and unrelenting she As the new-crusted Niobe, Or,- what doth more of statue carry, A nun of the Platonic quarry. — Cleveland, 11 ly share in pale Pyrene I resign, •'■'•'■ And claim no part in all the mighty nine; Each, like the Grecian artist, wooes The image he himself has wrought, iK= Statues with winding ivy crown'd belong To nobler poets, for a nobler song. — Prior. —Dryden. f& i52flCiwtl)US Orimtalt0. Natural Order: Liliacece — Lily Family. VERY one is familiar with the Hyacinth, which is a great favorite and is very generally cultivated, both in the house and garden. The bulb is large and purple, having several lanceolate leaves which stand erect. The flower-stalk is about twice the height of the leaves, and beautified with many bell- like blossoms, varying in color in the different varieties. It is said to have received its name from Hyacinthus, a boy beloved by Apollo, and with whom he was playing quoits, when Zephyrus, who also loved the youth, becoming jealous and enraged, "blew the quoit which Apollo had cast against the head of Hyacinthus, thereby caus- ing his death." Apollo then changed his blood into the above flower. It is a native of the Levant, but has long been cultivated in Europe and America. ^aalujis^. ■pEHOLD the blood which late the grass had dy'd, Was now no blood; from which a flower full blown, Far brighter than the Tyrian scarlet shone, Which seem'd the same, or did resemble right A lily, changing but the red to white. —Ovid. ■[JUT there are storms whose lightnings never ^-^ glare — Tempests, whose thunders never cease to roll : The storms of love when madden'd to despair — The furious tempests of the jealous soul. — Isaac Clason. T70UL jealousy! that turnest love divine To joyless dread, and mak'st the loving heart With hateful thoughts to languish and to pine. And feed itself with self-consuming smart; Of all the passions in the mind thou vilest art. — Spenser. r\ JEALOUSY! thou merciless destroyer, ^^ More cruel than the grave! what ravages Does thy wild war make in noblest bosoms! -Mallet. AS envy pines at good possessed, -^ So jealousy looks forth distressed On good that seems approaching; And if success his steps attend. Discerns a rival in a friend. And hates him for encroaching. 1 66 -Cowper, .^^i' ioaslinj* 'T^AKE up no more than you by worth can claim; 1 Lest soon you prove a bankrupt in your fame. — Toung. QO spake the apostate angel, though in pain Vaunting aloud, but rack'd with deep despair. — Milton, "ITTE rise in glory, as we sink in pride; Where boasting ends, there dignity begins. — Youttg, /^ONCEIT, more rich in matter than in words, ^ Brags of his substance, not of ornament: They are but beggars that can count their worth. — Shakespeare. 'T^HIS self-conceit is a most dangerous shelf, Where many have made shipwreck unawares; He who doth trust too much unto himself. Can never fail to fall in many snares. — Earl of Sterline. 'PVRAWN by conceit from reason's plan, How vain is that poor creature, man! How pleas'd in ev'ry paltry elf To prate about that thing, himself. — ChurchUU 8^ "tTTHAT art thou.? Have not I An arm as big as thine.' a heart as big.' Thy words, I grant, are bigger; for I wear not My dagger in my mouth. —Shakespeare. 167 5^ <5sbraiigea l|ort£nata. Natural Order: Saxifragacece— Saxifrage Family. ROM the circumstance that much water is demanded for its sustenance, this plant has been called Hydrangea, from the Greek udor, water, and aggos, a pail. It was called Hortensia by the French botanist, Commerson, in honor of his friend, Madame Hortense Lapeaute. This species is supposed to be 4 a native of China. Its stem is from one to three feet high, having large, oval leaves. The flowers, which continue in bloom for several months, are at first green, passing through the various hues of straw-color, sulphur, yellow, white, purple, and pink. '^They are said to bloom best in a rather shady location, as they become blasted or scorched by the extreme heat of the sun. ^RS" ^gasopus offictnalia. Natural Order: Lahiatce — Mint Family. 'URING the Jewish dispensation the Israelites used this plant their purifications (Exodus xii, 22). It is found in abun- "dance on the hills of Palestine near Jerusalem. It. is about 'two feet high, with a bushy stalk, an aromatic smell, and a pungent taste. The common species is a native of Europe. It ■ *is a handsome plant, having bright blue flowers and delicate leaves. It is usually cultivated for its medicinal properties. The name of this plant is derived from the Hebrew ezob, through the Greek ussofos. DLEST are the pure! Would'st thou be blest? '-^ He'll cleanse thy spotted soul. Would'st thou find rest? Around thy toils and cares He'll breathe a calm, And to thy wounded spirit lay a balm : From fear draw love, and teach thee where to seek Lost strength and grandeur with the bowed and meek. /~^AST my heart's gold into the furnace flame, ^ And if it comes not thence refined and pure, I'll be a bankrupt to thy hope, and heaven Shall shut its gates on me. — Mrs. Sigmtrney. — Dana. QHE grew a sweet and sinless child, ^ In sun and shadow, calm and strife — A rainbow on the dark of life, From love's own radiant heaven down smiled. — Massey. T7ROM purity of thought all pleasure springs, r And from an humble spirit all our peace. —Tmmg. TIKE bright metal on a sullen ground, ■'-' My reformation, glittering o'er my fault. Shall show more goodly, and attract more eyes. Than that which hath no foil to set it off. — Shakespeare. TTIASH me with thy tears! draw nigh me, That their salt may purify me ! Thou remit my sins, who knowest All the sinning, to the lowest. — From the Greek {trans, by E. B. Bro-winff). "XTET time serves, wherein you may redeem ■*■ Your banished honors, and restore yourselves Into the good thoughts of the world again. —Shakespeare. 168 '}\ M ilUsembrsantfjtmum Crgstallinum. Natural Order: MesembryacecE - Ice- Plant Family. ^ >?r S^/ OT a little curious and attractive, this plant has its foliage entirely covered with protuberances about the size of grains of barley, that appear like the most transparent ice, whence it is called crystallinum ; the other part of its scientific name, from the Greek, denotes Midday Flower. The branches $%S^ are trailing, from ten to twelve inches in length, and pro- duce white flowers during the whole summer. It is from Greece. There have been some new varieties introduced from the Cape of Good Hope, that are adapted for conservatory culture, the flowers of which are yellow, purple, purple and pink, and purple and white combined. They require very little moisture in winter, once or twice a month being sufficient, but the quantity should be increased to a generous allowance when the blossoms begin to appear. The different varieties, of which there are several hundred, have quite a diversity of foliage. l[ijrmaHl^* OH, she is colder than the mountain's snow; ^^ To such a subtle purity she 's wrought, She 's pray'd and fasted to a walking thought. N' rO dews of love can warm the iceberg heart, Or melt the Alpine snows upon her breast; E'en flowers cease to spread their leaves apart. If by her chilling foot they 're prest. 'T^HOSE glances work on me like the weak shine The frosty sun throws on the Appenine, When the hills' active coldness doth go near To freeze the glimmering taper to his sphere. -Beaumojlt. • — Crotoii. The sculptur'd beauty of her marble face Is chill and cold as e'er was marble stone; Those veinlets blue, that o'er her temples trace, Are like a springlet from a glacier thrown. — C. H. T. r^ANST thou no kindly ray impart. Thou strangely beauteous one.' Fairer than fairest work of art. Yet cold as sculptured stone! — Ordzoay, 169 ir C5P ^buttlon ^rutunCE. Natural Order: Malvacece — Mallow Family. ESIDENTS by natural selection of the warmer latitudes, the Mallows bear the colder climates with an easy adaptability to circumstances, and favor us with their flowers without stint. The plant, as the name indicates, is a native of the East and West Indies, growing about the height of the hollyhock, hav- ing broad, velvety leaves, and producing flowers about an inch across, the color of which is yellow. Another species of Abutilon, adapted only to house or conservatory growth, is a shrub from Brazil, growing several feet in height, with broad, palmate leaves, and handsome, bell- shaped flowers of yellow, curiously veined with a dark red. Planted in the ground in the greenhouse, the trunk becomes several inches in thick- ness, but can accommodate itself to limited quarters in pot culture. To bloom well it must have the sun. The origin of the name Abutilon is unknown; Avicenna was a celebrated Arabian physician and philosopher of the middle ages. ]^$itmaiiu«* QHE attracts me daily with her gentle virtues, ^ So soft, and beautiful, and heavenly. ■CRIENDSHIP is no plant of'hasty growth, ■'■ Tho' planted in esteem's deep-fixed soil. The gradual culture of kind intercourse Must bring it to perfection. —Joanna Baillie. -JameR A. Hillhotise, [OW much to be priz'd and esteem'd is a friend, I whom we can always with safety depend ! Our joys, when extended, will always increase. And griefs, when divided, are hush'd into peace. — Mrs. Margaret Smitfi. HOWi On. 'T'HOU gav'st me that the poor do give the poor. Kind words and holy wishes, and true tears; The loved, the near of kin, could do no more. Who changed not with the gloom of varying years. But clung the closer when I stood forlorn, And blunted slander's dart with their indignant scorn. -Mrs, Norton, 170 ' f 1- '- 'J r-r^- C-y* JiHnt\mtni. )UT golden padlocks on truth's lips, be callous as ye wHl, From soul to soul, o'er all the world leaps one electric thrill. — Lowell. /^H ! there is one affection which no stain Of earth can ever darken; when two find, The softer and the manlier, that a chain Of kindred taste has fastened mind to mind: 'Tis an attraction from all sense refined; The good can only know it; 'tis not blind. As love is unto baseness; its desire Is but with hands entwin'd to lift our being higher. — Percival, FN many ways does the full heart reveal The presence of the love it would conceal. — Coleridffe. '\7'EA! but hurrian love to me Is so near divine. That my heart clings yearningly Even to life like mine. 171 Love is sweeter far than rest — That alone I know — And the soul that loves me best Will not let me go. — Mary E. Dodge. 1 (Sliuamoclit Bulgaria. Natural Order: Convolvulacece — Convolvulus Family. jUAMOCLIT (an aboriginal Mexican name) is a vine of deli- cate and airy appearance, its leaves being small and feather- jlike, and the stem slender, growing to a;bout eight or ten feet in length. The flowers are small but beautifully bril- liant, and very abundant. One or two new varieties have 'appeared, introducing both white and pink, which, combined with the crimson or scarlet, produce a pretty effect when trained ,upon a trellis or other support. The seeds are somewhat difficult of germination, and should be soaked in warm water for a short time -before planting, otherwise they are apt to decay before sprouting. This vine passes variously under the names Ipomoea (from the Greek, and signifying, like the ips, a vine worm), Quamoclit, and Cypress Vine, and is nearly related to the morning glories and others passing under the general name of Convolvulus. i «-u_t); osn ®ilta COVOnopitolia. Natural Order: PolemoniacetB — Polemonium Family. (eCAUSE of its finely pinnatifid foliage, nearly resembling the cypress vine, this plant used to be, and perhaps is still, in some localities, called Standing Cypress; but it belongs to another class of plants. It is a handsome plant, though not } blooming until the second year. Seeds should be sown every spring for the next year's blooming, as should be done with biennials, in order to have them every summer. The first year, the Ipomopsis rests like a tuft of finely-cut leaves close to the ground, and should be removed and kept in sand free from moisture and hard frost, or, if left in the ground, the soil must be well drained, as they are liable is' to decay with much dampness. The second year, the stalk rises and 7 ^ branches, covering itself with thread-like foliage, while its tubular flowers of scarlet, yellow, or rose, surround its stems for a foot or more. ^tt$pn$^H H E has jumped the brook, he has climbed the knowe, There 's never a faster foot, I know, But still he seems to tarry. —Sidney Dohell. ■QE not long, for in the tedious minutes, Exquisite interval, I'm on the rack; For sure the greatest evil man can know. Bears no proportion to this dread suspense. -Frotvde. /^H! how impatience gains upon my soul ^ When the long-promis'd hour of joy draws near; How slow the tardy moments seem to roll. What specters rise of inconsistent fear. —Mrs. Tiff/te, r\ THAT man might know ^ The end of this day's business, ere it come! But it sufficeth that the day will end, And then the end is known. —Shakesteare. AND there are hearts that watch and wait For those who toil upon the shore : QO tedious is this day, ^ As is the night before some festival To an impatient child that hath new robes. Their welcome footstep at the gate And may not wear them. —Sliakesfeare. Is heard — ah! nevermore! —George Cooper. 173 IrtB sarabucma. Natural Order: Iridacece—Iris Family. LANTS of this order are chiefly natives of the Cape of ^Good Hope; but the above species, sambucina (elder-scented), sand some others, are natives of the southern part of Europe, ■ and are quite common in our own gardens. There are three j^other varieties of the Iris which are very pretty. The first •t^is a tall plant from the Levant, with sulphur-yellow flowers; ij^^the second is from China, being a small plant with striped flowers; ^and the Dwarf Iris, which is often used for the borderings of garden j walks, as it blooms early in spring. Orris root is manufactured from the root of the Iris florentina, and has a fragrance resembling violets. It is used in various dentrifices, and to perfume the breath. %. H^asfiigcr. 'P'ACH mind is press'd, and open every ear, n To- hear new tidings, tliough they no way joy us — Fairfax. 'T^HE rabble gather round the man of news, And Hsten with their mouths wide open : some Tell, some hear, some judge of news, some make it. And he that lies most loud is most believed. — Dryden. "VTET the first bringer of unwelcome news Hath but a losing office; and his tongue Sounds ever after as a sullen bell, Remember'd knolling a departing friend. — Shakespeare. T ET me hear from thee by letters Of thy success in love; and what news else Betideth here, in absence of thy friend. , — Shakeapeare. TTE whistles as he goes, light-hearted wretch. Cold and yet cheerful ; messenger of grief Perhaps to thousands, and of joy to some; To him indifferent whether grief or joy. — Cow per. TRIS there, with humid bow, \\'aters the odorous banks that blow FloNsers of more mingled hue •Than her purpled scarf can show. ■Milton. m r^ IVE to a gracious message ^ An host of tongues; but le) ill tidings tell Themselves, when they be felt. —Shakespeare. ^ ■gg^^ 1 i^etlerct [)t\xx. Natural Order: Araliacece — Ginseng Family. ■ VY is an evergreen vine, native of Great Britain, and attains the height of forty or fifty feet, sustaining itself by tufts of ■fibers, which insert themselves into the crevices of the walls that support it. Hedera is its old Latin name, and, helix in Greek and Latin signifies twisted. After having grown to its utmost height, its climbing character ceases, " the leaf changes from a palmate to a lengthened oval shape; it then forms a bush two or three feet high, surmounted by an abundance of branches of inter- esting greenish flowers " that bloom in October. They frequently attain a great age. One is mentioned by De CandoUe as being four hundred and thirty-three years old, which measured six feet in circumference at ''the base, covering a surface of over seventy square yards with its hand- ^some foliage. It was used among the Greeks to decorate their heroes and poets, and also as a crown to Bacchus, although he is represented at other times crowned with grape leaves as the god of wine. QHE clung to hitn with woman's love, ^ Like ivy to the oak, While on his head, with crushing force. Earth's chilling tempest broke. TTAST he stealeth on, though he wears no wings, ■*- And a staunch old heart has he! How closely he twineth, how tight he clings To his friend, the huge oak tree! And slily he traileth along the ground. And his leaves he gently waves, And he joyously twines and hugs around The rich mould of dead men's graves, Creeping where no life is seen, A rare old plant is the ivy green. —Charles Dickens, /S, T HAD a friend that lov'd me — I was his soul : he liv'd not but in me ; We were so close within each other's breast The rivets were not found that join'd us first. — Dryden, ]2± •.-^^^ -^ JaSmiuUlU offictuak. Natural Order: Jasminacece — yasmine Family. ^HITE JASMINE is a splendid shrub, climbing on supports j'to a height of fifteen or twenty feet, and is much used in ' Europe for the covering of arbors and trellises. It is not sufficiently hardy to endure the winters of our Northern 'S States without the protection of a wall or other building to defend it from the fierce breath of the ungenial north wind. Its flowers are beautiful and fragrant, and their praises have been beau- tifully sung by Lord Morpeth (afterward earl of Carlisle), who says: " I ask not, while I near thee dwell, Arabia's spice or Syria's rose; Thy bright festoons more freshly smell, Thy virgin white more freshly glows." There is in the tropical parts of the United States a fine Jasmine with beautiful yellow blossoms, that is heavily laden with delightful perfume. It is now culti- vated in all warm climes, but was unknown in Europe until 1560, when it was introduced by the Spaniards from the East. J^mintHU^* T HE twining jessamine and blushing rose With lavish grace their morning scents disclose. AND oft when from that scorching shore, ■^ In after years those odors came. He pictured his green cottage door. The shady porch and window frame, TJOW loveHly the jasmine flower ■'■•'■ Blooms far from man's observing eyes; And having lived its little hour, There withers, — there sequester'd dies! — Prior. Far, far away across the foam: The \ery jasmine-flower that crept Round the thatched roof about his home Where she he loved then safely slept. -Miller. Though faded, yet 'tis not forgot; A rich perfume, time cannot sever. Lingers in that unfriended spot. And decks the jasmine's grave forever. — Ryan, 175 lumpa" tommunis. Natural Order: Coniferce — Pine Family. UNIPER belongs to an order which is among the most useful to mankind, not only for the lumber which they yield, but also for the medicinal properties which lie in their resinous juices. The .Juniper inhabits hills, dry woods and groves, and is about eight feet high. The berries do not ripen until the second year after the blossom; they are sometimes used in medicine. The Juniper was formerly dedicated to MegEcra, Tisiphone and Alecto, the three daughters of Nox and Acheron, who ministered the vengeance of the gods. They were called by the Greeks, Erinnyes and Eumen- ides; and by the Romans, Ferriae and Dirte. j;$^bm. T HE night, at least, with me forget your care; Chestnuts, and curds, and cream, shall be your fare. — Dryden. T TE knocked, was welcomed in, none asked his name, Nor whither he was bound, nor whence he came ; But he was beckoned to the stranger's seat. Right side the chimney fire of blazing peat. —Camfbell. 'pHEREIN he them full fair did entertain, Not with such forged shows as fitter_ been For courting fools, that courtesies would faine, But with entire affection and appearance plain. — Spenser, H E thought them folks that lost their way, And ask'd them civilly to stay. —Prior. T T I.S house was known to all the vagrant train, Claimed kindred there and had his claim allowed ; He chid their wanderings but reliev'd their The broken soldier, kindly bade to .'^tay, pain ; Sate by his fire and talked the night awa\- ; The long-remembered beggar was his guest. Wept o'er his wounds, or tales of sorrow done, Whose beard descending swept his aged breast. Shoulder'd his crutch and show'tl how fields were The ruined spendthrift, now no longer proud, won. —Goldsmith. T HE man their hearty welcome first express'd, A common settle drew for either guest. Inviting each his wean' limbs to rest. -Dryden. 176 -:=;£§? 5£ sr CSfl Justicia CariUa. Natural Order: Acanthacece — Acanthus Family. LL the Justicias are half-shrubby plants from the tropical portions of the world, some of which are kept in the hot- house, and others, though few, in the greenhouse. The Justicia carnea has flowers of a flesh-colored tint, with many 22^ in bloom at one time, which appear successively for a long ^season. Justicia coccinea has scarlet blossoms which make their appearance during mid-winter, continuing until spring. There are some four or five other varieties, and all are fine plants. To make them fine, healthy specimens, they require a strong light, or to be kept near the glass, in moderately large pots, well drained. ITER form was fresher than the morning rose When the dew wets its leaves ; unstained and pure As is the lily, or the mountain snow. —Thompson. AT O wonder that cheek, in its beauty transcendant, Excelleth the beauty of others by far ; No wonder that eye is so rich and resplendent. For your heart is a rose, and your soul is a star. — Mrs. Osgood. 'T^HOU art beautiful, young lady,- But I need not tell you this, For few have borne, unconsciously. The spell of loveliness. -Whitlier. 'T^HE fairness of her face no tongue can tell, For she the daughters of all woman race. And angels eke in beautie doth excel. —Spenser. TTTHAT'S female beauty, but an air divine, Through which the mind's all gentle graces shine.' They, like the sun, irradiate all between; The body charms, because the soul is seen. — Touiig. TTTHEN I approach Her loveliness, so absolute she seems And in herself complete, so well to know Her own, that what she wills to do or say Seems wisest, virtuousest, discreetest, best. — Milton. M A LAVISH planet reign'd when she was born, And made her of such kindred mould to heav'n. She seems more heav'n's than ours. —Lee. 177 Ivtniubgtt inOUOpt)gUci. Natural Order: Leguminosce — Pulse Family. ENNEDYA, a native of New South Wales, is_found in the conservatory or greenhouse, occupying a prominent position 'among the beautiful climbers, some of the species, however, feeing as yet quite rare. The commonest variety has either blue or crimson flowers. There are others with scarlet, purple, and one with nearly black, flowers. They grow readily from seed, which should be soaked in warm water previous to planting, and can be grown in pots, or placed in the ground when the weather is arm and settled. The pots should be well drained. \tXi\^\ Pl3«l^> ALL higher knowledge in her presence falls Degraded, wisdom in discourse with her Loses discount'nanced, and like folly shows. — Milton. 11 J ARK her majestic fabric! she 's a temple Sacred by birth, and built by hands divine; Her soul 's the deity that lodges there; Nor is the pile unworthy of the god. —Drydm. TITHAT 'S the brow, ' Or the eye's luster, or the step of air. Or color, but the beautiful links that chain The mind from its rare elements. —willk. 'T'HINK of her worth, and think that God did mean ■*■ This worthy mind should worthy things embrace; Blot not her beauties with thy thoughts unclean, Nor her dishonor with thy passion base. —Sir J. Davies. Tl /f IND, mind alone, (bear witness earth and heaven !) The living fountains in itself contains Of beauteous and sublime; here, hand in hand. Sit paramount the graces; here enthron'd. Celestial Venus, with divinest airs. Invites the soul to never-fading joy. -Akenside. ^"^'^—t A MIND of broad and vigorous scope, A penetration quick and keen. An insight into things unseen, A liberal dower of faith and hope. —Kale J. Hill. 178 .^ g^- S:iilli^0 gliyirjer. CgprtptMum pubcSCma. Natural Order: Orchidacece— Orchis Family. OST of these plants delight in damp, marshy ground, revel- ing beside brooks, bending over springs, hiding in the borders of woods, and sporting on the boundless prairie; dancing to the music of the wind or the rippling water with as much grace and ease as Terpsichore herself Some of the blossoms of the species found in the western woods are very large, especially the above variety, which will hold at least two tablespoonfuls of fluid, and is of a bright yellow in color, with dark spots within the aperture. The shape is sim- ilar to the blossoms of the Calceolarias of the greenhouse — that is, like a pouch or bag. 'T^HEY know how fickle common lovers are, ■'■ Their oaths and vows are cautiously believed, For few there are but have been once deceived. — Drydeit. TIKE conquering tyrants you our breasts invade, ^-' Where you are pleased to ravage for a while; But soon you find new conquests out, and leave The ravag'd province ruinate and bare. — Otway. INCONSTANT as the passing wind, ■^ As winter's dreary frost unkind ; To fix her, 'twere a task as vain To count the April drops of rain. - Smollett, p EPROVE me not that still I change With every changing hour. For glorious nature gives me leave In wave, and cloud, and flower. Yon soft, light cloud, at morning hour, Looked dark and full of tears: At noon it seemed a rosy flower — Now gorgeous gold appears. w So yield I to the deepening light That dawns around my way; Because you linger with the night. Shall I my noon delay. — Frances S, Osgood, E vary from ourselves each day in mind. Nor know we in ourselves, ourselves to find. —Heath, 179 C5fi £imnantl)£muin iacunoaa. Natural Order: Gentianacece— Gentian Family. HIS is a curious water plant, usually found in stagnant ponds or quiet lakes, or even in rivers where the water has set back in some hollow on its shore, and where the current fails to stir its sleepy stillness. The leaves float on the sur- face, the stems always accommodating their length to the depth of the water. The flowers are small and white, from a half to three-quarters of an inch broad, and arranged in the form of an umbel, appearing one at a time on the top of the water and expanding. It is sometimes called Floating Heart, and is found most frequently in the States bordering on the Atlantic. Its botanical name is from the Greek limne, a lake or pool, and anthemon, a flower; the Latin lacunosa added, merely reduplicates the idea of pond or marsh. There are at present but nine species enumerated. TTOW much they err, who, to their interest blind, Slight the calm peace which from retirement flows ! And while they think their fleeting joys to bind, Banish the tranquil bliss which heav'n for man design'd. — Mrs. TigJie. T^EAR solitarj' groves where peace does dwell! Sweet harbors of pure love and innocence! How willingly could I forever stray Beneath the shade of your embracing greens, List'ning to the harmony of warbling birds, TT HE shadowy desert, unfrequented woods, better brook than flourishing, peopled towns ; There I can sit alone, unseen of any. And to the nightingale's complaining notes Tune my distresses, and record my woes. — Shakespeare. Tun'd with the gentle murmur of the streams: Upon whose banks, in various livery, The fragrant offspring of the early year, [down. Their heads, like graceful swans, bent proudly See their own beauties in the crystal flood. — Rochester. r\H! by thy side, ^ Far from the tumult and the throng of men, And the vain cares that vex poor human life, 'Twere happiness to dwell alone with thee, And the wide, solemn grandeur of the scene. —Mrs. Ellet. 1 80 sr (ys\ Cantana Hlfi'Uana. Natural Order: Verbenacem — Vervain Family. T is to the tropics that we are indebted for this beautiful addition to our flora. The plants are shrubby, and can be cultivated in the hothouse or conservatory, or may be placed in the garden during summer. It grows very rapidly in the ground, and many adopt the plan of placing it in a medium- sized pot, and putting the pot along with the plant in the ground, as that plan curtails the roots and prevents the plant from growing too straggling, and thereby rewarding the cultivator with more flowers. The blossoms have the peculiarity of coming out one color, and passing through diflerent shades to another color; a quality which always gives a pleasing aspect to the plant. They are very suscep- frost. tgur. ■pULL many a stoic eye and aspect stern r Mask hearts where grief hath little left to learn. — Byron. '\17"HY stand'st thou idle here? lend me thy sword! TJIS awful presence did the crowd surprise, Many a nobleman is stark and stiff ^ 1 -^^^ ^^^^^ j^^ ^.^^^j^ spectator meet his eyes: Many Under the hoofs of vaunting enemies, Whose deaths are unrevenged. - Shakespeare, Eyes that confess'd him born for kingly sway, So fierce they flashed intolerable day. -Dry den. M EN who their duties know, But know their rights, and, knowing, dare maintain them. —Sir W. Jones. His eye Had that compelling dignity. His mien that bearing, haught and high, Which common spirits fear. —Scott. M UST not earth be rent Before her gems are found.? —Mrs. Hematis. T^HIS too much lenity And harmful pity must be laid aside. To whom do lions cast their gentle looks.' Not to the beast that would usurp their den; Whose hand is that the forest bear would lick.' Not his that spoils her young before her face. — Shakespeare. i8i f^ 1 JDelpljintUm granbtflorum. Natural Order: Ranunculace— ^ '^cah %1.^1 Cacanilula. Spita. Natural Order: Labiatce — Mint Family. UROPE produces immense fields of Lavender, grown for the sake of the flowers, from which is obtained the perfume that is sold by all druggists and perfumers. It has a very pleasant, agreeable odor. The Latin word from which it is derived is lavare, to bathe, and brings to mind the marble baths of the early Greeks and Romans, when the most exqui- site of sculpture, the most beautiful productions of art and nature, were gathered together for their adornment, and flowers and spices were rifled of their sweets to add to the sumptuousness and luxurious- ness of their ablutions. It is a perennial of easy culture, about eighteen inches high, delightfully aromatic, and bears purple flowers. The oil possesses tonic and stimulative properties, and is used in medicine. AND lavender, whose spikes of azure bloom ■'^ Shall be erewhile in arid bundles bound, To lurk amidst her labors of the loom. And crown her kerchiefs clean with mickle rare perfume. — Skem^ione. QWEET lavender! I love thy flower ^ Of meek and modest blue, Which meets the morn and evening hour. The storm, the sunshine, and the shower. And changeth not its hue. Thou art not like the fickle train Our adverse fates estrange; Who in the day of grief and pain Are found deceitful, light and vain. For thou dost never change. But thou art emblem of the friend. Who, whatsoe'er our lot. The balm of faithful love will lend, And, true and constant to the end. May die, but alter not. —Strickland. T BLUSH to think what I have said — Thy virtue will excuse my passion for thee, ■'■ But fate has wrested the confession from me: And make the gods propitious to our love. Go on, and prosper in the paths of honor; •85 — Addison. ttr 1 (Slitl'US Itmonum. Natural Order: Auranticece — Orange Family. ITRUS LIMONUM, or Lemon tree, is a handsome tropical tree of easy culture in any climate (excepting, of course, the frigid zone), if given the protection of the house in winter, in cold latitudes. The foliage is small, glossy, dark and ever- green; the flowers similar to the orange, and very fragrant. The fruit, as everyone knows, is a beautiful yellow, and is very aromatic, and the pulp is filled with a most excellent, cooling, acid juice. When loaded with fruit, such as is to be seen in tropical climates, it presents a magnificent appearance. Mrs. Loudon says, "the golden apples of the heathen are supposed to belong to this family." Jbtr^lbn. pRUDENCE protects and guides us; wit betrays; -'• A splendid source of ill ten thousand ways. — Dry den. ■QEAR me, Pomona, to thy citron groves, ^ To where the lemon and the piercing lime, With the deep orange glowing thro' the green, Their lighter glories blend. —Thompson. T r^ONSULT your means, avoid the tempter's wiles, ^ Shun grinning hosts of unreceipted files. Let heaven-ey'd prudence battle with desire. And win the victory, though it be through fire. —James T. Fields. TJUT now, so wise and wary was the knight, ^ By trial of his former harms and cares, That he decry'd, and shunned still his sight. The fish that once was caught, new bait will hardly bite. — Spenser. E knows the compass, sail and oar. Or never launches from the shore; Before he builds, computes the cost. And in no proud pursuit is lost. —Gay. HUS I shall be fairer to your untried thought. Than if all my living into yours were wrought. Hearts' dreams are the sweetest in a lonely nest: Leave me while you love me — this is surely best! — Howard Glyndon. H' ATONE pities him that's in the snare, ' And, warn'd before, would not beware. — Herrich. 1 86 Vi^^ "^5 f CttttUfft SfttlBtt. Natural Order: Composites — Aster Family. ^NE of the most common of vegetables, Lettuce is also among the first to appear on the table in spring, when man as well as beast hungers for the green things of the field. Of the many kinds, each puts forward some especial claim to our attention, from the loose, curled leaves of the one, to the close, compact heads of the other; but crisp and tender they must be, to form the appetizing salads of which they are the chief ingredient. They are of very ancient cultivation, as they are mentioned by several Latin authors, and the selling of lettuce formed the occupation of people in those days as now in our own. Lettuce dealers were called Lactu- carius, though they probably sold other vegetables. After the season 'is over, the plants are allowed to go to seed. The stalk is about two feet high, filled with a milky juice; and the flowers are a pale yellow, numerous, but rather small in size. HAVE not from your eyes that gentleness And show of love, as I was wont to have. — Shaliespeare, ■yrOUR coldness I heed not, your frown I defy; ■*■ Your affection I need not — the time has gone by. When a blush or a smile on that cheek could beguile My soul from its safety, with witchery's smile. — Mrs. Osgood. TTIS heart was all on honor bent. He could not stoop to love ; No lady in the land had power His frozen heart to move. — Anmiymoiis. A TOT the basilisk More deadly to the sight, than is to me The cool, ingenious eye of frozen kindness. — Gay. "XrOUR breast is heaped like mountain snows, Your cheek is like a blushing rose. Your eyes are black as ripened sloes, Like diamonds do they glitter. I do not flatter like a fool — The diamond is a cutting tool. The rose is thorny, snow is cool, And sloes are very bitter. ,87 "-•^-^.-L ^^^ ^f* * 0gringa |)£rsiCft. Natural Order: Oleacece — Olive Family. .ERSIAN LILAC varies from the common varieties, both in jSize and foliage, which is sometimes entire, and again cleft. I The flowers are white or purplish, and bloom in spikes. Our I' common Lilac is a native of Hungary, and is very popular as an early visitor in spring, when it gladdens the bower rwith its odor and blossoms. The Latin name Syringa, has l^'its origin in the Greek tongue, where we find siiriggias to be the name of any kind of reed Or cane that can be hollowed out to form a pipe or rustic flute. The Greek and Latin shepherds were very fond of this humble instrument, upon which they used to improvise their simple tunes as they wandered with their flocks from one fragrant field to another, or played for each other's entertainment as they rested sur- ^rounded by their sleeping herds at night. The branches of the Lilac have a center filled with pith, which can be easily removed by running a stout wire or other substance through them. T HAD so fixed my heart upon her, That whereso'er I framed a scheme of life For time to come, she was my only joy, % TOVE never fails to master what he finds, ^ But works a different way in different minds: The fool enlightens, and the wise he blinds. — Dryden. Love hath found me sitting lonely. Whispered soft a charmed word ; Evermore my heart beats only To the music of that word. — G. Hamlin. Love is a god, Strong, free, unbounded; and, as some define. Fears nothing, pitieth none: such love is mine. — Mason. With which I used to sweeten future cares: I fancied pleasures, none but one who loves And doats as I did can imagine like them. —Oiway. r\ MAID ! with eyes whose azure ^-' Holds a happy, joyous gleam, What hath charmed thy listless leisure — Made thy life a fairy dream.' -5.=^ i <^f¥ t Cilium canMbum. Natural Order: Liliacece — Lily Family. REEK leirion, interpreted to signify wanting in color, or pale, is the origin of the Latin lilium, as that is of the English lily. The Lilies are bulbous plants, having long, tapering leaves, and flowers of most exquisite beauty. They are cultivated without much labor. The above is pure white. The most "^ beautiful of all lilies are those from China and Japan, being very rich in color, and larger in size than our native plants. The Lilium candidum is a native of the Levant. The Lily seems to vie with the daisy for its share of musical honors, for many is the lyre that has been tuned to its praises. Mrs. Tighe, in remarking that there is no beauty in the bulb, says: " Yet in that bulb, those sapless scales, The lily wraps her silver vest — Till vernal suns and vernal gales Shall kiss once more her fragrant breast." QPRING has no blossom fairer than thj form; "^ Winter no snow-vjfreath purer than thy mind; The dewdrop trembling to the morning beam Is like thy smile — pure, transient, heaven-refin'd. —Mrs. Lydia Jane Pierson. 'T'HERE is a pale and modest flower In garb of green array'd. That decks the rustic maiden's bower, And blossoms in the glade; Though other flowers around me bloom. In gaudy splendor drest, Filling the air with rich perfume, I love the lily best. Anonymous. T HAD found out a sweet, green spot Where a lily was blooming fair; The din of the city disturbed it not; But the spirit that shades the quiet cot With its wings of love was there. —James G. Percrval. 189 l\ ^' 1 V» Ttiraft]j«$n«$$* 'T^HE turnpike road to people's hearts, I find, Lies through their mouths, or I mistake mankind. —Dr. Walcot. T'M quite ashamed — 'tis mighty rude To eat so much — but all's so good I have a thousand thanks to give — My lord alone knows how to live. —Pope. "T^IS holyday; provide me better cheer; 'Tis holyday; and shall be round the year; Shall I my household gods and genius cheat. To make him rich who grudges me my meat.' — Dryden. QOME men are born to feast, and not to fight; Whose sluggish mind, e'en in fair honor's field, Still on their dinner turn. ~yoan»a BaiJlie. pEYOND the sense Of light refection, at the genial board Indulge not often; nor protract the feast Cllpinus polypligllus. Natural Order: Leguminosce — Pulse Family. MONG our handsomest native plants, the Lupines find a recognized place, more especially the above, which is a fine variety from Oregon. Its height is from three to four feet, the foliage soft and silky, and the flowers yellow, purple, or ■£j white. There are numerous other varieties from different y^ parts of the United States, both annual and perennial. The |g,Lupinus mutabilis (changeable) is from South America, and is said to be changeable in the color of its blossoms. The ancients used a spe- 'cies of Lupine for food, thinking it strengthened the intellect; and on 9 the stage the seeds were used by the players instead of real money. ^The Latin name signifies wolfish, from lupus, a wolf, as it absorbs the ' fertility of the soil, to the detriment of other things ; and polyphyllus, from the Greek, denotes many-leaved. To dull satiety; till soft and slow A drowsy death creeps on th' expansive soul, Oppress'd and smother'd the celestial fire. — Armstrong, TVTOT all on books their criticism waste, ■'■ ' The genius of a dish some justly taste. And eat their way to fame. —Toitng. 196 Tsrz. f-^n^^. 5^ CSf Ulognolia gronbiflora. Natural Order: Magnoliacece — Magnolia Family. fF all the flowers bestowed upon the South, there is none to which a Southerner refers with more pride than to the blos- soms of this elegant tree. The Magnolia grandiflora flourishes throughout most of the Gulf States and on the Atlantic coast as far north as North Carolina. It grows chiefly in swampy lands, yet attains its greatest height in a light, fertile soil, where, if planted by itself, it will assume the shape of a perfect pyra- mid. The leaves are evergreen, the old ones forming a striking con- trast to the young and tender foliage, which is of a much lighter shade. The flowers are of the purest white, about eight or nine inches in diameter, and fill the air with their honeyed fragrance. As the slight- zest injury causes the blossom to soon turn brown, they have often been used as a medium of communication between lovers or friends. It was only necessary to write the message with some pointed instrument on one of the broad petals, and cause the flowers to be delivered in a bouquet to the person desired, and the wounded parts would soon betray the secret committed to the floral page. Jutia uf l^tlttr^* VTATURE is man's best teacher. She unfolds ■^ Her treasures to his search, unseals his eye, Illumes his mind, and purifies his heart. An influence breathes from all the sights and sounds Of her existence; she is wisdom's self. —street. I LOVE thee for the blossoms and the bees, The hills, the vales, the mountains and the seas ; The winds, the clouds, the skies of azure blue, The moon, the stars, and planets circling through; r\ NATURE! how in every charm supreme! ^ Whose votaries feast on raptures ever new! O ! for the voice and fire of seraphim, To sing thy glories with devotion due! —Beattie. The earth, the sun, and everything that's fair, Above, below, all round and everywhere — The soul, the mind, to their Creator call. To him, the Father, First and Last of all. -Lalee, T^HE green earth sends its incense up From every mountain shrine — From every flower and dewy cup That greeteth the sunshine. —WMtiier. 197 .^.^S i" whole Ulaba B^btStriH. Natural Order: Malvacece — Mallow Family. ?ALUED at all times for their emollient properties (whence f-' the name from the Greek malasso, I make soft, through the f-^ Latin malvd), the Mallows are a mucilaginous order of plants, allied to the hollyhock family. They are frequently found in rural gardens as ornaments. The above species is about three feet high, with purplish-red flowers, and is called High Mallow, to distinguish it from the Low Mallow, a prostrate species, the seeds of which children call cheeses. The Mallow crispa j;^ is a very tall annual from Syria, with very large, roundish leaves, the borders of which are adorned with a very full, crisped or curled rufl[iing, and would appear to advantage as a foliage plant in the borders in summer. The Musk Mallow is from Great Britain, hav- ing very pretty flowers of a rose color, blooming in midsummer; the plant being pervaded by the odor from which it takes name. )0ttittJ$9$* H OW far that little candle throws its beams! So shines a good deed in a naughty world. — Shakespeare. IV /[ ORE sweet than odors caught by him who sails Near spicy shores of Araby the blest, A thousand times more exquisitely sweet, The freight of holy feeling which we meet In thoughtful moments, wafted by the gales From fields where good men walk, or bowers Wherein they rest. —Wordsworth. [ AN should dare all things that he knows is And fear to do no act save what is wrong; But guided safely by his inward light. And with a permanent belief, and strong, In Him who is our Father and our Friend, He should walk steadfastly unto the end, 198 pOOD, the more ^ Communicated, more abundant grows; M' The author not impair'd, but honor'd inore. —Milton. 'T^O be good is. to be happy; angels Are happier than men because they're better — Rowe. right, — Phcehe Carey. CAttt aaatjarmum. Natural Order: Aceracem—Mafle Family. ANADA and the New England States produce the Rock Maple in great abundance, forming in some districts a greater part of the forests. It grows to a great height, has a some- what rough, gray bark, and in summer a fine crown of foliage, which in fall takes on itself the most brilliant hues that greet the eye in an autumn landscape, sporting through all the shades from yellow to crimson, as if it had caught and imprisoned the glorious colors of a sunset sky. The Black Maple is another tree of the same class, both yielding the sap from which the sugar bearing their name is manufactured. ^$$^ruf. 'XT^OU know my wishes ever yours did meet: If I be silent, 'tis no more but fear That I should say too little when I speak. — Lady Carew. 'T^HE maples in the forest glow; ■•■ On the lawn the fall flowers blaze; The landscape has a purple haze; My heart is filled with warmth and glow. Like living coals the red leaves burn; They fall, then turns the red to rust; They crumble, like the coals, to dust; Warm heart, must thou to ashes turn.' — Sylvester Baxter, AH! what delight 'twould be, Would'st thou sometimes by stealth converse with me! How should I thy sweet commune prize, And other joys despise! Come, then! I ne'er was yet denied by thee. — John Norris. T ABJURE your sight; •^ Ev'n from my meditations and my thoughts I banish your enticing vanities; And, closely kept within my study walls. As from a cave of rest, henceforth I'll see And smile, but never taste your misery. —Goffe. TF thou canst feel. Within thy inmost soul. That thou hast kept a portion back, While I have staked the whole; Let no false pity spare the blow, But in true mercy tell me so. — Adelaide Anne Procter, 199 «-?^ J M^ SagcteS crecta. Natural Order: Composites — Aster Family. 'ARIGOLDS are mostly herbs of tropical America, and 1 long to the same order as the artemisia, chrysanthemum «• -* and China aster, which order is said to comprehend Wj'f le-ninth of all flowering plants. The Tagetes is named in a^ - honor of Tages, an Etrurian deity, a grandson of Jupiter, '^ who is said to have sprung from the plowed earth, in the form of a boy, and taught the Etrurians the art of foretelling events, or divination. A description of so familiar a plant is almost un- necessary, as everyone must know it has the yellowest of flowers and an abundance of them, interspersed with plumy foliage. The French Marigold has dark, velvety blossoms, which, var3ang through the different shades of maroon, are really pretty. All the varieties have a peculiar fragrance, rather balsamic than otherwise. N FT those whose cruelty makes many mourn, Do by the fires which they first kindle burn. —Earl of Sterline. O counsel from our cruel wills can win us, VOU are more inhuman, more inexorable. But ills once done, we bear our guilt within us. — jfa/m Ford. 0' O, ten times more, than tigers of Hyrcania. — Shakespeare, TT7HY didst thou fling thyself across my path.? My tiger spring must crush thee in its way, But cannot pause to pity thee. —Maturin. TET me be cruel, not unnatural; I will speak daggers to her, but use none. — Shakespeare. PANTASTIC tyrant of the amorous heart, How hard thy yoke! how cruel is thy dart! —Prior. !iK= T^HOU art come to answer A stony adversary, an inhuman wretch. Incapable of pity, void and empty From ev'ry drachm of mercy. — Shakespeare. 200 L.A3— o, I creep), as the stems creep at the base in the mud or shallow water, the upper part only emerging. T7ULL soon, I know it, while they shall strain to free not, From these idolatrous arms you shall be torn; You are fated from my days to pass and be not, Like all of rare and fair they have ever worn ! I am doomed, although the stealthy doom I see not; I feast, albeit I die tomorrow morn ! —Edgar Fa-mcett. 'T^HE ship which goes to sea inform'd with fire,- Obeying only its own iron force. Reckless of adverse tides, breeze dead, or weak As infant's sporting breath, too faint to stir The feather held before it, — -is as much The appointed thrall of all the elements, 'TPHE grass withereth, the flower fadeth, Ay, and I know " 'tis well," For they shall live again when springtime's Sweet birdlings' songs shall tell. Above their knell. -Charlotte Gardner. As the white bosom'd bark which wooes the wind, And when it dies desists. And thus with man: However contrary he set his heart To God, he is but working out His will. And at an infinite angle, more or less Obeying his own soul's necessity. —Bailey. TATE — soon or late, '-^ The longest day hath end; If the summer wait. The winter still must wend With sad steps and slow unto the fields of Fate. — Z. Bruce Moore. 207 ^ ^ 1} C5f< K£S£ba O&orata. Natural Order: Resedacca — Mignonette Family. 'N France, Holland, and various other parts of Europe, the Mignonette, originally a native of Egypt and North Africa, is trained into a tree shape, by taking a straight, healthy plant, and bending a piece of willow or whalebone over it, in the shape of a hoop, and tying the shoot to it, and as it increases in height another hoop is added until the plant has become woody. A French writer remarks that she has seen them as old as fifteen years, and even double that age. The flowers, after they have withered, must be removed, in order that it may retain its vital- ity. It grows also in beds or masses, and perfumes the whole garden. Some of the varieties are dense and bushy. Though humble and insignificant, its fragrance makes it a general favorite. Its name in the vernacular is from the French and means little darling, its botanical name is from the Latin resedo, I assuage. TT is not mirth, for mirth she is too still; It is not wit, which leaves the heart more chill. But that continuous sweetness which with ease Pleases all around it from the wish to please. —The New Timon. Bz^ T70R you remember you had set. That morning, on the casement edge, A long, green box of mignonette, And you were leaning from the ledge: DEAUTIES that from worth arise Are, like the grace of deities, Still present with us, though unsighted. — Sir y. SuckUtiff. T KNOW the gentleman To be of worth and worthy estimation. And not without desert so well reputed. — Shakespeare. And when I raised my eyes, above They met with two so full and bright — Such eyes! I swear to you, my love. That these have never lost their light. — Tennyson. T^HIS fragrant bloom of garden birth, So modest, yet persuasive — Because the sweet it saps from earth By fullness is invasive — [I've inet — Is truest measure of my love, of all the flowers Une '^herbe d'amour" — petite in girth, Delicious mignonette! —Mary B. Dod^e. J^S 2oS [| I TTll C5P iIlEntl)a Birti&tS, Natural Order: LabiatcE — Mint Family. ^ PVERAL plants are known under the common name of mint, ihe Spearmint being probably the most agreeable to the taste. . It is used in making sauces for some varieties of meat, especially ,' Iamb; medicinally it is said to allay fevers, and act against spas- modic affections. The Peppermint is well known through the essences s.old by all pharmaceutists. Both plants are natives of Europe, and affect moist places, frequently growing beside shallow streams and in low, wet meadows, where they seem much more brittle and tender, from the amount of water they suck up into their stems. Either plant grows well in the garden, spreading rapidly by means of their creeping roots. The flowers are purple, and in slender racemes. According to mythology, Minthe, a nymph of the woods and streams, and beloved by Hades (Pluto), was turned by Proserpine into one of these plants. VIRTUE stands like the sun, and all which rolls around Drinks life, and light, and glory from her aspect. — Byron. COUNT life by virtues — these will last When life's lame-footed race is o'er; And these, when earthly joys are past, Shall cheer us on a brighter shore. —Mrs. S. y. Hale. "VriRTUE, dear friend, needs no defense; The surest guard is innocence: Quivers and bows and poison'd darts Are only used by guilty hearts. — Roscommon. T TIRTUE could see to do what virtue would • By her own radiant light, though sun and moon Were in the flat sea sunk. /^NLY a sweet and virtuous soul, ^ Like season'd timber, never gives; But, though the whole world turn to coal. Then chiefly lives. —George Herbert. — Milton. 'T^HE path to peace is virtue; what I show, Thyself may freely on thyself bestow; Fortune was never worship'd by the wise. But set aloft by fools, usurps the skies. — Dryden. 209 's—^i^-'-a q-j-* — ^*y i~^ ^S? CSfliil*' ^ IpljOrakltlJron tkwamtS. Natural Order: Lor anthacece— Mistletoe Family. OUR hundred species or more of the Misdetoe are now known to botanists. The leaves are thick and fleshy, the flowers a whitish yellow, bearing a half transparent white berry, with a sticky pulp. It is more abundant on elm trees than on any other, and only when it was found on the oak 3owas it considered a sacred thing by the Druids, or priests of the ancient Britons; when so found, they had a great tri- umphal procession to gather it, after which, with much solemnity, they laid it on a white cloth, and divided it among the people as a charm against disease. These plants are parasitic in nature, living on the juices of the trees on which they rest. This particular species, the American mistletoe, derives , its name, which was given it by Nuttall, from two Greek words denoting thievish tree. UR natures are like oil : compound us with anything, Yet still we strive to swim upon the top. /~*OME, my soul, let us reason together; ^ Come, for the shadows darken ahead; Care and sorrow tighten the tether. Life's sun through the mists grows dim and By nature half di And hold a near IVTATURE, that framed us of four elements, ■'■ ' Warring within our breasts for regiinen. Doth teach us all to have aspiring minds: Our souls, whose faculties can comprehend The wondrous architechture of the world. — Beaumont and Fletcher. Come, ere the long, low light of the summer Fade to the brown of the autumn leaf; Come, lest the foot of the careless comer red. Lag weary in paths made rough with grief. — Barton Grey. Great souls, vine, soar to the stars, acquaintance with the gods. — RoTxle. And measure ev'ry wand'ring planet's course, Still climbing after knowledge infinite, And always moving as the restless spheres. Wills us to wear ourselves, and never rest Until we reach the ripest fruit of all. 2 ID -Mario. ,— JJ csp ^Iconitum JJ^apellOH. Natural Order: Ranunculacece — Crowfoot Family. >HIS plant takes its name from the peculiar shape of its flowers, which resemble a monk's cowl or hood, and are of various colors — blue, white, and rose-color. It has a, rather pleasant appearance, and when once established requires but little attention, as it grows well in any soil, and thrives from year to year. The extract of the plant is extremely poisonous, but, used medicinally, it is the strong bulwark of the homoeopathic practice. It is used successfully in combating fevers, and the first stages of most diseases, as it acts against all ..inflammatory conditions of the body, but should never be used in the . fluid state except as advised by a physician. OOLEMNLY he swore, ^ That by the faith which knights to knighthood bore, And whate'er else to chivalry belongs, He would not cease till he revenged their wrongs. — Dryden. A TRUE knight, ■^ Not yet mature, yet matchless ; firm in word. Speaking in deeds, and deedless in his tongue; Not soon provok'd, nor being provok'd, soon calm'd; His heart and hand both open, and both free; For what he has, he gives ; what thinks, he shows ; Yet gives he not till judgment guide his bounty, Nor dignifies an impure thought in breath. — Shakespeare, A FORM more active, light and strong. Ne'er shot the ranks of war along; The modest, yet the manly mien. Might grace the court of maiden queen. — Scott. AT AUGHT is more honorable to a knight, ■"■' Nor better doth beseem brave chivalry. Than to defend the feeble in their right. And wrong redress in such as wend awry. — Spenser. 1\/[Y good blade carves the casques of men, My tough lance thrusteth sure. My strength is as the strength of ten. Because my heart is pure. — Tennyson. S\ f, <^ ]l U im. Natural Order: ConvolvulacecB — Convolvulus Family, ERE is a well known climber and general favorite, though rejected by some for its commonness, or because it is found so frequently in the humble walks of life. It however forms a very grateful shade from the noonday sun, and is used g^^more than any other annual vine for that purpose. The flowers are various in color; the bud is curiously twisted, which, when expanded is of a beautiful trumpet-shape, the tints being far more delicate than any brush could lay. In the Southern States it grows wild, adorning the hedges and byways with its blossoms, 9 and supplying the humming-bird and bee with their morning repasts. liyiY heart is like the sleeping lake, ■'■'•*• Which takes the hue of cloud and sky, And only feels its svu-face break When birds of passage wander by. TTTITHOUT, the happy birds are singing • ' Their last song in the gathering gloom ; And languorous airs soft scents are bringing From musk)- buds and bloom. — George Cooper. — Willis. TTERE let us couch in fern, And gaze adown the forest's dim arcade. Where little patches of bright sunlight burn, Companioned of deep shade. TTERE stretched, the pleasant turf I press. n In luxury of idleness; Sun-streaks, and glancing wings, and sky Spotted with cloud-shapes, charm my eye; While murmuring grass and waving trees, 'T^HE cricket on its bank is dumb; -^ The very flies forget to hum; And, save the wagon rocking round. The landscape sleeps without a sound. — John Clare. Their leaf-harps sounding to the breeze, And water-tones that tinkle near. Blend their sweet music to my ear; And by the changing shades alone The passage of the hours is known. —Alfred B. Street. 312 -si=^S' If ^^ ''% a <^ BcabtOBa atropnrpurea. Natural Order: Difsacece— Teasel Family. % OURNING BRIDE (Sweet Scabious) is a perennial plant, 1 ut as it is only half-hardy in the Northern climate, and ^K%^ blooms the first season, it is sown every summer and fn lUowed to perish with the frost ; although it would be ^^ worth the trial to see if some light protection would not - '^ save it, as most perennial plants bloom better when the roots are well established. For many years it has been a favorite garden flower, being neat in habit, with very pretty tapering foliage and desirable blossoms. The buds are bunched together like a semi-spherical cushion, the rounded side up, the lower row of florets of which open first, and, when all are expanded, fairly crowd each other for room. They are velvety in texture, and in % some of the purples and maroons the colors are so intense that the eye can scarcely penetrate the depth of their tints, as they are only a shade or two from being black; hence the epithet, atropurpurea, or dark purple. There are some light varieties, also white. They have the odor of musk. T HAVE tjii-ust away in silence each loving thought of you; I have laid to rest each memory, so tender and so true; I have prayed upon my bended knees for povifer to forget, And the answer to that prayer is this — I love you, love you yet! T -NEED not say how, one by one. Love's flowers have dropp'd from off love's chain. Enough to say that they are gone. And that they cannot bloom again. — Miss Landoii. TTNHAPPY he, who lets a tender heart. Bound to him by the ties of earliest love. Fall from him by his own neglect, and die. Because it met no kindness. —Percival. — Christian Reid. jVJOT one sigh shall tell my story. Not one tear my cheek shall stain ; Silent grief shall be my glory — Grief that stoops not to complain. — Mrs. Robinson, AH me! I thought you loved me well — Our human eyes are blind; He only reads life's parable. Who never looks behind. —Barton Grey. 213 m VtvbaSCUm tIjapSUS. Natural Order: Scrofhulariacece — Figwort Family. ^ERBASCUM, or Mullein, is a common wayside plant, that ^ we will dignify with a place in this volume as a slight recompense for the abuse it has ever, and will ever, receive. 'Condemned as a weed, considered as evidence of an untidy ' landholder wherever it is seen occupying the fields, its stately stalk a target for every roadside rambler's stick, it has at least ?some virtues, and less vice than it generally obtains credit for, and shall receive a tribute for the memory of childhood, when we remem- ber seeing its golden blossoms so far above our head. The whole plant presents a gray appearance, from the dense woolly texture that 'covers its leaves and stalk. It is said to have been used in ancient ftimes as wicks for lamps, or was placed in small vessels of oil, and one end lighted, the oil continually creeping up its dense surface, supplying the flame with fuel; and many a country lassie has been indebted for her rosy cheeks to a pilfered leaf, whose rough surface she has furtively applied to her smooth skin. The plant has several medicinal properties, being demulcent, anti-spasmodic, and useful as an anodyne. The German name is wollkraut, signifying wool-plant. iuoit "faiitr^* /^OOD humor only teaches charms to last, ^^ Still makes new conquests, and maintains the past. —Pope. TTE keeps his temper'd mind serene and pure, And ev'ry passion aptly harmonized. Amid a jarring world. — Thompson. A SWEETER and a lovelier gentleman. Framed in the prodigality of nature. The spacious world cannot again afford. — Shakespeare, wu 'T^HOUGH time her bloom is stealing. There 's still beyond his art — The wild-flower wreath of feeling, The sunbeam of the heart. —Halleck. 214 *-J?^^ r csp ? iJlimtlluS ntOBCl)atU0. Natural Order: Scrofhulariacea — Figwort Family. UT few things in nature have the odor of musk, particularly in the vegetable kingdom; and this little, unobtrusive plant, so delicate and fragile, is cultivated for this property, other- wise it would be passed by for its more showy sisters; yet its blossoms look like drops of yellow gold among its pale- green leaves. It is a native of Oregon. The other varieties of the Mimulus are grown for their curious and striking flowers, which are usually yellow, velvety, and spotted with crimson, maroon, or brown. They are well adapted for garden or house culture, but require moisture, and a little shelter from the scorching sun. Mimulus is derived from the Greek mimo, signifying an ape, from the grinning appearance of the corolla. Another variety is known as the Mimulus ringens, or Monkey-flower. jl Hi^ittjg, A HUNDRED thousand welcomes ! I could weep, And I could laugh ; I am light, and heavy ; welcome. — Shakespeare. 'INHERE 'S not a fiber in my trembling frame That does not vibrate when thy step draws near; ^HEN 1. * • 'Tis lili lovers meet in adverse hour, like a sun-glimpse through a shower, There 's not a pulse that throbs not when I hear A watery ray an instant seen. Thy voice, thy breathing, nay, thy very name. Then darkly-closing clouds between. — Frances Kemble Butler. — Scott. AND doth not a meeting like this make amends For all the long years I've been wand'ring away — To see thus around me my youth's early friends, As smiling and kind as in that happy day.' TT gives me wonder, great as my content, O^HE joy of meeting pays the pangs of absence, To see you here before me. —Shakespeare. ^ Else who could bear it.? — Rovie. I .ts^^tnr" N that same place thou hast appointed me Tomorrow truly will I meet with thee. — Shakespeare, 215 .^^ ^^r ment, JSinapis alba. Natural Order: Cruciferce — Mustard Family. i^ECEIVED into this country probably from Germany or England, as it is a very ancient European herb, it has always been [esteemed as a condiment for the table and for its excellent . medical qualities. It is exceedingly prolific, and wherever once sown, will take care of its own reproduction. In England ^ it is cultivated in quantities for its seed, and on a small scale in some parts of America. It is sometimes grown in hotbeds as a salad, .and the young leaves of the garden Mustard are frequently boiled as greens. It sends up a strong, branching stalk, about four feet high, which is in summer covered with numerous small, sulphur-colored flowers. The seeds are formed in small, delicate pods, which, when ripe, burst, and let their contents scatter over the ground. The seeds are very pungent to the taste; but those of the Sinapis nigra, or Black Mustard, are still more so; the flour of mustard, the form in which it is used as a condi- is a combination of both — two-fifths black, and three-fifths white. The pungency is developed only where the flour is brought under the influence of water. ALAS! my lord, if talking would prevail, ■^ ^ I could suggest much better arguments Than those regards you throw away on me. — Toung. JET me this fondness from my bosom tear; ■'-' Let me forget that e'er I thought her fair; Come, cool indifference, and heal my breast; Wearied, at length, I seek thy downy rest — Not all her arts my steady soul shall move, And she shall find indifference conquers love. — LyUleton. \ GRACIOUS person; but yet I cannot love him: He might have took his answer long ago. TJUT in those lands where people are, ■^ Few men at all take any heed; While still he sings, and from afar, — Shakespeare. So beautiful is the song, indeed That twilight loiters hours to hear, Eavesdropping with a roseate ear. 2l6 -Edgar Fav/cett, jS- Jilgrtua COinmunia. Natural Order: My rtacece— Myrtle Family. THENS adopted the Myrtle as an emblem, of municipal authority, and the victors in the Olympic games were crowned with wreaths of it; it was also sacred to Venus, the goddess of love, and her temples were encompassed with groves of i,pr>^ Myrtle. We find in Virgil, that in Baiae (a small town in : Campania, on the coast between Cumae and Puteoli, a favorite resort of the Romans on account of its warm baths and pleasant location), "there was a large Myrtle grove, where a warm, ■ sudorific vapor rose from the earth." King Faunus beat Bona Dea, I his wife, to death with myrtle rods, because she lowered the dignity of \ a queen by becoming intoxicated with wine. He afterward repented his severity, deified, and paid her divine honors. It is a handsome, ornamental evergreen shrub, grown usually in the greenhouse, and was much admired by the ancients for its elegance and fragrance. /^H, love! thou sternly dost thy power maintain, ^-^ And wilt not bear a rival in thy reign; Tyrants and thou all fellowship disdain. — Dryden. T OVE knoweth every form of air, ■^ And every shape of earth; And comes, unbidden, everywhere, Like thought's mysterious birth. A T OVE is a pearl of purest hue. But stormy waves are round it, And dearly may a woman rue The hour that first she found it. — Willis, — Miss Landon, SUBTLE, unbound power. That slips the soul from its prison fair And makes it buoyant and lighter than air. — C. H. T. 'T'RUE, ah! true, and well I mark Faith yet fuller, more complete. All your words would teach — While my lips attest And my soul beyond the dark It is love makes heaven sweet — Stretches forth to reach Love is more than rest! — Mary B. Dodge. 217 1 M^' vg '^y-'^' CSff ^rutsm. 'T^HE wise and active conquer difficulties ■*■ By daring to attempt them; sloth and folly Shiver and sink at sights of toil and hazard, And make the impossibility the}' fear. "VrET it may be more lofty courage dwells In one weak heart which braves an adverse fate, Than his whose ardent soul indignant swells, Warm'd by the fight, or cheer'd through high debate. — Mrs. Norton. 'pHERE is a tear for all who die. — Rowe. T A mourner o'er the humblest grave; But nations swell the funeral cry. And triumph weeps above the brave. — Byron, HERE 'S naught within the compass of humanity But I would dare and do. —Sir A. Hunt. AND though in peaceful garb arrayed, ^ And weaponless except his blade, His stately mien as well implied 218 A highborn heart and martial pride, As if a baron's crest he wore. And, sheathed in armor, tread the shore. —Srott. ©ropCEolum maius. Natural Order: Tropceolacece — Nasturtium Family. }F this handsome class of plants, there exists quite a number of annual varieties, some of which are dwarf or low-growing, others climbing five or six feet high, adhering to their support by their long leaf-stalks. The flowers are brilliant, usually of ' some shade of orange or yellow, combined with red, crimson, maroon, or carmine, and in shape very aptly compared to a helmet, and the leaf to a shield. Hence the botanical name, from the Greek tropcBon a trophy, which meant strictly the pile of captured helmets, shields etc., raised by the victorious party on the field of battle. The vernacular Nasturtium is from the Latin nasiis tortus, twisted nose, because of the pungency of the plant. There are also two or three \^D tuburous or bulbous varieties, that are as yet rather unfrequent in cul- A \j tivation, and are more delicate in foliage and flower than the well known species mentioned above. The Canary Bird Flower, Tropeolum aduncum is said,, when fully grown, to live on air alone if detached from, the roots. They are all natives of Peru. B m l^tmOTpljila in0tgnis. Natural Order: Hydrofhyllacece — Waterleaf Family. EMOPHILA, meaning, in the Greek, lover of the grove, is a low-growing, delicate, herbaceous plant, about six inches high, ■and a native of California. The narrow leaves are notched deeply on the sides, and are slightly downy; the flowers are small, but pretty, some being white with a purple spot on f^^S^ each petal, as if fairy hands had given each a pinch with thumb and finger; another is blue, edged with white, and vice versa — blue with a white center; altogether a dozen or more different varieties. The plants delight in shady grounds, making themselves doubly desirable on that account, and present a nice appearance as a border for walks and margins of beds, or, if fancy dictate, they can be sown in a mass by themselves. D AME NATURE gave him comeliness and health, And Fortune, for a passport, gave him wealth. — Walter Harte. TITHEN fortune raiseth to the gi-eatest height, The happy man should most suppress his state. Expecting still a change of things to find, And fearing when the gods appear too kind. — Sir Robert Howard. r^F both our fortunes, good and bad, we find ^^ Prosperity more searching of the mind; Felicity flies o'er the wall and fence, While misery keeps in with patience. -Herrick. ■pORTUNE came smiling to my youth, and woo'd it, r And purple greatness met my ripen'd years. f — Drydeit. "PROSPERITY puts out unnumbered thoughts r Of import high, and light divine, to man. — Tottnff, A TOW rising fortune elevates his mind. He shines unclouded, and adorns mankind. — Savage, "P\AILY and hourly proof Tell us, prosperity is at highest degree The fount and handle of calamity. 219 -Chapman, 53" "1 Mrtica btoita. Natural Order: Urticacece — Nettle Family. RTICA, from the Latin uro, I burn, is the very expressive *and appropriate botanical name of this familiar nuisance, as one cannot come in contact with it without being stung. Through its innumerable tubular hairs there passes a viscous, venomous s^j^™;^ fluid into the pores of the skin, creating a sensation that is ^intensely disagreeable and indescribable. Hence the term nettled is a synonym for chagrin or any mortifying sensation. The Greek epithet dioica denotes belonging to the household, or familiar. The flowers of the nettle are small and green. The leaves of the young plants are sometimes used as a potherb, but of course have to be gathered with gloves. Some of the Asiatic varieties yield a fiber that is sometimes utilized as a substitute for hemp. There are in all about twenty-three genera and three hundred species of nettles. |kttb$r* T7ROM door to door you might have seen him speed, Or plac'd amid a group of gaping fools, And whispering in their ears with his foul lips. QLANDEROUS reproaches and foul infamies, ^ Leasings, backbitings and vainglorious crakes. Bad counsels, praises, and false flatteries; All these against that fort did bend their batteries. — Speiiser. — Pollock. /^H! many a shaft, at random sent, ^^ Finds mark the archer little meant; And many a word, at random spoken, M^y soothe or wound a heart that's broken. —Scott. T F I am traduc'd by tongues, which neither know My faculties nor person, yet will be The chroniclers of my doing — let me say, 'Tis but the fate of place, and the rough brake That virtue must go through. —Shakespeare. OKILL'D by a touch to deepen scandal's tints While mingling truth with falsehood, sneers with smiles, *^ With all the kind mendacity of hints. And thread of candor with a web of wiles. —Byron. 220 ta—jJ. -^ (SUlWCUS olba. Natural Order: Cupuliferce — Oak Family. , VERY one is familiar with the appearance of this noble genus of trees, or has read more or less in its praise. The wood "or timber of many of the varieties is exceedingly useful to man, in many of the mechanical arts, but more especially in jship-building, on account of its great strength and durability. It is also of historic interest to all Americans, as it was in )the hollow of an oak at Hartford, that the Charter obtained by Gov. Winthrop, the younger, for the colonists of Connecticut, from Charles I. 'of England, was secreted from October 31, 1687, to May, 1689. Sir Edmund Andros made an unsuccessful attempt to rob them of it, but Twas thwarted by William Wadsworth, who spirited it oft' and hid it in the Oak, which from this circumstance was called the Charter Oak. It is supposed to have been upward of three hundred years old when blown down by a storm, Aug. 20, 1856. The Oak has been considered by the heathen as honored above all other trees, because the sacred mistletoe grows upon its branches. T HESE be the sheaves that honor's harvest bears; The seed thy valiant acts; the world the field. — Fairfax. TTONOR and shame from no condition rise: Act well your part, there all the honor lies. —Pope. IVTINE honor is my life; both grow in one; Take honor from me, and my life is done. — Shakespeare. H EAV'N, that made me honest, made me more Than ever king did when he made a lord. -Rowe, much the thirst of honor fires the blood; So man}' would be great, so few be good; For who would virtue for herself regard, Or wed without the portion of reward.' — Dry den. T^HE tall oak, towering to the skies. The fury of the wind defies; From age to age, in virtue strong, Inured to stand and suffer wrong. -Montgomery. \] 221 il m i" ^ma satica. Naturai. Order: Graminece — Grass Family. AMILIAR throughout our own and other lands is this tall, grasslike plant It is grown in large fields for its useful and nutritious seeds, which grow in long, loose panicles. In Scot- land much pains are taken to prepare a meal from it, and when boiled into a mush, as we use cornmeal, or baked into oat cake, forms an excellent article of diet, very wholesome and nutritious, so that the cannie Scot's time-honored predilection for oatmeal is found based upon sound physiological principles. The whole seed is used everywhere as food for horses and cattle. It is said to flourish in cold, but to degenerate in warm, climates. T'LL cull the farthest mead for thy repast; ^ The choicest I to thy board will bring, And draw thy water from the freshest spring. — Prior. THERE health, so wild and gay, with bosom bare, VTATURE I'll court in her sequestered haunts, And rosy cheek, keen eye, and flowing hair, ■'■ By mountain, meadow, streamlet, grove, or cell, Trips with a smile the breezy scene along, Where the pois'd lark his evening ditty chants, And pours the spirit of content in song. And health, and peace, and contemplation dwell. — Pindar. — Smoltet. /^UR fields are full with the time-ripened grain, ^ Our vineyards with the purple clusters swell; Her golden splendor glimmers on the main, And vales and mountains her bright glory tell. HOW canst thou renounce the boundless store Of charms which nature to her votary yields; The warbling woodland, the resounding shore. The pomp of groves, and garniture of fields. M — Lord Thurlo-w. INE be a cot beside the hill; -Beatiie. A beehive's hum shall soothe my ear; A willow}' brook, that turns a mill. With many a fall shall linger near. — Rogers^ FIELDS, O woods, when shall I be made The happy tenant of your shade.' —Cowley, 222 li JffViuiU CDlcailibcr. Natural Order: Apocynacece — Dogbane Family. ROWING erect and branching regularly, this tall evergreen shrub keeps a good shape with very little attention. The most common species have rose-colored, single or double flowers, while some of the others are red, striped, crimson and white, and one pure white, partly double. The flowers "^ of the latter are apt to scorch if too much exposed to the burning rays of a midday sun when in bloom. All of these varieties are natives of the Levant and some parts of Palestine, growing near streams in those localities, but are quite common in house cultivation in America, being placed out of doors in summer. In Florida it is found in swampy lands, attaining the size of a tree. The Oleander belongs to a very poisonous family, and no part should be placed in the mouth, as . instances of occasional fatality are on record. C ET no man know thy business save some friend, A man of mind. TF light wrongs touch me not, No more shall great; if not a few, not many; There 's naught so sacred with us but may find A sacrilegious person; yet the thing is No less divine 'cause the profane can reach it. — Jonsou. — Bailey. ■QEWARE of desperate steps; the darkest day, Live till tomorrow, will have passed away. — Cowper. TTNCERTAIN ways unsafest are, ^ And doubt a greater mischief than despair. — Sir y, Denham. T HEN fly betimes, for only they Conquer love, that run away. — Garew. T^HOSE edges soonest turn that are most keen, A sober moderation stands sure. A VALIANT man No violent extremes endure. —Aleyti. Ought not to undergo or tempt a danger, But worthily, and by selected ways. — Beji 'Joiison. TJEAT not a furnace for your foe so hot That it doth singe yourself. —Shakespeare. M (ElceagnUS argtntea. Natural Order: Elceagnacece — Oleaster Family. -.II.VER-LEAVED Oleaster is a native of Missouri, and is con- sidered a shrub worthy of introducing into ornamental shrubberies. The foliage is handsome, and covered with a silvery scurf; the brunches are red. In Europe there is a variety cultivated which : - jiroduces a fruit having, when dried, much the flavor of the ''Ms date. It is of a reddish color, and about the shape and size plum. It is called Eleeagnus angustiflora, or Narrow-leaved Oleaster. Several other of the species are worthy of attention, one being an evergreen variety from the East Indies. The botanical name seems to imply, in Greek, upright olive — a significance retained in the vernacular, which is derived from the Latin. yruttibant^. PROVIDENCE, not niggardly, but wise, ■^ Here lavishly bestows, and there denies, That by each other's virtues we may rise. — Granville, r^O mark the matchless working of the power ^-^ That shuts within the seed the future flower; Bids these in elegance of form excel, In color these, and those delight the smell; Sends Nature forth, the daughter of the skies, To dance on earth, and charm all human eyes. — Cowper. -Mrs, Norton. T TE that doth the ravens feed, -*■ Yea, providently caters for the sparrow. Be comfort to my age. Shakespeare. W fHO is it that will doubt The care of heaven.' or think th' immortal Pow'rs are slow, 'cause they take the privilege Of nature, through religion's fuller noon. To choose their own time, when they will send Through life's bewildering mazes, to observe Their blessings down. —Davenant. A Providence in all! ' —Ogil-vU. — Davenant. A Providence in all! 224 'INHERE, when the tangled web is all explained. Wrong suffered, pain inflicted, grief disdained, Man's proud, mistaken judgments and false scorn Shall melt like mists before the uprising morn. And holy truth stand forth serenely bright. In the rich flood of God's eternal light! 'T'HUS wisdom speaks To man ; thus calls him through this actual form ■• I J x M- f-y^ ^UropCEa. Natural Order: Oleacece — Olive Family. HIEFLY cultivated for its fruit, ihe Olive abounds in Spain, Italy, and the southern parts of France. The fruit is first bruised to the consistency of paste, after which it is mixed with hot water, and strained through flannel sacks. The oil is then separated from the water, and bottled or barreled for transportation as the Olive oil of commerce. Minerva (in Greek, Athend), the goddess of war, wears a crown of Olive leaves as an emblem of peace; for, say ancient authors, "war is only made that peace may follow." It is said, also, that when she was disputing with Neptune about the name of a city, she caused an Olive tree to spring out of the ground, which being considered more useful to man than the horse her competitor brought, she had the privilege of calling the city Athense, after her own name. This is the Athens of our time. A PEACE is of the nature of a conquest; For then both parties nobly are subdued, And neither partj loses. ANGEL of Peace, thou hast wandered too long; ■^ *■ Spread thy white wings to the sunshine of love, Come while our voices are blended in song, Fly to our ark like the storm-beaten dove. — O. W. Holmes. — Shakespeare. TOVELY concord, and most sacred peace, ■'-' Doth nourish virtue, and fast friendship breeds; Weak she makes strong, and strong things does increase. Till it the pitch of highest praise exceeds. — Spenser. pEACE, thy olive wand extend. And bid wild war his ravage end. — Bxtrns. ■pvOWN the.dark future, through long generations. Peace! and no longer from its brazen poi-tals ■'-^ The echoing sounds grow fainter, and then cease; The blast of war's great organ shakes the skies! And like a bell with solemn, sweet vibrations, But beautiful as songs of the immortals, I hear once more the voice of Christ say Peace, The holy melodies of love arise. —Longfellow. OEACE o'er the world her olive wand extend. r 4Pi And white-robed Innocence from heaven descend. —Pope. 225 \1 m (EttrUS auvantiuin. Natural Order: Auranticece — Orange >Family. HIS tree is of the same family as the citron, the lime, and the lemon. It is an evergreen of middle size, and when covered with its bright, golden fruit, is one of the most attractive sights in nature. The pulp of the Orange is divided into sections of as great regularity as is that of the lemon, the outer covering of each being dry and of con- siderable strength, while within are little sacs of irregular length filled with a cooling, delightful and refreshing juice, that renders it popular with all. The flowers are of a creamy white. It is a native of tropical climates, yet can be grown in a good greenhouse with ease, requiring little attention. In the West Indies, where it is ,native, as well as in Florida, Louisiana and California, it is cultivated in orchards for exportation, and yields fruit plentifully. Seedling trees require budding or grafting to make them bear irt the greenhouse. i|g$lti^» TDENEATH the cares of earth she does not bow, Though she hath ofttimes drained its bitter cup! But ever wanders on with heavenward brow, And eyes whose lovely orbs 'are lifted up! — Amelia B. Welby. QO dear to heaven is saintly chastity, '-^ That when a soul is found sincerely so, A thousand liveried angels lackey her. Driving far off each thing of sin and guilt. QWEET beauty sleeps upon thy brow, ^ And floats before my eyes; As meek and pure as doves art thou. Or being of the skies. — Milton. p HASTE as the icicle ^ That 's curded by the frost from purest snow. And hangs on Dian's temple. —Shakespeare. -Robert Morris. 'T^HE summer's flower is to the summer sweet. Though to itself it only live and die ; But if that flower with base infection meet, 235 The basest weed outbraves his dignity; For sweetest things turn sourest by their deeds; Lilies that fester, smell far worse than weeds. — Shakespeare. ^ S3-2i- sf?* "^ CDrcl)tS • SpwtabtltB. Natural Order: Orchidacece — Orchis Family. j'E have many varieties of this plant growing throughout the ijUnited States, on our prairies or in shady, rocky places. »They usually produce very handsome and various colored J flowers. The most beautiful, however, are the Tropical ^Orchids, found in the South Sea Islands, growing on branches of trees and other substances, and depending so much on the air for their sustenance, and so little on root nourishment, that they are called air plants. They are more gorgeous in bloom than any terrestrial plant. In England there are extensive houses for their culture alone, and we believe some few in this country. They are mostly grown in small 1^ cork boxes, or on pieces of wood, in a warm, moist atmosphere. Some few grow in rooms successfully, but no water must touch the foliage or flowers, only enough to nioisten the substance containing the roots. "VTET graceful ease, and sweetness void of pride, ■*■ Might hide her faults, if belles had faults to hide; If to her share some female errors fall. Look on her face, and you '11 forget 'em all. —Pope. \ ROSEBUD in its first green coat. You wrapped your shawl about your throat. And crossed the lawn, when we went boating; I touched the fragrance of your hand ; The fog came down and hid the land. As white as snow, and we were floating. — Will Wallace Harney. TN her cheeks the vermil red did shew, Like roses in a bed of lilies shed; The which ambrosial odors from them threw. And gazer's sense with double pleasure fed. — Spenser. ■pECAUSE thou wear'st, ma belle, •"-^ A strong, pure, silent spell, Safely from all dark ways my feet retrieving; Because thou wert to me As lulled air to wild sea, [ing- Storm -furrowed, fiercely free, and strong! v griev- — Ed^ar Fajvceli. QHE was a form of life and light. That, seen, became a part of sight; And rose, where'er I turned mine eye, The morning star of memory. — Byron. 227 -^ Salti' Diininalis. Natural Order : Salicacem — Willow Family. ARIETIES of the Willow are very numerous, all of them ? delighting in soil in which there is an abundance of moist- ure, and are consequently oftener found along the margins ^ of streams, or in low-lying, wet meadows, than in any other ^locality. This species does not develope into a tree, the stems rising singly to the height of ten or twelve feet; they are very pliable, and well adapted to the industry to which they are applied. >^ Viminalis signifies twigs or branches adapted to plaiting. One of the ; seven Roman hills on which Jupiter was worshiped was called Vimi- nalis CoUis, from the Willow-copse which once stood there. T^HE brave do never shun the light; •'• Just are their thoughts, and open are their tempers; Truly without disguise they love or hate; Still are they found in the fair face of day, And heav'n and men are judges of their actions. — Rovje. 'T'HY words had such a melting flow, "^ And spoke of truth so sweetly well, They dropp'd like heav'n's serenest snow. And all was brightness where they fell! — Moore, TTTHATE'ER the emotions of her heart, Still shone conspicuous in her eyes — Stranger to every female art, Alike to feign or to disguise. — Shaw. TTE'LL suit his bearing to the hour, Laugh, listen, learn or teach. With joyous freedom in his mirth. And candor in his speech. A STALWART form, a manly port, ■'■■ *■ A»fearless brow, an eye of truth, A step' as free as that of youth, A presence fit for camp or court; -g^^^ 228 — Elha Cook. A knee a child Avould love to climb; A face a woman needs must trust, Quite free from guile and clean from lust, Nor marred, though nobly marked by time. —h'ate J. Hitr. M \;^-==> "W? ©Smunlta regallB. Natural Order: Filices—Fern Family. 'N England this fern is called Royal Osmunda, as its Latin name signifies, and is given a place in the ferneries of the most fastidious amateur. In America it is found in damp meadows and swampy lands, sending up its fronds sometimes three and four feet high, but in less damp and congenial places it diminishes its height nearly one half There is scarcely anything more graceful than the Fern, of whatever species, from the common brake in the woods, or fence corners, to the most \ delicate tropical one cherished in hothouse or greenhouse. No glaring color to strike the eye, nothing but its own simple and elegant outline, and that ever-satisfying, restful and never-tiring tint of nature, the pre- dominating green. TITHY, when the balm of sleep descends on man, Do gay delusions, wand'ring o'er the brain, Soothe the delighted soul with empty bliss? — Dr. "yohnson. TTTELL may dreams present us fictions, Since our waking moments teem With such fanciful convictions As make life itself a dream. — Campbell. TTTHEN sleep's calm wing is on my brow. And dreams of peace my spirit lull. Before me like a misty star That form floats dim and beautiful. — G. D. PreHtice. INNOCENT dreams be thine! thy heart sends up Its thoughts of purity, like pearly bells. Rising in crystal fountains. Would I were A sound, that I might steal upon thy dreams. And, like the breathing of my flute, distil Sweetly upon thy senses. ■pv REAMS are the children of an idle brain, Begot of nothing but vain fantasy. Which is as thin of substance as the air. And more inconstant than the wind. — Shakespeare. — Willis. ALAS! that dreams are only dreams! That fancy cannot give A lasting beauty to those forms, Which scarce a moment live! — Rufus Dawes. 229 -V^ m^^ K-i (salts* is, a bee), while Petroselinum is the equivalent to Parsley, denoting in Greek, rock-curly, or rock-marsh — selinon, parsley, from elos, a marsh, or elisso, I twist. T7RIENDSHIP shall still thy evening feasts adorn, r And blooming peace shall ever bless thy morn. — Prior. ■p LEST be those feasts with simple plenty crown'd, Where all the ruddy family around Laugh at the jests or pranks that never fail, Or sigh with pity at some mournful tale. — Goldsmith. 'T^HE banquet waits our presence, festal joy Laughs in the mantling goblet, and the night, Illumin'd by the taper's dazzling beam, Rivals departed day. — Broviit. "TTis pity wine should be so deleterious. TITHEN the laugh is lightest. When wildest goes the jest, When gleams the goblet brightest, And proudest heaves thy breast. For tea and coffee leave us much more serious. — Byron. And thou art madly pledging Each gay and jovial guest, — A ghost shall glide amid the flowers — The shade of Love's departed hours. — Mrs. Osffood, % sr