They are justly termed Papilionaceous, for they do indeed look like butterflies turned to flowers :

"Peas of all kinds diffuse their odorous powers

Where Nature pencils butterflies on flowers.”

It is sometimes difficult to believe that the little white butterflies which reel about in the sunshine are not white violets or peas which have broken their bonds. It is equally difficult to believe that these flowers want any thing but will to fly and we almost expect to see them start from their stalks as we look at them.

Both these fancies are authorised by the poets.

"In their own bright Kathaian bowers
Sparkle such rainbow butterflies,
That they might fancy the rich flowers,
That round them in the sun lay sighing,
Had been by magic all set flying.”

LALLA ROOKH.

These butterflies, Mr. Moore tells us, are called, in the Chinese language, Flying-leaves. "Some of them," continues he, "have such shining colours, and are so variegated, that they may be called Flying-flowers; and indeed they are always produced in the finest flower-gardens.”

"Here are sweet-peas on tip-toe for a flight,
With wings of gentle flush, o'er delicate white,
And taper fingers catching at all things

To bind them all about with tiny rings."

KEATS.

In his Calendar of Nature Mr. Hunt speaks of Sweetpeas, as looking like butterflies turned to flowers.

In short, it seems scarcely possible not to feel this. They scem only lingering to sip their own honey.

SYRINGA.

PHILADELPHUS.

MYRTEE.

ICOSANDRIA MONOGYNIA.

From Ptolemy Philadelphus, King of Egypt. It is also called mock-orange, and pipe-tree.-French, le seringat; in Languedoc, siringea.-Italian, siringa.

THE Syringa is a most delicious shrub: the foliage is luxuriant, the blossoms beautiful, and abundant, white as the purest lily, and of the most fragrant scent; in a room, indeed, this perfume is too powerful, but in the air, it is remarkably agreeable. There is a variety which has no scent; and also a dwarf variety, which does not usually exceed three feet in height: the flowers are sweet, and double; but it flowers rarely, and is on that account less esteemed than otherwise it would be.

There is a species called the Myrtle-leaved Syringa, a native of New Zealand; the fresh flowering shoots of which were used as tea by Captain Cook's sailors, who found the infusion sweetly aromatic at first; in a short time, however, it became very bitter. It was considered serviceable in the sea-scurvy.

The Sweet Syringa, specifically so called, is also a native of New Zealand. It flowers in July and August; the Myrtle-leaved kind in June and July; and the Mock-orange in May and June.

The Mock-orange is extremely hardy, and will thrive in almost any soil or situation. It is a native of the South of Europe:-the dwarf variety, of Carolina.

This species may be increased by cuttings, planted early in October. They must always be kept tolerably moist. The other kinds may be increased in the same way, but must be sheltered in the winter season.

Mason speaks of the Syringa in his English Garden; but it is doubtful whether he alludes to the species called the Mock-orange:

"The sweet syringa, yielding but in scent

To the rich orange; or the woodbine wild,
That loves to hang on barren boughs remote
Her wreaths of flowery perfume."

Some readers have supposed Mason's meaning to have been, yielding in scent but to the rich orange, &c.—and even then, he can scarcely be thought to do justice to the Syringa, if he means this species.

The lilac tree is called Syringa by the botanists, but has no connexion with this Syringa. Cowper mentions both, and the lines are so much to the purpose here, that although a part of the passage has been quoted in another part of the work, we must be allowed to repeat it :

-“ Laburnum, rich

In streaming gold; syringa, ivory pure;
The scentless, and the scented rose; this red,
And of an humbler growth, the other tall,
And throwing up into the darkest gloom
Of neighbouring cypress, or more sable yew,
Her silver globes, light as the foamy surf
That the wind severs from the broken wave;
The lilac, various in array, now white,

Now sanguine, and her beauteous head now set

With purple spikes pyramidal, as if

Studious of ornament, yet unresolved

Which hue she most approved, she chose them all."

It is very singular that Cowper makes no mention of the fragrance of the Syringa. Nothing can be more just than his description as far as it goes; but its exquisite beauty deserved more lingering over: had it been less beautiful, probably, more might have been said of its sweetness. Few flowers are more worthy of a poet's pen.

CORYMBIFERE.

TAGETES.

SYNGENESIA POLYGAMIA SUPERFLUA.

This genus comprises the African and French Marygolds of the gardeners.-French, oeillet d' Inde [Indian pink]; rose d'Inde [Indian rose]; fleur de Rome [flower of Rome]; l'Africaine [the African]. -Italian, tagete; garofano Messicano [Mexican pink]; garofano Africano [African pink]; garofano Turchesco; garofano d'India; fior di morto [death-flower.]

THE African and French Marygolds belong to the genus Tagetes, so named from Tages, the grandson of Jupiter, and son of Genius, who first taught the Etruscans the art of divination.

The colour of the French Marygold varies from a bright yellow to a deep red orange-colour, and is often variegated with both. The scent is disagreeable: it flowers from the beginning of July until the frost checks it.

Of the African Marygold there are several varieties, also differing in colour. One is sweet-scented, and Parkinson observes" that it has the smell of a honeycomb, and is not of that poisonful scent of the former kinds."

These plants should be raised in a hot-bed; but are well worth purchasing for their rich and beautiful colours. They may be brought into the open air early in May, and will continue a long time in beauty; but both are annuals. They may be treated as the Common Garden Marygold.

CORYMBIFERE.

TARCHONANTHUS.

AFRICAN FLEABANE.

SYNGENESIA POLYGAMIA ÆQUALIS.

ALL the species of this plant are from the Cape of Good Hope. The shrubby kind is the handsomest. The flowers

are of a dull purple, and make little show: they begin to blow in the autumn, and continue to the end of the winter. The leaves, which are on all the year, are downy, and white underneath: they smell like bruised Rosemaryleaves.

This plant may be increased by cuttings planted in May : they should be kept within doors till the end of June; and all the plants, young and old, should be in the house from October till May. They should be shifted into fresh earth every year, and when requisite into larger pots.

All the species may be treated in the same manner : they are very thirsty plants, and must be allowed plenty of water.

SOLANEE.

TOBACCO-PLANT.

NICOTIANA.

PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA.

This genus is named from Jean Nicot of Nismes, agent from the King of France to Portugal, who procured the seeds from a Dutchman, and sent them to France. Tobacco, from the island Tobago. The French have many names for it; as, le tabac ; nicotiane; petum, from its first introducer; herbe du grand prieur; herbe à la reine [the queen's herb]; Medicée [from the queen's family name]; buglosse antarctique; panacée antarctique [southern all-heal]; herbe sainte ; herbe sacrée [holy herb]; herbe propre à tous maux [herb fit for all diseases]; jusquiame de Perou [Peruvian henbane]; herbe de Tournabon; herbe de St. Croix; herbe de l'ambassadeur.-Italian, tabacco; ternabona.

THE Tobacco-plant is admitted into flower-gardens chiefly for its symmetrical growth, and luxuriant foliage; and some of the kinds are very handsome. The Broadleaved Virginian or Sweet-scented Tobacco grows to the height of three or four feet; the leaves are ten inches long, and three and a half broad, and the blossoms of a deep purple.