tlemen having their chambers severed from the ladies, curiously strewed with flowers, and their beds adorned in exquisite manner, as those of the ladies were not a jot inferior to them. The silence of the night bestowed sweet rest on them all. In the morning, the queen and all the rest being risen, accounting overmuch sleep to be very hurtful, they walked abroad into a goodly meadow, where the grass grew verdantly, and the beams of the sun heated not over violently, because the shades of fair-spreading trees gave a temperate calmness, cool and gentle winds fanning their sweet breath pleasingly among them." The company then sit down, and the celebrated novels com

mence.

It is still a common custom in Sweden to strew the floors with sprigs of Juniper*.

KALMIA.

RHODORACEE.

DECANDRIA MONOGYNIA.

So named by Linnæus in honour of Peter Kalm, professor at Abo in Sweden.

THE Kalmias are handsome shrubs, bearing flowers in clusters, of a rose or peach colour. The Broad-leaved species grows much higher than the others: they must be obtained from a nursery, and will require to be watered pretty liberally. They are natives of North America.

* See Clarke's Travels, vol. iii.

LARKSPUR.

DELPHINIUM.

RANUNCULACEE.

POLYANDRIA TRIGYNIA,

The Latin name was given to this plant from an idea that the buds had some resemblance to a dolphin.-French, pied-d'alouette; l'eperon de chevalier [knight's spur]; la consoude royale [royal comfrey]; l'herbe Sainte Othilie.-Italian, speronella [little spur]; sperone di cavaliere; consolida reale; fior regio [king flower].-English, larkspur; lark's-claws; lark's-heel; lark's-toe, on account of the spurshaped nectary at the back of the flower.

THE Branching or Wild Larkspur grows naturally in many parts of Europe: it varies in colour. From the flowers, when blue, a good ink has been made, with the addition of a little alum.

All the Larkspurs are hardy, and may be easily raised from seed; but as the perennial kinds do not flower the first year, it is better to procure them from a nursery. The annual kinds, by sowing in succession in September, October, March, and April, may be had in blossom from the beginning of June to the end of September: one seed in a pot of at least eight inches. They do not well bear transplanting.

Those sown in the autumn will produce the strongest flowers. They should stand abroad, and in dry summer weather be watered a little every evening; but water must be given sparingly in the winter.

Linnæus and some others are of opinion that the Larkspur is the hyacinth of the poets; but this opinion is considered as unfounded. Professor Martyn has determined the Martagon lily to be the ancient hyacinth, and the learned Heyne coincides with him. (See Hyacinth<)

ROSACEE.

LAUREL.

PRUNUS LAURO-CERASUS.

ICOSANDRIA MONOGYNIA.

French, le laurier-cerise.—Italian, lauro regio; lauro di Trebisonda.

THE Laurel, which has been frequently confounded with the Laurus Nobilis, or Sweet Bay, does not even belong to the same genus. Among the species of Laurus are many valuable trees, as the camphor, sassafras, cassia, cinnamon, &c.; but the common Laurel is not one of that family.

This Laurel was formerly called the Cherry-bay, or Bay-cherry, and was preserved in green-houses in the winter. The only protection against the climate now afforded it, is in planting it in a warm aspect, or against a warm wall, to preserve it from frost. In warm countries, the Laurel will grow to a great size; so that in some parts of Italy there are large woods of them. Where they are numerous, and near together, they defend each other, and are not liable to injury by frost: but when in pots, the roots should be covered with a little straw in severe winters. In dry winter weather, when not frosty, it may be watered once a week; in the summer, every evening when there is no rain.

The Portugal is much hardier than the Common Laurel. They may be increased by cuttings of the same year's shoots, which should be planted in September. If a small part of the former year's wood be left at the bottom, they will root faster. They should be planted five or six inches deep, in a soft, loamy earth, and the earth pressed close to them.

Evelyn says, that if the Lauro-cerasus, or Cherry

laurel, were not always suffered to run so low and shrubby, it would make a handsome tree on a stem, with a head resembling the orange. The way to have this tree of a handsome shape, with an upright stem, and the boughs regularly disposed, is to raise it from the berry. This is also the case with the bay, the orange, and many others.

MALVACEA.

LAVATERA.

MONADELPHIA POLYANDRIA.

So named from Lavater, a physician at Zurich.

THE Lavateras are large, handsome flowers, in form resembling the mallow, but considerably larger. In colour they vary from a pure white to blue, flesh-colour, &c.

The annual kinds should be sown in autumn, in small pots; one in each. Towards the end of October they should be removed into the house, and, being defended from frost, will abide the winter very well. Early in April they may be shaken out of their pots, and planted in larger; where they may remain to flower, which they will do in July.

The perennial kinds are not so well adapted for potting; and the annual will furnish a sufficient variety of these elegant flowers for any house, balcony, &c. In dry summer weather they may be gently watered every evening. If perennial kinds are obtained, they must be sheltered in the winter, and be sparingly watered in that season. Most of the species require sticks to support them.

LABIATE.

LAVENDER.

LAVANDULA.

DIDYNAMIA GYMNOSPERMIA.

So named from its use in fomentations and baths.-French, la lavande: in Provence, aspic; espic, whence the foreign oil of lavender is usually called oil of spike.-Italian, lavendola; lavanda; spigo.

THE Comon Lavender is increased by cuttings, which should be planted in March, and placed in the shade until they have taken root: they may then be exposed to the sun. These plants will live much longer, and endure the most severe cold, if planted in a dry, gravelly soil. They grow faster in summer if the soil be rich and moist; but then they are generally destroyed in the winter, nor are they so strongly scented as those which grow in a barren soil.

Lavender was formerly used for edgings, as we now use box, thrift, &c.; but it grows too high for this purpose, and the practice is generally discontinued. The agreeable scent of Lavender is well known, since it is an old and still a common custom to scatter the flowers over linen, as some do rose-leaves, for the sake of this sweet odour:

"Pure lavender, to lay in bridal gown."

Lavender-water, too, as it is usually called, although it is really spirit of wine scented with the oil of lavender, is one of our most common perfumes. This plant has been much celebrated for its virtues in nervous disorders, and is an ingredient in some of the English-herb teas now in such general use. This species of Lavender is common