LILY OF THE VALLEY. 209 The Lily of the Valley requires a loose sandy soil and a shady situation. It is increased by parting the roots in autumn, which should be done about once in three years. They may be gently watered every evening in dry summer weather. When the roots of this plant are confined in a pot it may also be increased by its red berry; but in the woods, where the roots are allowed to spread, it seldom produces the berry*. The other species of the Lily of the Valley are natives of Japan. "No flower amid the garden fairer grows Than the sweet lily of the lowly vale, The queen of flowers." -“ And valley-lilies whiter still Than Leda's love." KEATS'S ENDYMION, p. 10. Of the Solomon's-seal-called in French le sceau de Salomon; le signet de Salomon; l'herbe de la rupture [rupture-wort]; le genouillet: Italian, il ginocchietto; sigillo di Salomone there are seven species, and varieties of each: the Narrow-leaved, the Single-flowered, the Broad-leaved, the Many-flowered, the Cluster-flowered, the Star-flowered, and the Least Solomon's-seal, or One-blade. "The root of the Single-flowered species," says Mr. Martyn, "is twisted and full of knots. On a transverse section of it, characters appear that give it the resemblance of a seal: whence its name of Solomon's-seal." It is also called White-root. The roots of this and the Broad-leaved kind have, in times of scarcity, been made into bread; and the young shoots of the latter species are eaten by the Turks as we eat asparagus. All the species are elegant plants. They * See Rousseau's Letters. on Botany. are hardy; and, in a light soil and a shady situation, increase very fast by the roots. The best time to transplant them, and to part the roots, is in autumn, soon after the stalks decay. They should not be removed oftener than every third year; but should have fresh earth, as deep as it can be changed without disturbing the roots, every spring. The earth should be kept moderately moist. There is something delightfully fresh and cool in the appearance of these Lilies; of which the flowers are so pleasantly shaded by their large light-green leaves, that one wishes one's-self a fairy to lie in them, like Ariel in the bell of the cowslip: "Where the bee sucks, there lurk I, In a cowslip's bell I lie." It is to these Mr. Hunt alludes in one of his poems, where he seems revelling to his heart's delight among all the sweets of spring: "Lilacs then, and daffodillies, And the nice-leaved lesser lilies, Shading, like detected light, Their little green-tipt lamps of white." LUPINE. LUPINUS. LEGUMINOSE. DIADELPHIA DECANDRIA. The name of this plant is derived from lupus, a wolf, and is given it on account of its exhausting qualities.-French, le lupin.—Italian, lupino. THE Lupines are, with one exception, annual plants; and that one strikes so deep a root, that it cannot be grown in a pot. The others may be raised without any difficulty, and are very pretty when in flower; indeed, their leaves are by no means destitute of beauty, growing in a kind of starry form, and, in most of the species, being of a downy velvet softness. The flowers are blue, white, rose-coloured, pale or deep yellow. The Blue Lupines have usually more flowers; but the Common Yellow Lupine is often preferred for its sweet scent. The flowers of this Lupine are of very short duration, especially if the season be warm; therefore, to have a succession of them, the seed should be sown at several times; for they will continue to flower until checked by frost; and those which blow in the autumn will last longer than the earlier ones. Lupines may be sown from the beginning of February to the end of June: they may be sown six or seven in a pot of as many inches diameter. Towards the end of June they will begin to flower. It is safer to keep such as are sown in February, in the house, until the frosts are securely over; but this precaution will not be necessary if the season be mild. They should be watered three times a week in the spring; but, as the weather becomes warmer, they may, when there is no rain, be watered every evening. About sun-set the leaves will droop as if dying, in the same manner as those of the balsam. This must not be mistaken for a want of water, as with the hydrangea: they will again display their starry foliage in the morning sun. 66 1 Virgil calls Lupines tristes lupini," says Mr. Martyn, "because their bitterness contracts the muscles, and gives a sorrowful appearance to the countenance." Oné might rather have suspected it to have been from the drooping of the leaves, since the poets have always taken advantage of these peculiarities in flowers, to make them expressive of a sentiment, imputing a conscious timidity to the violet; and even the cowslip has, from its gentle drooping, been called in by Milton as a mourner for Lycidas. The in stances of this use of flowers are without number; but there are not many more interesting than the following: 66 Bowing adorers of the gale, Upraise your loaded stems; Unfold your cups in splendour, speak! CLARE. Notwithstanding their bitterness, Lupines were formerly used as a food in some parts of Italy; particularly the White Lupine, which is a native of the Levant, and was then known also by the German name, Fig-bean. It was also called the Tame Lupine. In Tuscany and the South of France, where there is a want of manure, the Lupine is ploughed into the land, and is thought to improve it: it is used particularly for land intended for vineyards. The Lupines are from Africa, America, and many parts of Europe. The Great Blue Lupine has been supposed to be a native of India. Parkinson says it is from Karamania; Linnæus brings it from Arabia: but, whether it comes from any, or from all of these countries, it is very hardy, and sustains the changes of our climate manfully. CARYOPHYLLEÆ. LYCHNIS. DECANDRIA PENTAGYNIA. The origin of this name is not known. Some say it signifies a torch, and that the plant was so named from its flame-coloured flowers: others derive it from lucerna, a lamp, and suppose it to have been given from the lamp-like shape of the capsule. THE Scarlet Lychnis, which is the handsomest of these plants, does not thrive well in a pot, because the roots naturally spread to a great distance, and do not like confinement. It may, however, be grown in a very large pot, and often is. The double-flowered variety of the Common Meadow Lychnis is often cultivated for the beauty of the flowers. The single flowers are very common in our hedges, which are sometimes absolutely illuminated by them, in May, June, and July. They are generally known by the name of Rose-campion, but have a variety of other names; as Meadow-pink, Wild-william, Crow-flower, Cuckoo-flower, Ragged-robin, March-gilliflowers, Wild-campion, Meadowcampion, Gardener's-delight, or Gardener's-eye. This species may be increased by slipping the roots in autumn. They are of a bright rose-colour; sometimes white. The Scarlet Lychnis has also many names; as, indeed, have most of the species. It is called by the old writers Flower of Constantinople; Flower of Bristow; Campion of Constantinople; and Nonesuch. The French call it croix de Jerusalem; croix de Maltha; fleur de Constantinople: the Italians, croce di Cavalieri: the Spaniards, cruces de Jerusalem: and the Portuguese, cruz de Malta. The Wild Lychnis, also called Wild Campion, of which the double-flowered varieties, both red and white, are known in gardens by the name of Bachelor's-buttons, are very ornamental, continue long in flower, and blow at the same time with the Meadow Lychnis. This is increased in the same manner: the roots must be removed and parted every year. This kind, also, is sometimes called Rose-campion; but the true Rose-campion is a species of Agrostemma. They may be kept moderately moist. The Scarlet Lychnis is increased by cuttings, which, however, are very uncertain, and frequently fail. The cuttings should be taken from the young side-shoots, without flowers. They should have three or four joints, and be inserted to a depth half-way between the second and third. A hand-glass will facilitate their rooting. |