Whereon, he grounds his claim. With spear and shield Her breast her Egis guards. Her lance the ground SANDYS'S OVID, Book Sixth. The more general belief is, that the stroke of Neptune's trident produced a horse. Whichever it may have been, there seems, notwithstanding the great utility of the Olive, to be some ground of suspicion that Minerva owed her. victory chiefly to the gallantry of the gods assembled. The virtues of the Olive, however, are partly emblematical: it is considered as the symbol of peace; and if, in the character of the Goddess of Wisdom, she so far overcame her warlike propensities as to dispose mankind to peace, she cannot be sufficiently honoured for so estimable a benefit. Spenser tells the story differently, and in a manner more according with the general belief: he describes Minerva as representing the contest in embroidery: "She made the story of the old debate, Which she with Neptune did for Athens try; Before them stands the god of seas in place And strikes the rocks with his three-forked mace; The sign by which he challengeth the place. That all the gods, which saw his wondrous might, * "Pliny says the olive-tree, produced on that occasion by Minerva, was to be seen in his time at Athens." SEE NOTES OF MARTYN'S VIRGIL. Did surely deem the victory his due: Then to herself she gives her Ægide shield Then sets she forth how with her weapon dread She smote the ground, the which straightforth did yield That all the gods admired; then all the story She compassed with a wreath of olives hoary." MUIOPOTMOS. It was formerly a custom, especially in Athens, for ambassadors to bear an Olive-branch, as an expression of their pacific intentions : "Yet might they see the Cretans under sail From high-built walls; when with a leading gale A branch of Attic olive." SANDYS'S OVID, Book Seventh. Peace is always represented with either a branch or a crown of Olive. Mr. Hunt, in his Mask, expressively twines Myrtle with the Olive of Peace. Milton also puts a Myrtle sprig in her hand: "But he her fears to cease, Sent down the meek-eyed Peace; She, crowned with olive green, came softly sliding Down through the turning sphere, His ready harbinger, With turtle-wing the amorous clouds dividing, And waving wide her myrtle wand, She strikes an universal peace through sea and land." Virgil makes frequent mention of the Olive, and of the situation in which it best thrives: Whereon, he grounds his claim. With spear and shield Her breast her Egis guards. Her lance the ground SANDYS'S OVID, Book Sixth. The more general belief is, that the stroke of Neptune's trident produced a horse. Whichever it may have been, there seems, notwithstanding the great utility of the Olive, to be some ground of suspicion that Minerva owed her victory chiefly to the gallantry of the gods assembled. The virtues of the Olive, however, are partly emblematical: it is considered as the symbol of peace; and if, in the character of the Goddess of Wisdom, she so far overcame her warlike propensities as to dispose mankind to peace, she cannot be sufficiently honoured for so estimable a benefit. Spenser tells the story differently, and in a manner more according with the general belief: he describes Minerva as representing the contest in embroidery: "She made the story of the old debate, Which she with Neptune did for Athens try; Before them stands the god of seas in place And strikes the rocks with his three-forked mace; The sign by which he challengeth the place. That all the gods, which saw his wondrous might, Pliny says the olive-tree, produced on that occasion by Minerva, was to be seen in his time at Athens." SEE NOTES OF MARTYN'S VIRGIL. Did surely deem the victory his due: Then to herself she gives her Ægide shield Then sets she forth how with her weapon dread She smote the ground, the which straightforth did yield That all the gods admired; then all the story She compassed with a wreath of olives hoary." MUIOPOTMOS. It was formerly a custom, especially in Athens, for ambassadors to bear an Olive-branch, as an expression of their pacific intentions: "Yet might they see the Cretans under sail From high-built walls; when with a leading gale A branch of Attic olive." SANDYS'S OVID, Book Seventh. Peace is always represented with either a branch or a crown of Olive. Mr. Hunt, in his Mask, expressively twines Myrtle with the Olive of Peace. Milton also puts a Myrtle sprig in her hand: "But he her fears to cease, Sent down the meek-eyed Peace; She, crowned with olive green, came softly sliding Down through the turning sphere, His ready harbinger, With turtle-wing the amorous clouds dividing, And waving wide her myrtle wand, She strikes an universal peace through sea and land.” Virgil makes frequent mention of the Olive, and of the situation in which it best thrives: "Difficiles primum terræ, collesque maligni, VIRGIL, Georgic 2. "In the first place, stubborn lands, and unfruitful hills, where the bushy fields abound with lean clay and pebbles, rejoice in a wood of long-lived Palladian olives. You may know this soil by wild olives rising thick, and the fields being strewed with wild berries." MARTYN'S TRANSLATION. AURANTIACEE. ORANGE-TREE. CITRUS AURANTIUM. POLYADELPHIA ICOSANDRIA. The derivation of the word Citrus is unknown: some say it is the name of a place in Asia; others will have it of African origin; some fix it on the Arabian.-French, l'oranger.—Italian, melarancio; arancio; melangolo. THE Orange most known in England is the China or Portugal Orange, so called from its having been brought from China by the Portuguese. There are several other varieties in the English gardens; as the Turkey-orange, the Double-flowering, the Dwarf or Nutmeg-orange, the Seville, &c. The leaves of the Dwarf-orange are very small, and grow in clusters; the flowers grow very close together and appear like a nosegay, the branches being completely covered with them. This species is very ornamental; and, when in blossom, will perfume a room most delightfully. The blossom is white, and begins to appear in June. Towards the middle of September Orange-trees should be housed; and it would be well to keep them in an inhabited room, but not too near a fire. When it is not |