dropping the other name, they are here placed under that head.

Of all the species so named, the common Wallflowers are by far the finest ; their colours are extremely rich, and, as the artists express it, warm; and their fragrance very delicious: they are apt to have a ragged appearance, looking sometimes at a little distance like a number of beautiful petals hung accidentally together; but when their form is preserved, they are in every respect elegant. There are single and double varieties; red and yellow of all shades, and pure white. The flower is too well known to make further description necessary.

"The common Wallflower," says Mr. Martyn, "is a native of Switzerland, France, Spain, &c.; and is common on old walls and buildings in many parts of England. It is one of the few flowers which have been cultivated for their fragrancy time immemorial in our gardens."

Some prefer the Alpine Wallflower for appearance, the flowers being usually larger, and closer together; but they have not so fine a scent as the common Wallflower.

If raised from seeds, they should be sown in April, two or three seeds in a middle-sized pot; and in a poor rubbishy soil. If the soil be poor, they will bear the winter abroad; and will flower the following June.

The double varieties are increased by slips, about three inches long, planted in the spring; they should be slipped off with a sharp knife, and one-third inserted in the earth, the leaves being stript from the lower half.

Early in September the seedlings should be transplanted into separate pots. Some persons sow them where they are to remain ; but transplanting is generally supposed rather to benefit than to injure them.

"Fair handed Spring unbosoms every grace ;

Throws out the snow-drop, and the crocus first,

The daisy, primrose, violet darkly blue,
And polyanthus of unnumbered dyes;
The yellow wallflower, stained with iron brown;
And lavish stock, that scents the garden round.",

THOMSON'S SPRING.

NYMPHEACEE.

WATER LILY.

NYMPHEA.

POLYANDRIA MONOGYNIA.

Called also water-rose, water-can.-French, lis des étangs, [pond lily], volet, plateau, jaunet d'eau [water yellow-flower].-Italian, nenufaro, ninfea, blefera.

THE Water-lilies cannot be grown but in a cistern of water, which should be lined with lead; and such plants are only adapted for persons having even a superfluity of garden ground. For such persons, they are very desirable, for they are delicate and elegant plants :

"Those virgin lilies, all the night
Bathing their beauties in the lake,

That they may rise more fresh and bright
When their beloved sun's awake."

MOORE'S LALLA ROOKH.

"And now the sharp keel of his little boat
Comes up with a ripple, and with easy float,
And glides into a bed of water lilies:
Broad-leaved are they, and their white canopies
Are upward turn'd to catch the heaven's dew.
Near to a little island's point they grew;

Where Calidore might have the goodliest view
Of this sweet spot of earth."

KEATS.

The Japanese set a high value upon the Water-lily, because of its purity, not being sullied by contact with the

muddy water, in which it often grows. This Water-lily is said to be the ancient herb Lotus; which, with the Crocus and the Hyacinth, formed the couch of Jupiter and Juno; and yet Achilles was so profane as to feed his horses with it. It is not to be understood as the Lotus which gave name to the Lotophagi. That was a tree (for the ancients had both a herb and a tree so named) now called the Rhamnus Lotus.

Southey mentions the herb Lotus in his Curse of Kehama:

"The large-leaved lotus on the waters flowering."

Vol. i. page 86.

In Japan the Water-lily (there called Tratte), being, for the reason before mentioned, considered as an emblem of purity, is, with the flowers of the Motherwort, borne in procession before the body in their funeral ceremonies: these are carried in pots: artificial Water-lilies of white paper are also borne on polest.

Moore, in his notes to Lalla Rookh, observes, that in some parts of Asia the women wear looking-glasses on their thumbs: "Hence," says he "(and from the lotus being considered the emblem of beauty) is the meaning of the following mute intercourse of two lovers before their parents:

"He with salute of deference due

A lotus to his forehead prest;
She raised her mirror to his view,

Then turned it inward to her breast."

In another part of the same poem, Moore compares the eyes of Love to the blue Water-lily:

"And his floating eyes-oh! they resemble

Blue water-lilies, when the breeze

Is making the stream around them tremble."

* See Titsingh's Illustrations of Japan.

+ Ibid.

сс

This blue species is a native of Cashmere and Persia. Mrs. Graham, in her residence in India, speaks of a beautiful red lotus, of which she saw multitudes; she describes them as much larger than the White Water-lily, and the loveliest of the nymphæas she had ever seen.

WINGED-PEA.

LOTUS TETRAGONOLOBUS.

LEGUMINOSE.

DIADELPHIA DECANDRIA.

French, le lotier rouge [red lotus].

THE Winged-Pea (a species of the Lotus, or Bird'sfoot Trefoil) is a native of Sicily: its colours are scarlet and purple. It is sometimes called the Scarlet Pea, the Crimson-velvet Pea, the Square-codded Pea, &c. This also flowers in June and July. This may be treated in the same manner as the Sweet Pea, which is the chief of the Garden Peas.

WINTER-CHERRY.

PHYSALIS.

SOLANEE.

PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA.

This plant is also named Alkekengi.-French, coqueret ; coquerelle; quoquerelle; herbe a cloques.-Italian, alchechengi; alcachingi; solano alicacabo.

THE Winter-Cherry has not much beauty, except in the autumn, when it is in fruit. It is a native of the South of Europe, Germany, China, and Cochin-China. It may be increased by parting the roots after the stalks

have decayed. This plant loves the shade, and the roots require confinement.

In Spain, Switzerland, and some parts of Germany, the country-people eat these cherries by handfuls: here they are only cultivated for their beauty.

A species of the Solanum, or Night-shade-solanum pseudocapsicum-is now more commonly known by the name of Winter-Cherry, and in France by those of morelle cerisette, petit cerisier d'hiver, amome des jardiniers; of which, also, the fruit in appearance resembles the Cherry. It requires shelter from severe frost, and therefore should be housed, but not kept too warm. It should every year, in the month of April, be taken out of the pot; all the decayed and matted roots on the outside should be cut off, and it should be filled up with fresh rich earth. This treatment will greatly improve the flowers and fruit.

The earth must be kept tolerably moist for both these plants.

The latter plant exhibits its blossoms and fruits both at the same time, as the latter remain on the shrub all the winter. The fruit is supposed to be poisonous, but it has been tried upon a dog without producing any ill effect.

"The amomum there with intermingling flowers
And cherries hangs her twigs."

COWPER'S TASK.

CORYMBIFERA.

XERANTHEMUM.

SYNGENESIA POLYGAMIA SUPERFLUA.

This name is Greek, and signifies a dry-flower.-French, l'immortelle.

THE Annual Xeranthemums should be sown in the