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in the honey juice of flowers of oxydized mucilage during the evolution of hydrogen."

The situation of the nectaries, at the basis of the sexual organs, shews us, that the oxydized sap must be deposited in these organs before the more volatile matter can ascend into the parts of fructification.

It is hence that the nectaries have commonly such a position, that the evacuation of the pollen from the antheræ is directed towards them. This is so evident in the Irideæ, that it is impossible to deny the connexion between the nectaries and the organs of fructification. This relation is still more striking, when we observe an inclination of the pistilla, with their stigmata, towards the nectaries, at the period when the former have attained their perfect ease. Finally, the evolution of the sexual organs at different times, or what is called the dichogamy, is a very obvious proof that in many cases fructification is accomplished by the nectaries. When we thus observe, that, in the same flower, the antheræ are much sooner ripe than the stigmata, or the reverse, it is evident that these latter organs cannot be impregnated by the former, in so far as they belong to the same plant. Hence it happens that the first blossoms always fall off, and the fruit fails, when the dichogamy is gynandrous, because the early

unfolded stigma finds no antheræ to impregnate it; and when these become capable of this office, the stigma of these first blossoms has already lost its susceptibility. When the dichogamy is androgynous, the last blossoms suffer the same failure, because, when the stigma of the last blossom has come to perfection, there are no antheræ remaining to impregnate it.

But to return to the Crown Imperial, and its cultivation: we must observe, that from the length of time required to obtain flowering bulbs from the seeds of this plant (not less than six years), it is seldom propagated in this country by its oviparous nature. Those who are disposed to exercise their patience, and raise new varieties from seed, have only to follow the direction already given for increasing Tulips from seed, and there is no fear but success will attend the operation.

The Crown Imperial has a large round scaly root, that throws off young offsets, by which it is generally increased in our gardens, but it is more frequently obtained from the shops, which import it from the Netherlands, or from Holland. The roots should be planted at least six inches deep, and not removed oftener than every third year, when the young plants may be separated from the parent bulb, and planted in a soil, as already noticed, the strongest of which will flower the fol

lowing spring, if removed at the proper season, which is about the beginning of July, when the stalk is decayed.

Parkinson, who dedicated his first work, called "The Garden of Pleasant Flowers," to the Queen of Charles the First, chose the Crown Imperial for the subject of his opening chapter; and just twenty years afterwards, he had the misfortune to see not only his Royal Patroness deprived of the British Crown, but left in widowhood to beseech a crown of immortality for her decapitated Sovereign. The Revolutions which have shaken every throne and made every kingdom tremble since that period are known to us all; yet we have seen the Crown Imperial performing its annual reign in quiet splendour, unconscious of the cares attending other crowns. Happy Lily! we address you in the words of Madame Deshoulières:

Que votre éclat est peu durable,

Charmantes fleurs, honneurs de nos jardins!
Souvent un jour commence et finit vos destins,
Et le sort le plus favorable

Ne vous laisse briller que deux ou trois matins.
Ah! consolez-vous-en, jonquilles, tubereuses!
Vous vivez peu de jours, mais vous vivez heureuses!
Les médisans, ni les jaloux

Ne gênent point l'innocente tendresse

Que le printemps fait naître entre zéphire et vous.
Jamais trop de délicatesse

Ne mêle d'amertume à vos plus doux plaisirs ;
Que pour d'autres que vous il pousse des soupirs;
Que loin de vous il folâtre sans cesse.

Vous ne ressentez point la mortelle tristesse
Qui dévore les tendres cœurs,

Lorsque, pleins d'une ardeur extrême,

On voit l'ingrat objet qu'on aime

Manquer d'empressement, ou s'engager ailleurs.
Pour plaire, vous n'avez seulement qu'à paraître,
Plus heureuses que nous, ce n'est que le trépas
Qui vous fait perdre vos appas.

Plus heureuses que nous, vous mourez pour renaître.
Tristes rêflexions, inutiles souhaits!

Quand une fois nous cessons d'être,

Aimables fleurs, c'est pour jamais.

Un redoutable instant nous détruit sans réserve;
On ne voit au-delà qu'un obscur avenir.

A peine de nos noms un léger souvenir

Parmi les hommes se conserve.

Nous entrons pour toujours dans le profond repos
D'où nous a tiré la nature,

Dans cette affreuse nuit qui confond les héros
Avec le lâche et le parjure,

Et dont les fiers destins, par de cruelles lois,
Ne laissent sortir qu'une fois.

Mais, hèlas! pour vouloir revivre,

La vie est-elle un bien si doux ?

Quand nous l'aimons tant, songeons-nous
De combien de chagrins sa perte nous délivre?
Elle n'est qu'un amas de craintes, de douleurs,
De travaux, de soucis, de peines;

Pour qui connaît les misères humaines,
Mourir n'est pas le plus grand des malheurs.
Cependant, agréables fleurs,

Par des liens honteux attachés à la vie,
Elle fait seule tous nos soins;

Et nous ne vous portons envie

Que par où nous devons vous envier le moins.

PERSIAN FRITILLARY, OR PERSIAN LILY. Fritillaria Persica.

THIS flower was known in Europe about three years prior to the introduction of the Crown Imperial, and was an inhabitant of the London gardens in the time of Gerard. Parkinson tells us that "it was first brought from Persia into Constantinople, and from thence sent unto us by the means of divers Turkie merchants, and in especial, by the procurement of Mr. Nicholas Lete, a worthy merchant, and a lover of all fair flowers." Clusius informs us that it was sent into the Low-Countries under the name of Susam giul, from which name he supposed it to be an indigenous plant of Susis in Persia, and he therefore named it Lilium Susianum.

The bulb of this plant sends up a stem about three feet in height, on which the purple corollas are loosely hung, like bells, in a pyramidical form; and as we have but few elevated purple flowers that blossom in May, it is a desirable flower to mix in many situations of the garden, where it requires a light earth and a warm situation. This bulb is frequently planted in pots for the house, and the

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