flakes; others Bulbous White-Violets; but the kind which one calls the early-flowering Bulbous White-Violet, in reference to a kind flowering later, another calls the lateflowering, in reference to one blowing earlier, which occasions infinite confusion. These are what the French call, perce neige [snow piercer]; the Spring kind being also called violette de Fevrier [February Violet]; violier bulbeux, [bulbous stock]; campane blanche, cloche blanche [both signifying white bell]; baguenadier d'hivèr.

These flowers are very pretty and delicate, and look well like the common Snow-drop when planted several together, but it must not be close; for they require a distance of five inches from each other, and must be set four or five inches deep. Thus they require more room than will often be afforded them, except in the open ground; and, after all, they are deficient in one of the greatest charms of the true Snow-drop-the coming in a wintry season, when few others visit us. We look upon the Snow-drop as a friend in adversity; sure to appear when most needed.

The Snow-drop is the earliest blower of all our wild flowers, and will even show her head above the snow, as if to prove her rivalry in whiteness.

"As Flora's breath, by some transforming power,

Had changed an icicle into a flower."

MRS. BARBAULD.

"Like pendent flakes of vegetating snow,
The early herald of the infant year,
Ere yet the adventurous crocus dares to blow
Beneath the orchard boughs thy buds appear.
"While still the cold north-east ungenial lowers,
And scarce the hazle in the leafless copse
Or sallows show their downy powdered flowers,
The grass is spangled with thy silver drops.
"Yet when those pallid blossoms shall give place
To countless tribes of richer hue, and scent,

Summer's gay blooms, and Autumn's yellow race,
I shall thy pale inodorous bells lament.

"So journeying onward in life's varying track,
Even while warm youth its bright illusion lends,
Fond memory often with regret looks back
To childhood's pleasures, and to infant friends.”
MRS. C. SMITH.

CORYMBIFERA.

SOUTHERNWOOD.

ARTEMISIA ABROTANUM.

SYNGENESIA POLYGAMIA SUPERFLUA.

From Artemisia, the wife of Mausolus, King of Caria; called also Old Man.-French, l'auronc-des-jardins; la citronelle; la garderobe, from its use in preventing moths from getting into wardrobes and clothes-presses.-Italian, Abrotano, abruotino, abruotina.

SOUTHERNWOOD is well known as an aromatic shrub, growing three or four feet high. It is a native of many parts of Europe and Asia, where it produces an abundance of small yellow flowers; but the flowers seldom open in this country.

It may be increased by slips planted in April, and well watered: they must remain in the shade till rooted. This plant is often esteemed by old persons for its aromatic scent; but is not now a very fashionable plant. It was formerly a common garden plant in London, as it will live even in the densest parts. It is used in medicine, and its branches will dye wool yellow.

The Artemisia is included among the flowers of poetical origin in Mr. Smith's Poem of Amarynthus :

"That with the yellow crown named from the queen
Who built the Mausoleum."

SPEEDWELL.

VERONICA.

RHINANTHACEA.

DIANDRIA MONOGYNIA.

French, veronique.—Italian, veronica.

MOST of the Veronicas are natives of cold countries, and consequently hardy: they may be increased by parting the roots in autumn; which, in pots, should be done every year. The annual kinds may be sown in autumn.

The Cross-leaved species requires shelter from frost; it is increased by cuttings made in any of the summer months. These plants prefer the shade, and must be kept moist.

The flowers are flesh-coloured, blue, or white. The Blue Rock Speedwell is a beautiful little plant, and is a native of Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, Norway, and Scotland. It is by some familiarly called Forget-me-not; a name given also to the Ground Pine, a species of Germander: but the true Forget-me-not is the water mouseear, the myosotis palustris of the botanists.

The Germander Speedwell is a native of Europe and Japan. "Few of our wild flowers," says Mr. Martyn, "can vie in elegance and brilliancy with this; and many plants with far less beauty are cultivated in our gardens. In May and June every hedge-bottom and grassy bank is adorned with it. At night, or under the influence of moisture, the corolla closes, but in dry bright weather appears fully expanded; and though each flower is short lived, there is a copious succession."

Dr. Withering says the leaves are an excellent substitute for tea. The Common-Speedwell has been much recommended for this purpose, especially in Germany and Sweden; and the French still call it the Thè de l'Europe.

ROSACEE.

SPIREA.

ICOSANDRIA PENTAGYNIA.

The name Spiræa signifies a rope, these shrubs being flexible like ropes, and also because many parts of the stem, and the fruits of some of the species, are twisted. It is also called Bridewort.

THIS is a beautiful genus; most of the species are handsome flowering shrubs: the Willow-leaved, commonly called Spiræa Frutex, grows to a height of from three to six feet, according to the soil; the blossoms are handsome, and of a rose-red; blowing in June and July. In moist seasons, the young shoots from the root will frequently flower in autumn. It is a native of Siberia.

The Scarlet Spiræa is a native of Pensylvania; the blossoms are of a beautiful red-colour, blowing in August and September.

It is not determined whether the Hypericum-leaved Spiræa be a native of Italy, or of North America; it is called Hypericum Frutex, and Italian May. In Italy, there are hedges of it, bearing a profusion of blossoms. It flowers in May and June. Its height is five or six feet.

The Germander-leaved kind also makes beautiful hedges. The Kamschadales use the leaves of this as tea, and make tobacco-pipes of the straight shoots: it flowers in June.

The Three-lobed-leaved kind is a Siberian, it grows about two feet high, bears white flowers, and is a very elegant plant.

The Currant-leaved Spiræa, familiarly called the Virginian Guelder Rose, grows nine or ten feet high: the blossoms are white, spotted with pale-red.

The Spirea Filipendula, or Dropwort, is an herbaceous plant; so called from the manner in which its tuberous roots hang together by threads. The flowers are creamcoloured, often tipt with red, opening in July. It grows

about a foot and a half high, and sometimes produces double flowers.

The Spirea Ulmaria, Meadow Sweet, or Queen of the Meadows-called in French, la reine des prés; l'ormiére, vignette [little vine]; petite barbe de chèvre [little goats beard]: and in Italian, ulmaria; regina dei prati—is likewise an herbaceous plant; it abounds in moist meadows, perfuming the air with the Hawthorn-like scent of its abundant white blossoms, throughout June, July, and August. It grows three or four feet high. There is a variety with double flowers.

The most elegant kind is the Three-leaved Spiræa, but that is very difficult to preserve: it should be in a bog, or peat earth, and in a shady situation.

Of the shrubby Spiræas, the dead wood and the irregular branches should be pruned off every year: the suckers should likewise be removed, or they will starve the old plant. They should be new-potted, and have fresh earth given them every spring.

Of the herbaceous sorts the roots may be parted in autumn. They must all be kept moderately moist. Being generally natives of cold countries, they do not fear the cold.

Clare mentions the Meadow Sweet, in speaking of the effect of the noon-day sun upon flowers in the open country:

"Oh! to see how flowers are took,
How it grieves me when I look :

Ragged-robins, once so pink,

Now are turned as black as ink,

And the leaves, being scorched so much,
Even crumble at the touch;

Drowking lies the meadow-sweet,
Flopping down beneath one's feet:
While to all the flowers that blow,

If in open air they grow,