would make a handsome tree on a stem, with a head resembling the orange. The way to have this tree of a handsome shape, with an upright stem, and the boughs regularly disposed, is to raise it from the berry. This is also the case with the bay, the orange, and many others.

MALVACEÆ.

LAVATERA.

MONADELPHIA FOLYANDRIA.

So named from Lavater, a physician at Zurich.-French, Lavatere; Italian, Lavatera, Malvoncino.

THE Lavateras are large, handsome flowers, in form resembling the mallow, but considerably larger. In colour they vary from a pure white to blue, flesh-colour, &c.

The annual kinds should be sown in autumn, in small pots; one in each. Towards the end of October they should be removed into the house, and, being defended from frost, will abide the winter very well. Early in April they may be shaken out of their pots, and planted in larger; where they may remain to flower, which they will do in July.

The perennial kinds are not so well adapted for potting; and the annual will furnish a sufficient variety of these elegant flowers for any house, balcony, &c. In dry summer weather they may be gently watered every evening. If perennial kinds are obtained, they must be sheltered in the winter, and be sparingly watered in that season. Most of

the species require sticks to support them.

Roucel, in his Flore du Nord de France, says that the ex-capucins cultivate the Lavatera in their gardens, for the sake of the stalks, with the peel of which they make ropes to scourge themselves.

LABIATE.

LAVENDER.

LAVANDULA.

DIDYNAMIA GYMNOSPERMIA.

So named from its use in fomentations and baths.-French, la lavande in Provence, aspic; espic, whence the foreign oil of lavender is usually called oil of spike.-Italian, lavendola; lavanda; spigo.

THE Common Lavender is increased by cuttings, which should be planted in March, and placed in the shade until they have taken root: they may then be exposed to the sun. These plants will live much longer, and endure the most severe cold, if planted in a dry, gravelly soil. They grow faster in summer if the soil be rich and moist; but then they are generally destroyed in the winter, nor are they so strongly scented as those which grow in a barren soil.

Lavender was formerly used for edgings, as we now use box, thrift, &c.; but it grows too high for this purpose, and the practice is generally discontinued. The agreeable scent of Lavender is well known, since it is an old and still a common custom to scatter the flowers over linen, as some do rose-leaves, for the sake of this sweet odour:

"Pure lavender, to lay in bridal gown."

Lavender-water, too, as it is usually called, although it is really spirit of wine scented with the oil of lavender, is one of our most common perfumes. This plant has been much celebrated for its virtues in nervous disorders, and is an ingredient in some of the English herb teas now in such general use. This species of Lavender is common to Europe, Asia, and Africa. It flowers from July to September.

French Lavender (also called Purple Stoechas, from being found in the islands named the Stoechades) may be

sown in March; several seeds together, in a light, dry soil. When the plants are two inches high, they may be separated, and planted into pots seven inches wide: they must be placed in the shade till they have taken root, and be gently watered every second day. If the winter prove severe, they should be housed; but in a dry soil they will

bear our common winters very well. This species may also be raised from cuttings, like the Common Lavender. It is a native of the South of Europe, and is in bloom from May to July.

The other kinds of Lavender may be increased either by cuttings or seeds; but they do not all ripen seeds in this country. They require winter shelter; and the Thickleaved species, which is a native of the East Indies, must be preserved in a hot-house.

They should have but just water enough to prevent drought; especially in the winter.

The stalks of the lavender, even when the flowers have been stripped away, have an agreeable scent, and, if burnt, will diffuse it powerfully and pleasantly: they form an agreeable substitute for pastiles, and will burn very well in the little vessels made for that purpose. To a Londoner it becomes a kind of rural pleasure to hear the cry "Three bunches a penny, sweet Lavender.”

“ And lavender, whose spikes of azure bloom
Shall be erewhile in arid bundles bound,

To lurk amidst her labours of the loom,

And crown her kerchiefs clean with mickle rare perfume."

of

SHENSTONE'S SCHOOL-MISTRESS.

Spenser describes it more accurately as

"the lavender still gray."

AURANTIACEE.

LEMON-TREE.

CITRUS-LIMON.

POLYADELPHIA POLYANDRIA.

French, le limonier; l'arbre du limon.-Italian, limone.

THE Lemon may be treated like the Orange-tree; and as the treatment is given at great length under that head, it would be useless to repeat it. The only difference is, that the Lemon, being rather hardier, may be placed in the more airy part of the room in winter, and may have rather more water; though the orange must be frequently supplied, even in winter, unless it be a bitter frost.

The Lemon is a variety of the Citron, which was first known in Europe by the name of the Median-apple, being brought from Media. Virgil terms it the "happy apple :” "probably," says Mr. Davidson, " on account of its great virtues :"

"Media fert tristes succos, tardumque saporem
Felicis mali; quo non præsentius ullum,

Pocula si quando sævæ infecere novercæ,

Miscueruntque herbas, et non innoxia verba,
Auxilium venit, ac membris agit atra venena."

"Nor be the citron, Media's boast, unsung,

GEORGIC. 2.

Though harsh the juice, and lingering on the tongue :
When the drugg'd bowl, mid witching curses brew'd,
Wastes the pale youth by step-dame hate pursued,
Its powerful aid unbinds the mutter'd spell,
And frees the victim from the draught of hell.”

DR. PARIS'S TRANSLATION.

Martyn, in his Notes, cites a story related by Athenæus of the use of citrons against poisons, which he had from a friend of his, who was governor of Egypt. This governor had condemned two malefactors to death by the bite of serpents. As they were led to execution, a person, taking

compassion on them, gave them a citron to eat. The consequence of this was, that though they were exposed to the bite of the most venomous serpents, they received no injury. The governor being surprised at this extraordinary event, inquired of the soldiers who guarded them, what they had eaten or drunk that day, and being informed that they had only eaten a citron, he ordered that the next day one of them should eat citron, and the other not. He who had not tasted the citron died presently after he was bitten; the other remained unhurt.

Virgil compares it to a bay, for which he says it might be mistaken, but for the difference of its perfume. Philips celebrates the use of the Lemon in punch :

"The lemon, uncorrupt with voyage long,
To vinous spirits added (heavenly drink!)"

Cowley describes David and his wife walking
"Upon their palace top, beneath a row

Of Lemon-trees, which there did proudly grow,
And with bright stores of golden fruit repay

The light they drank from the sun's neighbouring ray."

Among other romances lately translated from the Spanish by Mr. Bowring is the following, describing a young Spanish girl gathering Lemons:

"The rose looks out in the valley,

And thither will I go:

To the rosy vale, where the nightingale
Sings his song of woe.

The virgin is on the river side,

Culling the lemons pale: ·

Thither, yes! thither will I go,

To the rosy vale, where the nightingale

Sings his song of woe.

The fairest fruit her hand hath culled

'Tis for her lover all:

Thither, yes! thither, &c. &c.