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 Spiræa 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 Spiræa 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 goat's 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.

"Each dry entangled copse empurpled glows

With orchis blooms; while in the moistened plain
The meadow-sweet its luscious fragrance yields."
DR. BIDLAKE'S YEAR.

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,

Th' injurious deed alike is done

By the hot relentless sun.

Even the dew is parched up

From the teasel's jointed cup."

Ben Jonson includes it among the flowers scattered on

the altar in honour of Pan.

great variety, he adds:

Having already enumerated a

"Bring, too, some branches forth of Daphne's hair,
And gladdest myrtle for these posts to wear;
With spikenard weaved and marjoram between,
And starred with yellow golds, and meadows green;
That when the altar, as it ought, is drest,

More odour come not from the phoenix's nest;

The breath thereof Panchaia may envy,

The colours china, and the light the sky *."

* This allusion to the brilliant colours of china was made when it first began to appear in the shops of London. See Jonson's Works, Gifford's edition, vol. viii. p. 45.

STAR OF BETHLEHEM.

ORNITHOGALUM.

ASPHODELEÆ.

HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA.

The botanical name of this genus is from two Greek words, which signify bird and milk; which Mr. Martyn supposes to be intended to express the whiteness of the flowers or roots of some of the species, like the feathers or beaks of some birds. But this is surely a long way to fetch a name, or its explanation.-French, l'ornithogale; churles.Italian, ornitogalo; latte d'uccello.

THE Snowy Star of Bethlehem, the Spear-leaved, the Long-spiked, the Cape, the Grass-leaved, and the Golden, are all from the Cape, and too tender to thrive in the open air. In the beginning of July, when the leaves and stalks decay, the roots may be taken up, and laid in a dry place till the end of August, when they must be planted again. They may be increased by offsets.

The Pyrenean, Close-spiked, Broad-leaved, and Pyramidal kinds, are hardy bulbs: they may be increased by offsets, which they produce in great plenty. They should be transplanted in July or August, but not oftener than every second year. They should have a light sandy soil. All the kinds must be kept moderately moist.

In the East, the roots of some of the species are boiled and eaten.

AMARYLLIDEÆ.

STAR LILY.

AMARYLLIS.

HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA.

French, amarillis.—Italian, giglio narciso [narcissus lily].

THE name of Amaryllis is supposed to be derived from a Greek word signifying splendour; " and is given," says Mr. Martyn, "with great propriety, to this splendid genus."

The Yellow Amaryllis, or Autumnal Narcissus, is a native of the South of France, Spain, Italy, and Thrace. The flowers seldom rise above four inches high; and somewhat resemble the Yellow Crocus. Like that, too, its leaves grow all the winter, after the flowers are past. It flowers in September, is very hardy, and increases fast by offsets. They may be transplanted any time from May to the end of July, but not later.

This plant prefers a light dry soil, and an open situation. It must not be under the dripping of trees. In mild seasons, there will often be, from the same root, a succession of flowers from September to the middle of November. It should be kept moderately moist. The Turks frequently plant this flower about the graves of their deceased friends.

The Atamasco Lily is a native of Virginia and Carolina, where it grows plentifully in the fields and woods, and makes a beautiful show. At their first appearance the flowers are of a fine carnation colour outside, but they fade almost to white: they blow from May to July or August.

It may be increased by offsets: the bulbs should be removed every second year, and if they begin to shoot while out of the earth, should be planted immediately. It should be kept moderately moist.

The Jacoboa Lily-in French, le lys de St. Jaques [St. James's lily]; la croix de St. Jaques [St. James's cross]; la belle amarillis: and in Italian, giglio narciso giacobeoproduces its flowers two or three times in the year, not at any regular season. It furnishes plenty of offsets, which should be taken off every year: the best time is in August, that they may take good root before winter. In removing the roots, great care should be taken not to break off their fibres. This flower may stand abroad in the summer, but

in the winter should be lodged in an inhabited room. It must be kept moist.

This Lily is a native of South America: the flowers are large, of a deep red, and bend gracefully on one side of the stalk. Parkinson calls it the Indian Daffodil.

The Belladonna Lily-called by the French, lis de Mexique [Mexico lily]; la belle dame: and by the Italians, narciso bella donna [fine lady narcissus]-is a native of the West Indies, and grows on shady hills, and by the margins of streams. It is of a pale purple colour, inclining to white towards the centre. It was first brought to England from Portugal, and is very common in the Italian gardens, particularly in the neighbourhood of Florence, where it is sold in the markets under the name of Narcissus-belladonna. This Lily is very fragrant. It flowers about the end of September or the beginning of October, and, if the weather be favourable, will continue in bloom a month,

or more.

In June the leaves decay, and the root should be transplanted soon after; for, if it remains till July, it will send forth new fibres; and removal then would injure it. It should remain in the house in the winter, and be kept moderately moist.

The Superb, or Riband Amaryllis, is supposed to be a native of the Cape: the flowers are very beautiful; a white ground, striped with red. Unless hastened by artificial heat, they open in April or May. As this bulb rarely produces offsets, it should be procured in a pot, and treated as the last.

The Long-leaved Lily, or Amaryllis, is a native of the Cape of Good Hope. The flower-stem is seldom more than four inches high, but bears a profusion of purple flowers, opening in December. It may be treated as the Jacobœa Lily.