"Those virgin lilies, all the night MOORE'S LALLA ROOKH. "And now the sharp keel of his little boat Where Calidore might have the goodliest view 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." 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 poles†. * See Titsingh's Illustrations of Japan. + Ibid. "The Lotus," says Dr. Shaw, "is the favourite vegetable symbol of the old Egyptians; it attends the motions of the sun, lies under water in his absence, and has its flowers, leaves, and root of the same round figure with that luminary." An Eastern poet writes (probably to his mistress), "If you pass in the night-season through a garden, where the Nilufar (Water-lily) is beneath the water, it lifts its head above the surface, mistaking your lovely countenance for the sun." The Persian poet, Jami, uses the same figure in speaking of the patriarch Joseph, saying, that the brightness of his countenance caused the Nilufar to emerge from the water*. In Japan, the Nymphæa nelumbo, another, and a very similar species, is frequently substituted for the Nymphæa Lotos. Thunberg, in his Travels in Japan, says he frequently saw the Nelumbo growing in the water; that, on account of its appearance, it was considered as a sacred plant, and pleasing to the gods; and that the images of idols were often represented sitting on its large leaves†. 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: * See Sir W. Ouseley's Travels, Vol. III. p 563. + Thunberg's Travels, Vol. III. p. 227. "And his floating eyes-oh! they resemble Is making the stream around them tremble." 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. SOLANEÆ. PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. This plant is also named Alkekengi.-French, coqueret; coquerelle; quoquerelle; herbe à 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 COWPER'S TASK. CORYMBIFERE. XERANTHEMUM. SYNGENESIA POLYGAMIA SUPERFLUA. This name is Greek, and signifies a dry-flower.-French, l'immortelle. THE Annual Xeranthemums should be sown in the autumn, singly, in a pot of five or six inches diameter, filled with light earth. If in a warm situation, as near a wall facing the south or south-east, they will bear an ordinary winter abroad: in June they will begin to flower, and in July are fit for gathering. There are single and double varieties; and, contrary to the habit of most double flowers, these may generally be continued from seed. The flowers are commonly white or purple. The other kinds are chiefly shrubby, and propagated by cuttings, planted in any of the summer months in a pot of light earth. These kinds must be sheltered from frost; but, if not allowed fresh air in mild weather, will grow up weakly, and often bear no flowers. They should be placed near a window, open in mild weather. In dry summer weather the Xeranthemums will require frequent watering, but must be sparingly watered in winter. These flowers, if gathered in their beauty, will preserve it many years, and make a showy figure with other dried flowers, as Amaranths, Honesty, Gnaphaliums, &c. in the winter. They also make pretty ornaments for a lady's hair their colours are white, purple, yellow, or red. The Xeranthemum has of late been highly improved by culture, and many persons are very curious in them. LILIACEÆ. YUCCA. HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Frequently called Adam's-needle.-French, yuca; youc. THE Superb Yucca is from North America; it was first cultivated in Europe by Gerarde, to whom it was brought from the West Indies by the servant of an apothecary. Gerarde kept the plant till his death; Parkinson had it from the widow, and with him it perished. The Yucca is nearly allied to the Aloe, and, like that, blows very rarely the flowers of this species are bell |