The sun is dressed in beaming smiles. 

 To give thy beauties to the day: 



Young zephyrs wait with gentlest gales. 

 To fan thy bosom as they play. 



Casimir. 



From the plaintive air it assumes in its wild state, arose to the imagination of the poet the 

 tancy of a Youth converted into this flower. 



I die, I die, young Hyacinthus said,'^ 



Sunk on the earth, and droopM his lovely head. 



Quick to his aid distressed Apollo flew. 



And round the hero's neck his arms he threw. 



But whilst he held him to his throbbing breast. 



And all the anguish of his soul exprest. 



His polished limbs by strange enchantment's pow'r 



Shoot into buds, and blossom into flow'r; 



His auburn locks in verdant foliage flow. 



And wreaths of azure florets shade his brow. 



Ovid. 



Although the Hyacinth cannot boast of a vestment of crimson, and variety of stripes, yet is 

 this flower, from its early appearance, and the effed that cultivation produces on it, made one 

 of the most pleasing gifts proceeding from the Deity. Botanists have usually aff-ected to despise 

 double flowers, forgetful that the benevolence of the Almighty is best displayed in such produc- 

 tions, and have branded them by the appellation of Monsters. They are, however, useful, not 

 only as agreeable objects, but scientifically, proving most satisfactorily the doctrine of the sexes 

 of plants; for the Hyacinth in its natural state has six Stamina and one Pistillum, and is pro- 

 ductive ; the Petals are likewise six; but in a cultivated state the flowers cease to be pendu- 

 lous, and the Petals are so considerably multiplied, as to constitute the whole of the flower, and 

 there is neither Stamina nor Pistillum, and consequently no propagation by seeds, but merely 

 by off-sets from the bulbs. The Double White Hyacinth has been denominated La Heroine; 

 that which is double and all of a light blue. Globe Terrestre. The Diana Van Epheson 

 is a double White Hyacinth, with small red spots; and Velour Purpre is the dark double 

 Blue Hyacinth with green at the edges of the petals; and the Single dark Blue is named Don 

 Gratuit. 



b Hjacinthus was accidentally struck by a quoit slung by Apollo, and killed on the spot. He was converted into the flower that bears 

 his name, and Apollo's grief was allayed by viewing the beauties of this charming flower. Vide Ovid's Metamorphosis. 



