MAY. 145 



" Now comes July, and with his fervid noon 

 Unsinews labour." 



Hence the JEstival Floralia, or advanced Summer 

 Floral reign presents itself, characterized by the 

 agrarian Cockle (Agrostemma Githago), and golden 

 Chrysanthemum among the corn ; the Hawkweeds and 

 Bell-flowers on rocks and walls ; and the odorous 

 Meadow-sweet (Spiraea ulmarid), and purple Loose- 

 trife (Lytlira salicaria), as well as the various Willow- 

 herbs beside rills and banks of rivers. The nodding 

 Plume thistle (Carduus nutans), and others of the 

 tribe present their specious purple flowers to view, 

 characteristic of hot days and dusty roads but like 

 the cuckoo in June " seen, not regarded." 



Wild heaths, wastes, and commons, so black and 

 horrific amidst the storms of winter, begin to assume 

 a robe of exquisite beauty with the innumerable 

 flowers of the Calluna vulgaris, and the still more 

 delicate and beautiful hues of the blossoms of the 

 Ericce (Heaths), and Andromeda polifolia ; some of 

 the heaths long continuing and enlivening the Autum- 

 nal Moralia. In the garden the lofty Holyhocks 

 (Althcea), the Sunflowers, African Mary golds, China 

 Asters, and numerous other flowers, present an aspect 

 of regal magnificence. In rocky spots, perhaps, the 

 flowering of the Clematis or Virgin's Bower, (C. m- 

 talba), is the most decisive indication that the ./Estival 

 Mora has attained its culmination, while the universal 

 substitution of the flowers of the Bramble for those 

 of the Eose proclaims the same event. The berries 

 of the Mountain Ash, Hawthorn, and Guelder Eose, 

 now become evidently coloured, and add a pleasing 

 tint to the foliage of the hedge and shrubbery, though 



