140 BOTANY FOK BEGINNERS. [Ch. XX11I 



rose in its general aspect : there are several species of the Ru- 

 bus, one of which produces the common Blackberry, another 

 the Red-raspberry, another the Black-raspberry, and another the 

 Dew-berry. One species of the Rubus, the odoratus, produces 

 large and beautiful deep red flowers; the fruit is dry, and not eat- 

 able. 



590. The strawberry b. longs to the same natural and artifi- 

 cial order as the Rose ; these genera, with several others, form a 

 natural family, sometimes called, from the appearance of *he 

 flower, Rosaceous plants, and sometimes from the fruit, which 

 is a pome, Pomacese. 



The gathering of strawberries in the fields, is among those 

 rural enjoyments of childhood, which in after life are recollect- 

 ed with pleasure, not unfrequently mingled with melancholy re- 

 flections, upon the contrast of that happy season, with the sor- 

 rows with which maturer years are often shaded. Such reflec- 

 tions produced the following beautiful lines from a late female 

 poet.* 



" The Strawberry blooms upon its low]y bed, 

 Plant of n:v native soil! The Lime may fling, 

 More poter> t fragrance on the zephyr's wing : 

 The milky Cocoa richer juices shed, 

 And white Guava lovelier blossoms spread ; 

 But not, like thee, to fond remembrance bring, 

 The vanish'd hours of life's enchanting spring. 

 Short calendar of joys forever fled! 

 Thou bid'st the scenes of childhood rise to view, 

 The wild wood path which fancy loves to trace, 

 Where, veiled in leaves, thy fruit of rosy hue, 

 Lurked on its pliant stem with modest grace, 

 But, ah ! when thought would later years renew, 

 Alas ! successive sorrows crowd the space." 



* Helen Maria Williams. 



690. What is said of the Strawberry 1 



