238 TKANSACTIONS OF THE HOETICULTUKAL 



the symbol of all that we cherish and hold dear. With them we 

 decorate our homes; they are found at the bridal altar; they make 

 bright the sick room; they are laid on the coffin; they are hung on 

 the monument. Beautiful flower — the type of our life, of its brief 

 existence, of its immortal glory. 



The ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans presented their 

 quests with bouquets upon their entrance to their homes, also made 

 for them necklaces and garlands for the head. Thev even bestrewed 

 their couches, making them veritable beds of roses. 



At all periods, in every nation, flowers and certain trees seem to 

 have been consecrated to the dead. The Romans planted wild vines 

 and the box around their tombs; the wealthy assigning beautious 

 gardens to their departed friends. They not only scattered flowers 

 around their tombs, but they suspended garlands over them. In 

 funeral processions bouquets were carried in the hands, while palm 

 branches were scattered in the way of the procession. Garlands of 

 immortelle were thrown into the graves, and other flowers were placed 

 on the sarcophagus. The same custom prevailed among the Gre- 

 cians, who considered all purple and white flowers acceptable to the 

 dead. The Thessalonians streAved the grave of Achilles with the im- 

 mortal amaranth and lilies. Electra complained that the grave of 

 her father, Agamemnon, received no myrtle boughs. 



Not only in all ages and all nations, but all by classes and con- 

 ditions of men, do we find flowers and plants loved and cultivated. 

 From the very wealthy, whose conservatories are filled with rare and 

 <2hoice exotics and native plants — even to the very poor, in whose 

 hovels we frequently see a feeble attempt at window-gardening in a 

 few tin cans inside the casement, showing that there is an inherent 

 love of nature which poverty, squallor and crime can not crush out. 



Both history and romance furnish us many stories regarding 

 the love of individuals and nations for certain plants. As in the 

 case of the present Emperor of Germany, who, notwithstanding his 

 many years, has great veneration for the simple corn-flower; his lik- 

 ing for these flowers springing from one of the purest and most 

 beautiful sentiments — afi'ection for his mother. 



We ever associate the violet with France and Napoleon. 



The brave and strong-hearted Mungo Park once read a sermon 

 from a little flower in the desert, which was the means of saving 

 his life. 



The thistle is said once to have been the salvation of Scotland, 

 when, trodden upon by an unwary, bare-footed Dane, in a night at- 

 tack, nis screams aroused the sleeping Scots, who at once rushed to 

 arms and vanquished their enemies. 



Who but Burns could have written so lovingly of the " wee 

 modest " mountain daisy which 



"Adorns the histic stibble-lield, 

 Unseen, alone." 



