116 FLORA'S LEXICON. 



UNIPER. Juniperus. Class 22, Dicecia. 

 Order : Monadelphia. The ancients con- 

 secrated this shrub to the Eurnenides. The 

 smoke of its green branches was the in- 

 cense which, in preference, they chose to 

 offer to the infernal gods ; and burnt its ber- 

 ries, on funeral occasions, to drive away 

 evil spirits. The simple villagers of England superstitiously be- 

 lieve that the perfume of its berries purifies the air, and protects 

 them from the malevolence of wicked genii. 



The Chinese delight to decorate their gardens with this plant. 

 It groups and combines very well with cypresses, American 

 cedars, and various species of the pine and fir tribe. It is com- 

 monly found growing wild on the outskirts of woods and forests, 

 where it often affords a safe retreat to the hunted hare, which, in 

 the last extremity, conceals itself beneath its protecting branches. 

 It is said that the powerful odour emitted by this plant defeats 

 the keen scent of the hound. 



Its thick branches, bristling with thorns, are covered with 

 thousands of brilliant insects, which seem to imagine this tree is 

 provided as a protection for their weakness. 



ASYLUM. PROTECTION. 



Welcome, pure thoughts; welcome, ye silent groves; 

 These guests, these courts, my soul most dearly loves. 

 Now the wing'd people of the sky shall sing 

 My cheerful anthems to the gladsome spring: 

 A prayer-book now shall be my looking-glass, 

 In which I will adore sweet virtue's face. 

 Here dwell no hateful looks, no palace cares, 

 No broken vows dwell here, nor pale-faced fears: 

 Then here I'll sit, and sigh my lost love's folly, 

 And learn to affect an holy melancholy ; 

 And if contentment be a stranger then, 

 I'll ne'er look for it, but in heaven again. 



Anon. 



