Xlii INTRODUCTION. 



dered berries as a contrast to the Golden 

 Marigolds of Africa; the purple, and the 

 sweet-scented white Clematis entwine their 

 branches with the native Bramble, interweav- 

 ing- the happy gifts of Flora and Pomona on 

 the same festoon; the Indian Chrysanthe- 

 mum waits to decorate its branches in all the 

 hues of Iris, so as to rival and succeed the 

 mellow fruits of the orchard. Thus we now 

 see the well-dressed parterre clothed in the 

 various robes of distant climes, cheering the 

 month of November, and daring the rigours 

 of December, until its beauties are overtaken 

 and hidden by the falling snow. 



Lo ! winter desolates the year ; 

 The fields resign their latest bloom, 

 No more their breezes waft perfume, 

 No more the streams in music roll, 

 But snows fall dark or rains resound, 

 And while great Nature mourns around, 

 Her griefs infect the human soul. 



Akenside. 



The flowers of the autumn are generally of 

 a larger size and richer colour than those of 

 the spring or summer, consequently they are 

 less delicate and more showy in appearance ; 

 and as many of them, such as the Hollyhock, 



