82 FLORA HISTORICA. 



And even where Hope's declining rays 

 Have ceased to paint the path before her, 



Tlie sunshine of her youthful days 



Still casts a cheering influence o'er her. 



The Retrospect. 



This plant is slightly mentioned by Pliny under 

 the name Statlce, which seems derived from the 

 Greek (2rxrix.n) making to stop, as this plant, by 

 its growing in sandy situations, is found to retain 

 and stop the movement of the sands. 



The English name of Thrift was most probably 

 given to it from the rapid manner in which it pro- 

 pagates itself in the garden by its roots; but in this 

 situation it is never known to increase by seed, 

 although it springs so readily from seed in many 

 situations on the coast : for although it is fre- 

 quently found on the highest mountains of this 

 island, its favourite soil seems to be a marine mud 

 or ooze mixed with the shingles of the sea beach; 

 and on this account, as well as from its grassy 

 leaves, it is generally called Sea Pink. We have 

 frequently seen it so abundantly on a little com- 

 mon between Lancing and Worthing, in Sussex, 

 as to form a complete turf of green leaves in the 

 winter, and enamelling the ground by a mass of 

 pink flowers from the month of May until August, 

 which formed a charming contrast with the blue 

 ocean . 



These plants improve in the size and often in 



