SWEET PEA. gf 



rally of bluish-lilac, and the keel of faint rose tinted 

 with azure, which slightly opens to show the yellow 

 anthers. In other varieties we find the standards 

 or pelisse of the flower of a full rose-colour, which 

 flies open to shew the soft blue or flesh-coloured 

 second garment, which opening discloses the clear 

 white of the keel or inner tunic. Others burst in a 

 full robe of pure white, like a virgin on her bridal 

 morning, who heightens the splendour of her at- 

 tendants by the modest simplicity of her own cos- 

 tume. 



If our attention is attracted by the beautiful 

 manner in which Flora has decorated this favourite 

 child, how much must our admiration be excited 

 by the wise ordinances of Nature, in the singular 

 provisions she has made to enable this feeble plant 

 to rear its slender stem, so as to propagate its spe- 

 cies with as much security and regularity as the 

 sturdy oak of the valley, or the tall pine of the 

 mountain. So admirably are they all adapted to 

 their various stations in the vegetable economy, 

 that it would be presumption to ask which is formed 

 with superior wisdom. 



The Pea, which enjoys but a summer's hfe, 

 sends its fibres deep into the earth, to draw the ne- 

 cessary moisture which is to force up its tall and 

 straggling stem, which being too weak to support 

 itself, has a kind of hand bestowed iijx>n it as it 



