HYDRANGEA. 263 



guage of flowers, and as it gives out such magnifi- 

 cent blossoms without ever producing fruit, we have 

 made it emblematical of a boaster, whose vaunting 

 •words resemble the abortive flov/ers of the Hy- 

 drangea, large and showy, without being followed 

 by suitable results. 



