92 FLORA HISTORICA. 



was a happiness that we refer to with pleasure 

 in our riper years, 



" Even so the mind's inquiring eye 



Louks backward through the mist of years, 

 Where, in its vast variety, 



The chequer'd map of life a))pears ; 



And even where Hope's declining rays 

 Have ceased to paint the path before her, 



The 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 (Srar/xTj) m.aking 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 

 propagates 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 

 frequently found on the highest mountains of this 

 island, its favourite spot and 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 



