LYCHNIS. 185 



the garden, and by the art of doubling the petals it 

 has become an ornamental plant amongst shrubs, 

 or in the background of flower-borders. 



This pretty plant is called Ragged Robin from 

 the finely-cut or ragged appearance of its petals, 

 and Cuckow Flower in common with several other 

 plants that blossom about the time this welcome 

 and merry messenger of spring begins its mono- 

 tonous song, when 



" The schoolboy wandering in the wood 

 To pull the flowers so g^ay. 

 Starts — thy curious voice to hear. 

 And imitates thy lay." 



The Lychnis Dioica, Bachelors' Buttons, is 

 also a native plant whose petals have been mul- 

 tiplied by the ingenuity of the florists for the pur- 

 pose of embellishing the parterre. 



