LILY. 13 



(ling ceremonies of the modern Greeks the priest 

 is supplied with two chaplets of Lilies and ears 

 of corn, which he places on the heads of the bride 

 and bridegroom as emblems of purity and abun- 

 dance. All the wedding party are then crowned 

 with flowers, and as they pass by the houses of 

 their acquaintance, flowers, nuts, and cakes are 

 strewed from the windows. 



The Romans seem to have regarded the Lily 

 with equal admiration, as we learn from Colu- 

 mella that it was preserved or planted in baskets. 

 In his tenth book he says, 



" Then plant the various flow'rs, these earthly stars, 



* * * * * * * 



* 



And Lilies, which in baskets long- preserve 

 Their verdure ; . ^" 



Pliny mentions the Lily as next to the Rose 

 in point of beauty, and tells us, that the root 

 when dry was frequently steeped in purple wine, 

 in order that it might produce a purple flower. 

 How far this would cause a change in the colour 

 of the blossom we have not tried, but leave the 

 experiment to the curious. 



The common White Lily was so familiar in 

 the time of Queen Ehzabeth, that Gerard speaks 

 of it as a native plant ; he says, '' Our English 

 White Lillie groweth in most gardens of Eng- 



