EDITOR'S TABLE. 



petals to the sunbeam, and to bathe iu the light and air so necessary to the perfection of their 

 fruit Yet the Nymphcea is not really a Lily ; and many a one not skilled in floral names call 

 the yellow Iris and the blue Iris Water Lilies. 



The biography of remarkable flowers might, in skillful hands, be made almost as interesting 

 and instructive as the lives of celebrated men and women ; for there are flowers that have an 

 individual history attached to them, and possess a name and celebrity above their fellows. As an 

 illustration, I will select the history of the Guernsey Lily, which I extract from a volume entitled 

 Historic Scenes and Poetic Fancies, by Agnes Strickland, -which, as it may not be generally known, 

 will possibly be read with interest by some of the subscribers of the Horticulturist : 



" The first of this splendid species ever seen in Europe was observed growing at high water 

 mark on the Guernsey shore, a few weeks after the wreck of a large home-bound East Indiaman, 

 which, with all her crew, and passengers, and costly freight, was lost on the perilous reef oft' that 

 coast. This flower, being the sole relic of the rich cargo, was called by the peasants the 'Lily of 

 the Wreck ;' and being greatly prized, not only from this circumstance but for its rare beauty, 

 was carefully preserved and cultivated. In the course of a few years the species was.propagated 

 throughout the island, where it flourished so profusely as to become in time an article of com- 

 merce ; and being erroneously supposed by foreign florists to be indigenous to that locality, has 

 by them been named ' The Guernsey Lily.' The tradition of its first appearance is, however, 

 familiar to the sea-faring population of the island." 



I select from the little ooem that precedes this note, the closing lines 



" Nought reached the land in that dreadful houTj 



Save the simple bulb of an Indian flower, 



Which the surges washed from the found'ring bark ; 



And when autumn came, at high water mark, 



The Guernsey fishers, wondering, eyed 



Its buds expand in gorgeous pride, 



And said, so fair a plant before 



Did never bloom on their rugged shore. 



« The Lily of the Wreck at first 



It was called, by those who had fondly nursed 



The pilgrim flower : but its fame in time 



Went forth to every western clime, 



And now those orient Lilies claim " • 



From Guernsey's isle their general name, 



For they flourish as free on its rocky strand • ' 



As beneath the suns of their own bright laud " 



Catalogues Eeceited. — Catalogue of Fruits and Ornamental Trees, Evergreens, Flower- 

 ing Plants, Roses, etc., cultivated and for sale at the Hopeicell IKurseries, near Fredricks- 

 lurg, Va. Heney R. Robey, Projmetor. 



Twelfth edition of R. Buisx's Select Catalogue of Rare and Popular Flowering Green- 

 house and Hot-house Plants, including New Species and Varieties lately introduced. 



Descriptive Catalogue of the Andre Le Roy's Nurseries, Angers, France. — This is the 

 most complete and valuable catalogue which M. Le Roy has yet sent out — giving very 

 ample lists of synonyms of varieties, in connection with the name of authors or cultivators, 

 who have introduced or disseminated them. We must say, however, that these latter 

 indications, as far as relates to American varieties, are generally incorrect. 



