FLORA AND THALIA. 137 



THE WALL-FLOWER. 



This is a native of Britain, but now found wild in 

 France, Spain, and Switzerland. It is a very hardy 

 plant, bearing our severest winters, particularly on 

 old walls and ruins, where it becomes much stronger 

 and more woody than in the ground. Its fragrance 

 is so well known and admired, that we find it in the 

 gardens of both rich and poor. A small bunch of 

 the flowers is sufficient to scent a large room. 



Were it scarce and more difficult to raise, we 

 should prize it as one of our choicest flowers ; for it 

 not only refreshes us with its bright green leaves all 

 the winter, but from an early period in the spring, 

 until late in the autumn, we are regaled with the 

 fragrance of its flowers, and with its gay appearance 

 in the parterre. The colours are sometimes exceed- 

 ingly rich, varying from a warm yellow to a rich 

 brown or deep red corolla, that vies with velvet in 

 richness.' So great a favourite is this plant with 

 writers of romance, both in prose and verse, that we 

 generally find it embellish all romantic castles and 

 ruins. 



Class, TiTRADYNAMiA. Orckv, S1LIQ.L-OSA. 

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