SWEET VIOLET. 



What the origin of the word Viola is, cannot be pre- 

 cisely determined. ' It has been fabled, however, that the 

 Greek name of the plant, lov (ion), is taken from the cir- 

 cumstance, that, when the nymph lo was changed by Jupiter 

 into a cow, this plant sprang from the earth to become her 

 food. From the same fable the term Viola is supposed to 

 have had its origin, viola being formed from vitula (which 

 means a young cow) by dropping the t. 



The Viola Odorata, or Sweet Violet, is a native of every 

 part of Europe, in woods, bushes, and hedges, flowering in 

 March and April. The flower varies in colour, though 

 most commonly a deep purple : it is sometimes of a pale 

 purple, sometimes of a red purple, flesh-coloured, or quite 

 white ; but it is always delightfully fragrant. 



The growth of the Sweet Violet is not confined to 

 Europe ; it perfumes the paler groves of Barbary during 

 winter, it flourishes in Palestine, and both Japan and China 

 boast of this fragrant flower. Hasselquist tells us that it is 

 one of the plants most esteemed in Syria, and particularly 

 on account of its great use in sherbet, which is made with 

 violet sugar. 



Let the beauteous Violet 



Be planted, which, with purple and with gold 



Richly adorn'd, 



And that which creeps pale-colour'd on the ground. 



COLUMELLA. 



(80) 



