CLE MA TIS. 



Of one species of Cinquefoil we have read that, in rainy 

 weather, the leaves draw together, and inchne over the 

 flower, so as to form a kind of parapluic, or umbrella. 

 A fanciful mind sees in this the act of a tender mother, 

 carefully shielding a beloved daughter from impending 

 calamities. 



CLEMATIS.— Artifice. 



The Clematis is a great favourite in our gardens, because 

 of its mass of flowers and their delicious fragrance in autumn. 

 It is a deciduous climber of very rapid growth, and, carefully 

 trained over trelh's w^ork, or around windows, is very gracefully 

 ornamental. The species have long been used to cover 

 rustic arbours, whence probably their name " Virgin's Bower." 

 Cowper addressed a few lines to one presented to adorn a 

 garden seat, by that appellation,— 



" Thrive, gentle plant! and weave a bower for Mary and for me, 

 And deck with many a splendid flower thy foliage large and free." 



Keats mentions it by the same name, — 



" The creeper, mellowing for an autumn blush ; 

 And Virgin's Bcwer, traihng airily." 



The chief of our garden kinds are C. Florida, a Japanese 

 species, with whitish-yellow flowers ; C. Viticella, Avith purple 

 flowers from June to September ; and C. Jiammula, an 

 importation from France, which puts forth a profusion of 

 white highly odoriferous flowers during the latter part of 

 summer and until the frosty nights destroy its bloom. We 



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