THE PLANE TREE. 



THE PLANE TREE {Plataims oricntalis). — Genius. 



There was a long avenue of superb Plane Trees at 

 Athens, whither the Greeks used to resort. They also paid 

 a species of reverence or religious worship to these magnifi- 

 cent trees, which they dedicated to good genii and the 

 pleasures of the mind. 



THE PLUM TREE {Pritmis domesticd). — Keep YOUR 



Promises. 



Every year our Plum Trees cover themselves with an 

 abundance of flowers, but if the luxuriant growth of the 

 trees is not pruned by the able hand of a skilful fruit- 

 grower, they will not give us, the fruit they promise, more 

 than once in three years. 



POET'S NARCISSUS {Narcissus poetica). — Egotism. 



The Poet's Narcissus emits a pleasing perfume ; it carries 

 a golden crown in the middle of a large flower of ivory 

 whiteness, gently bending down. This plant seems natural to ' 

 our climate ; it delights in shade and in the freshness of the I 

 river's rim. 



The ancients saw in this flower the metamorphosis of a o 

 young shepherd, whom Love punished for his indifference by il 



l6l M 



6' 



