302 FLORA DOMESTICA. 



PRIVET. 



LIGUSTRUM. 



OliEINE^. DIANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 



In England it was formerly called Prim-print; Prime- print; or 

 Prim. — French, troene ; fresillon ; puine blanc [white young-one]. — 

 Italian, ligustro ; rovistico ; ruistico ; olivella : in Venice, conestrela : 

 in the Brescian, cambrosen ; cambrosel. 



The Privet shrub deserves a place among the most ele- 

 gant : the leaves are handsome, and the old ones remain 

 on till driven off by new : it bears an abundance of 

 white pyramidail blossoms, which blow in July, and are 

 succeeded by bunches of black berries. It is hardy, and 

 will give little trouble. It must be watered occasionally in 

 dry weather, and must be removed into a roomier lodging, 

 when it has, like the giant in the Castle of Otranto, out- 

 grown its old one. 



This elegant tree has been rendered classical by the 

 pen of Virgil : 



" Alba ligustra cadunt, vaccinia nigra leguntur." 



Virgil, Pastoral 2. 



" White privets fall neglected, the purple hyacinths are gathered." 

 — Davidson's Translation. 



The Privet blossom has been frequently celebrated for 

 its whiteness : 



" Amarilli, del candido ligustro 

 Pill Candida e piii bella. 

 Ma deir aspido sordo 

 E piu sorda, e piu fera, e piii fugace." 



GuARiNi, Pastor Fido, Act 1, Scene 2. 



'' Amaryllis, yet more fair. 



More white than whitest privets are, ^ 

 But than the cruel aspic still 

 More cruel, wild, and terrible." 



