MARCH. 49 
- The modest Violet must now be mentioned, another uni- 
versal favourite, and perhaps still more so than the last 
¥ genus on account of the sweet smell of one of its species. 
Seven species of this interesting genus are found in Britain, 
«\ and as they may all be gathered, or at least five, by the in- 
_ dustrious botanist, I shall fully describe them in their proper 
"seasons. he 
Viota oporata. Sweet Violet. The blossom is gene- 
%. rally of a deep purple, though sometimes white; in parts 
of Devonshire it is found of a lilac colour, owing to the 
ot red soil. In many lanes and hedge-banks in Sussex no 
_ purple sweet Violets are to be found; they are all white, 
and in great profusion. It has heart-shaped leaves, which 
are smooth, those of the calyx obtuse at the end, whilst in 
__ the scentless species they are sharp-pointed. Root creeping. 
. The Turks make a sweet drink, which they call Sorbet, 
_ from Violets and sugar. Lightfoot, an old Scotch herbalist, 
advises the ladies to make them into a cosmetic ; for he says, 
“Anoint thy face with goat’s milk in which Violets have 
been infused, and there is not a young prince on the earth 
7 who will not be charmed with thy beauty.” Pliny, the 
naturalist, says that Violets worn about the head prevent 
head-ache; but I have heard that in many cases the scent 
E 
