'2 



LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS. 



Cactus. You strihe me tvifh horror. 

 This plant is armed with ferocious- 

 looking sj lines, which are ready to 

 shed tlie blood of those who touch 

 them. 



Calla. Beauty unadorned. The 

 spathe is gracefully curved, and with- 

 out a blush of color. 



Camellia. Your various icaittics ice 

 all admire. A species of the tca- 

 ])lant, with jnire white or variegated 

 tints of its jjetals, which outrivals in 

 permanent beauty all other exotic 

 plants. 



Catchfly. I am not to he caught 

 tvithout my consent. The leaves oi^en 

 to the sun, but close upon any insect 

 which happens to touch them. 



Carxatiok. There is danger of a 

 fcdl. It grows high, and requires a 

 prop to keep it erect. 



Gakdinal-Flq-vver. Yotcr heauty is 

 heightened hy contrast. A beautiful 

 flower, growing in swamps, among 

 rushes and brambles. Wheu first 

 seen it elicits emotions of surjirise 

 and pleasure. 



Chamomile. Energy ivill surmount 

 adversity. Though every day tram- 

 pled upon, it still grows, and flour- 

 ishes and blossoms. 



CiRC-EA. I shall beware of your en- 

 cheintmcnts. Named after Circe, the 

 enchantress, and is called Enchant- 

 er's Nightshade. It grows in shady 

 places, and about the ruins of old 

 buildings, where such characters are 

 supposed to dwell. 



Clematis — Virgin's Bower. Your 

 injiuence favors mental accomplish- 

 onents. This vine screens the sun, 

 and forms a refreshing place of study 

 in the hot season. 



Columbine. I see folly marked upon 

 your face. The nectaries turn over, 

 and resemble the caps worn by those 

 who were fools and jesters by profes- 

 sion in ancient times. 



Cock's-comb. Fops cannot hut he 

 fools. The flower resembles the 

 crown of the bird of which the name 

 implies. 



Convolvulus. Thou lovest darlcness 

 letter than light. Some of the spe- 

 cies sleep, or close their petals during 

 the day, and spread them only during 

 the night. 



CoRNus. Precocity often comes to 

 naught. The Dogwood blossoms in 

 the spring, before anything else ; but 

 the flowers are mere involucres, fall- 

 ing off, and coming to nothing. 



Crocus. You are a constant enigma 

 to all your acquaintcuice . Tlic sem- 

 ination of the Crocus is a wonder. 

 The germen emerges from under 

 ground on a white peduncle, and 

 ripens its seeds above ground, differ- 

 ing from all other vegetables. 



Cowslip. Thoic art a gem in the 

 midst of the desert. Each footstalk 

 is said to bear twelve flowers, hence, 

 by Linnajus, Dodecathcon, that is, 

 twelve divinities. 



Cypress. An emblem of mourning. 

 Tliis is an evergreen, which the an- 

 cients delighted to place among the 

 tombs of their friends. Many of the 

 chests containing Egyptian mummies 

 are made of this wood ; also the 

 gates of Rome. 



Coreopsis. Love at first sight. A 

 native of Mexico. The Spanish la- 

 dies adorn their heads with this 

 flower. 



CoRCHORUS. Tliy absence is not for- 

 gotten, The name is taken from the 

 Greek, signifying a delicious pot herb 

 much esteemed by that people. 



DaffodiIj. Uncertainty. You are 

 now in the morning of life, fuU of 

 hope ; but time will show you their 

 uncertainty. 



Dew Plant. Serenade. May j-our 

 dreams be as fine as pearly bells, ris- 

 ing in cijstal fountains. 



