8 



LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS. 



allusion to tlie form of the leaves, be- 

 ing snout-form, hence dragon-like. 



Snowball (Tree). If all tvcre like you 

 the earth ivould soon hecome a desert. 

 The stamens of this plant are 

 changed into petals, therefore pro- 

 ducing no seed. 



Snowdkop. Though in chains hope 

 has not forsaken me. As soon as this 

 dwarfish plant is uncovered from the 

 snow and ice, it opens its petals and ap- 

 pears in the full Lloom and vigor of life. 



St. John's-wokt. I do not crave your 

 jjrotection. In superstitious ages 

 this i)lant was hung in the windows 

 as a charm against storms, thunder, 

 and e\al spirits, and was also carried 

 about as a charm against witchcraft. 



Stock-Jillt-flower. I]y cultivation 

 the rustic may attain the highest dis- 

 tinction. Originally tliis was an in- 

 significant little straggler, but bj' 

 close attention it has become one of 

 the noblest of ornamental plants. 



Stkaavbeery Tree. Perseverance. 



Sunflower. You are valued for luhat 

 you do not possess. This stately 

 annual is supposed to turn its dial; 

 constantly towards the sun. 



Sweet Pea. DepaHure. 



Sweet-william. Childhood. 



Tansey. I declare tear against you. 

 This herb is extremely nauseous and 

 bitter to the taste, and in some coun- 

 tries the inhabitants present its leaves 

 to those they intend to insult. 



Thistle. I am afraid of 'you. This 

 plant is thickly beset Avith bristles, 

 and bids defiance to the touch. 



Thorn-apple. Thy poisonous charms 

 are only for the night. In warm 

 climates the flowers of this genus 

 droop and languish during the day 

 but upon the approach of night un- 

 fold and display their gorgeous balls. 



Trefoil (Clover). Providence. 



Trumpet-flower (Ash-leaved). Sep- 

 aration. 



Tuberose. Vohptuousness. 



Tulip. Thou wert once the dearest 

 flotver on tvhich the sun ever shone. 

 About the middle of the l7th century, 

 such was the mania for particular 

 sorts of tliis plant in Persia, that a 

 single bulb was sold for $20,000. 



Tulip Tree. Rural happiness. 



Vervain. Now thine art is knoicn thy 

 sjkII no longer binds. Most oxtra- 

 ordinarj' magical vuiues were attri- 

 buted by the ancient Druids, but like 

 other sorts of witchcraft, the spell was 

 broken when its fallacy was known. 



Vine (Grape). Repentance follows 

 thine embrace. Anarcharsis says 

 that the \'ine produces three kinds of 

 fruit ; intoxication, debauchery, and 

 repentance, and that Avisdom shuns 

 them all. 



Violet. I must he sought for to be 

 found. Ever since Diana changed lo 

 into a violet, to hide her from Apol- 

 lo, the flower has been made the em- 

 blem of modesty. 



Wall-flower. My affection is above 

 time or misfortune. This modest 

 little plant blooms on the nourish- 

 ment derived from the dust of ruined 

 castles, and never fails to })ut forth 

 its modest flowers, unless disturbed 

 by the hand of man. 



Willow (Weeping). Mourning for 

 friends deceased. From earliest his- 

 tory to the present time we find the 

 willow used to designate places sa- 

 cred to the dead. 



WOOD-SORKEL. Joy. 



Wormwood. Emblem of anguish. 

 The peculiar qualities of this plant 

 have established it as the insignia of 

 bitter sorrow. 



Yew. Insensibility. This may be 

 considered an emblem of iusensibili- 

 tv, war, or mourning ; in the poetry 

 of Scott, it is a symbol of war ; in 

 one of Byron's beautiful dirges, it is 

 made an emblem of mourning. 



