•260 BOKAGINE^ 



FergissmeinnicM, all over the empire of Germany, and I believe in Denmark 

 and Sweden," though several of its continental names, like ours, refer to 

 its coiled buds, or to the leaf which gives it the name of Mouse-ear. Thus, 

 the French call it Scorpionne, or sometimes Grdmillet, and Oreille de Eat ; the 

 Italians, Orecchio di topa ; the Spaniards, Miosota. The German plants the 

 flower about the tombs ; the Frenchman portrays the cluster on paper, and 

 writes beneath the bouquet, Ne m'ouUiez pas; and though a wild flower in 

 France, as in our country, yet little pots of its blossoms are often to be seen 

 in the flower-markets of Paris, as well as small gathered bouquets, which are 

 sold for the purpose of making the gift of love or friendship. 



Coleridge laments that the flower should pass away so early, though it 

 often lingers till August : — 



"The tedded hay, the first-fruits of the soil, 

 The tedded hay and corn-sheaves in our fields, 

 Show Summer gone ere come. The foxglove tall 

 Sheds its loose purple hells, or in the gust, 

 Or when it bends beneatli the up springing lark, 

 Or mountain finch alighting. And the rose, 

 In vain the darling of successful love, 

 Stands like some boasted beauty of past years. 

 The thorns remaining and the ilowers all gone. 

 Nor can I find, amid my lonely walk 

 By rivulet or spring, or wet roadside. 

 That blue and bright-eyed flow'ret of the brook, 

 Hope's gentle gem ! the sweet Forget-me-not." 



Doubtless, as Professor Burnett remarks, the flower owes some of its 

 popularity to its familiar name, but it probably owed that name, too, to its 

 modest loveliness. Though it is never so handsome or luxuriant when in 

 dry places, yet it will sometimes thrive for a time in gardens, and may be 

 cultivated in pots. It is increased by separating the roots, and when planted 

 on a moist free earth, it will blossom well, and may be used for a season to 

 adorn our houses, or may serve for the gentle usages of sentiment. 



In the Netherlands this Myosotis is often made into a syrup, and given as 

 a remedy in pulmonary aftections ; but it can be of little service. It is said 

 that a decoction of its juices hardens steel ; and that if edged tools of that 

 metal be made red-hot, and then quenched in the juice or decoction of this 

 plant, and this be repeated for some hours, the steel Avill become so hard as 

 even to cut iron or stone ; but we have not been able to verify this statement. 



2. Creeping Water Scorpion-grass {M. repcns). — Calyx cleft to 

 about the middle, open when in fruit ; teeth narrow, lanceolate, and acute ; 

 limb of the corolla flat, longer than the tube ; style as long as the calyx ; 

 down of the stem spreading ; stem slightly angular ; leaves somewhat acute ; 

 perennial. This plant, which grows in boggy places, is by some botanists 

 thought to be a sub-species of the last. It has pale-blue flowers in leafy 

 clusters, from June to August. 



3. Tufted Water Scorpion-grass {M. cmpitosa). — Calyx open when 

 in fruit ; teeth narrow, lanceolate, bluntish ; limb of the corolla equalling 

 the tube ; stem round, with its down closely pressed to the surface ; leaves 

 usually blunt; annual or biennial. This plant occurs in many watery places, 

 bearing in May and June clusters of bright blue flowers, which vary in size. 



