i66 THE GLORY OF THE GARDEN 

 The Leek, National Flower of Wales. 



" There is an aged cell, with moss and ivy grown, 

 In which not to this day the sun has ever shone, 

 That reverend British saint, in zealous ages past, 

 To contemplation lived, and did so truly fast. 

 As he did only drink what crystal Hodney yields. 

 And fed upon the leeks he gathered in the fields; 

 In memory of whom, in each revolving year. 

 The Welshmen on his day that sacred herb do wear.'* 



Michael Drayton. 



The leek has for many centuries been the emblem 

 of Wales, and this is said to be in memory of a great 

 victory obtained by the Welsh over the Saxons; 

 upon which occasion they, by order of St. David, 

 placed leeks in their caps. Thus the Welsh were all 

 known to each other, while the Saxons, having no 

 distinguishing mark, frequently mistook each other 

 and slew friend and foe indiscriminately. 



From this circumstance arose the custom of the 

 Welsh wearing leeks in their hats on St. David's 

 Day. Several of our oldest authors allude to this 

 usage, and Shakespeare makes Henry V. acknowledge 

 to the gallant Fluellen his pride of joining in the 

 practice. 



" I wear it for a memorable honour: 



For I am Welsh, you know, good countryman." 



Some of the old writers say that the leek is most 

 truly the fitting emblem of Wales, combining white 

 and green in its stems, which were the old Cymric 

 colours. 



St. David's Day falls on March i : 



" March, various, fierce, and wild with wind-crackt cheeks. 

 By wilder Welshmen led, and crown'd with leeks." 



