^rifroc^ucitoa. xxiii. 



and profit the Church, God, and the common wealth by their 



pains or pen, do as it were send forth a pleasing savour of sweet 



instrudlions." The poet Wordsworth reminds us that 



" God made the flowers to beautify 

 The earth, and cheer man's careful mood ; 

 And he is happiest who hath power 

 To gather wisdom from a flower, 

 And wake his heart in every hour 

 To pleasant gratitude." 



In these pages will be found many details as to the use 

 of these beauteous gems of Nature, both by the ancient races 

 of the world and by the people of our own generation ; their 

 adaptation to the Church's ceremonial and to popular festivals ; 

 their use as portents, symbols, and emblems ; and their employ- 

 ment as an adornment of the graves of loved ones. Much more 

 could have been written, had space permitted, regarding their 

 value to the architecft and the herald. The Acanthus, Lotus, 

 Trefoil, Lily, Vine, Ivy, Pomegranate, Oak, Palm, Acacia, and 

 many other plants have been reproduced as ornaments by the 

 sculptor, and it is a matter of tradition that to the majestic aspecfl 

 of an avenue of trees we owe the lengthy aisle and fretted vault of 

 the Gothic order of architecfture. In the field of heraldry it is 

 noticeable that many nations, families, and individuals have, in 

 addition to their heraldic badges, adopted plants as special symbols, 

 the circumstances of their adoption forming the groundwork of a 

 vast number of legends : a glance at the index will show that some 

 of these are to be discovered in the present work. Many towns 

 and villages owe their names to trees or plants ; and not a few 

 English families have taken their surnames from members of the 

 vegetable kingdom. In Scotland, the name of Frazer is derived 

 from the Strawberry-leaves {/raises) borne on the family shield of 

 arms, and the Gowans and Primroses also owe their names to 

 plants. The Highland clans are all distinguished by the floral 

 badge or Suieachantas which is worn in the bonnet. For the most 

 part the plants adopted for these badges are evergreens ; and it is 

 said that the deciduous Oak which was selecfled by the Stuarts was 

 looked upon as a portent of evil to the royal house. 



The love of human kind for flowers would seem to be shared 

 by many members of the feathered tribe. Poets have sung of the 



