pPant Tsore, Iscgc^/, cmol "b^ricy, 307 



Daffodil, Daffodilly, or Daffadowndilly. — See Narcissus. 



DAHLIA. — The Dahlia (Dahlia variabilis) is first mentioned 

 in a Plistory of Mexico, by Hernandez (165 1) : it was next noticed 

 by Menonville, who was employed by the French Minister to steal 

 the cochineal insect from the Spaniards in 179O. The Abbe Ca- 

 vanilles first described the flower scientifically from a specimen 

 which had bloomed in the Royal Garden of Madrid the previous 

 year, and he named the plant after his friend Andrew Dahl, the 



Swedish botanist. The Dahlia was introduced into England in 



1789 by Lady Bute from Madrid, but this single plant speedily 

 perished. Cavanilles sent specimens of the three varieties then 

 known to the Jardin des Plantes in 1802, and the flower was very 

 successfully cultivated in France, so that in 1814, on the return 

 of peace, the improved varieties of the Dahlia created quite a sen- 

 sation among English visitors to Paris. Meanwhile, Lady Hol- 

 land had in July, 1804, sent Dahlia-seeds to England from Madrid, 

 and ten years after we find her husband thus writing to her : — 



" The Dahlia you brought to our isle 

 Your praises for ever shall speak ; 

 Mid gardens as sweet as your smile. 

 And in colour as bright as your check." 



It is singular that this favourite flower should have been twice in- 

 troduced to England through the ladies of two of her most noted 

 statesmen, and that the first introducflion should mark the \ear 

 when France became revolutionized, and the second that which saw 

 Napoleon made Emperor of the French nation : it is from these 

 incidents that the Dahlia in floral language has been selected as 



the symbol of " instability." In Germany and Russia, the flower 



is called Georgina, after a St. Petersburg professor. 



DAISY. — The legend connetfted with the Daisy, or BcUis, 

 runs that this favourite little flower owes its origin to one of the 

 Belides, who were grand-daughters of Danaus, and belonged to 

 the race of Nymphs, called Dryads, presiding over woodlands, 

 pastures, and meadows : she is said to have encouraged the suit of 

 the rural divinit}', Ephigeus, but whilst dancing on the sward with 

 him, chanced to attract: the admiration of \'ertumnus, the guardian 

 deity of orchards, and to enable her to escape from his amorous 

 embrace, she was transformed into the humble flower named Bellis. 

 Thus Rapin says : — 



"When the bright ram, bedecked with stars and gold, 

 Displays his fleece, the Daisy will unfold 

 To nymphs a chaplet. and to beds a grace, 

 Who once herself had borne a virgin's face." 



Chaucer, however, who appears to have been passionately fond of 

 the Daisy, and never tired of singing its praises, tells us that the 

 Queen Alceste was changed into the flower, and that she had as 

 many virtues as there were florets in it. 



X — 2 



