pPant "Isore, "begel^/, an(R Tsijric/', 409 



replies the Laurel-tree mournfully ; " the star wreath of honour 

 has fallen from thy brow ; there is no longer any place for thee 

 here." Then the sun rose over the mountain, and the Daughter of 

 the Laurel dissolved away into dew. 



LAVENDER. — The ancients employed Lavender {Lavandula 

 Spica) largely in their baths, whence its name, derived from the 

 Latin verb, lavave, to wash. The expression "Laid up in La- 

 vender " has arisen from the old custom of using the plant to 

 scent newly-washed linen. 



"Its spike of azure bloom 

 Shall be erewhile in arid bundles bound. 

 To lurk amid the labours of the loom, 

 And crown our kerchiefs clean with mickle rare perfume " 



The ancients used the French Lavender (L. Stachas), which for- 

 merly grew in great abundance on the islands near Hyeres, in 

 France, that were named after the plant, the Stoechades. Gerarde 

 calls this French Lavender, Sticadove, and says the herb was also 

 known as Cassidonie, corrupted by simple country folk into "Cast- 

 me-down." Shakspeare makes Perdita class Lavender among the 

 flowers denoting middle-age : — 



" Here's flowers for you ; 

 Hot Lavender, Mints, Savory, Marjoram. 

 The Marygold, that goes to bed with the sun. 

 And with him rises weeping ; these are the flowers 

 Of middle Summer, and, I think, they are given 

 To men of middle age." 



English Lavender was formerly called Lavender Spike, and Gerarde 

 says it was thought by some to be the sweet herb Cassia, mentioned 

 by Virgil in his ' Bucolics ' : — 



*' And then she'll Spike and such sweet herbs unfold. 

 And paint the Jacinth with the Marigold." 



It was formerly believed that the asp, a dangerous species of viper, 

 made Lavender its habitual place of abode, for which reason the 

 plant was approached with extreme caution. In Spain and Por- 

 tugal, Lavender is used to strew the floors of churches and houses 



on festive occasions, or to make bonfires on St. John's Day. In 



Tuscany, it is employed to coimteracl the effecft of the Evil Eye 



on little children. The Kabyle women attribute to Lavender the 



property of protecfting them from marital cruelty, and invoke it 

 for that purpose, 



LEEK. — Biblical commentators say that the Leek (Allium 

 Porrum), as well as the Onion and Garlic, was included among those 

 Egyptian luxuries after which the Children of Israel pined. White 

 and green were the old Cymric colours, and these colours are found 

 combined in the Leek, which is the national emblem of the Welsh. 



