THE METROPOLITAN FLORAL EXHIBITIONS. 2.29 



but we are more anxious to give space for an account of the agree- 

 able use to which this flower was put by St. Meclard, who about the 

 year 530, instituted the most affecting prize piety has ever offered to 

 virtue. It was" a crown of roses for that villager's daughter who was 

 the most modest, most obedient to her parent?, and the most discreet. 

 The first rose tree was his own sister, whom he crowned in the 

 church of Salency. 



" We cannot pass over unnoticed the well-known story of the rose 

 leaf, which shows how fond the Eastern nations were of conveying 

 their thoughts by hieroglyphics. 



" At Amadan there was a famous academy, the rules of which 

 were, that the members of it should think much, write little, and 

 speak as seldom as possible. Zeba, a learned doctor, celebrated all 

 over the east for his great knowledge, hearing of a vacancy in this 

 institution, hastened to the city in order to be elected. Unfortu- 

 nately he arrived too late, for the place had already been filled by a 

 candidate, who, like many in those times, owed his success more to 

 his power than to his deserts. The president of the academy filled a 

 vase so full of water that an additional drop would make it run over, 

 by which the doctor was to understand that their society was too full 

 to admit of another member. 



" The learned Zeba was retiring sorrowfully, when by chance he 

 perceived a petal of arose at his feet, which he seized with prompt- 

 ness, and placed so delicately on the top of the water, that it did not 

 disturb it in the least. This ingenious allusion was received by the 

 assembly with the greatest approbation, and the academicians testi- 

 fied by their unanimous applause, their consent to the reception of 

 the illustrious Zeba as a member of their mute society." 



ARTICLE V. 



THE METROPOLITAN FLORAL EXHIBITIONS. 

 Royal South London Society, May 21. 



This was the second meeting of this society for the present season, 

 and was held in the Surrey Zoological Gardens. 



A number of very well grown specimens of stove and greenhouse 

 plants were produced in the various collections; but as we have 



