168 BRITISH PLANTS. 



published in the *' Floricultural Cabinet." To Mr. Johnston's 

 remarks we will only add that many of the species are really deserving 

 of cultivation. 



Iris tseud-acorus. YcHoio Water Iris, or Corn Flag. A very 

 showy plant, flowering in June and July, and growing in moist places, 

 by streams, «&c. It is easily cultivated, and should have a moist, shady 

 situation, and somewiiat rich soil. 



CYrRiFEDiUM c'ALCEOLUS, Or Venus' Slipper, has already been 

 noticed in Mr. Johnston's paper, if we recollect rightly. It deserves 

 cultivation, and is " one of the most beautiful and interesting of our 

 native plants." 



In bringing to a close our Notes on British Flowers for the present 

 Number, we hope that what we have written on them has not been 

 in vain. We love wild flowers dearly ; we have spent many of the 

 happiest days of our youth in searching for them in some of the love- 

 liest scenes of nature ; and it has often been matter of regret to us tliat 

 the many sweet gems which are scattered o'er the hills and in the 

 vales, remain beyond the reach of tiie eyes of the bulk of mankind. 

 Our wild flowers are associated with the sweetest days of our childhood, 

 and our happy school-days too ; they are associated with the most 

 beautiful scenes of our country ; and their praises have been sung by 

 all our country's poets ; and why is it that they are not brought to the 

 city garden, to gladden the hearts of the man of business and he who 

 cannot wander in the green fields. Many are they who seek a remis- 

 sion from care and anxiety, and bustle, in the calm and pleasingly 

 silent retreat of a flo\Aer-garden ; yet is it not strange tliat the very 

 flowers that are best fitted to engage the mind, and leading it into a 

 pleasant mood, are utterly neglected. Wildlings have a power over 

 the heart and the mind that strange and foreign flowers do not have. 

 The sight of a pale Primrose carries one to the green fields in an in- 

 stant ; and in imagination he sees the fresh banks bespeckled with the 

 bright blossoms of the sweet gem ; and he treads over again the little 

 flowery paths which he used to tread in childiiood ; he gathers the same 

 Primroses from the same banks, with the same light joyous heart, and 

 for a time he is led to forget the world and its many cares, its gold and 

 its gloom ; and to think of higher and holier tilings. Such is the effect 

 of our country's flowers ; and, reader, if you do love nature, say if it is 

 not true what we assert. 



In these Notes on British Plants wliich we have published, it maybe 

 observed that many sweet tilings well adapted for rock-work ornament, 

 and ponds, &c., are not treated of. We reserve these for future 

 Numbers, and will take the first opportunity of writing on rock-works 

 and rock-plants, and we will then notice all such, as likewise those of 

 other countries. Nor have we meddled with the grasses. Ferns, Lyco- 

 pods, nor mosses, in the present series. These we likewise reserve for 

 tiie future. 



We ardently hope that what we have written may bring many of 

 our wildlings a step nearer our homes, and that the attention of otir 

 readers may be employed at the present deligiitful period of the year, 

 in collecting such plants as may suit their taste and localities, we have 

 inserted these extended remarks in our present Number. 



