1252 ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM. PART III. 



cottages, allowing the shoots to droop down on every side like curtains, and 

 drawing them back from the windows in a similar manner to what is done 

 with drapery. 



Historical, poelica/, and legendary Allusions. The jasmine (of which 

 Cowper observes, — 



" The deep dark green of whose unvamish'd leaf 

 Makes more conspicuous, and illumes the more, 

 The bright profusion of her scatter'd stars, ") 



has been frequently celebrated by the poets; and several of them have alluded to 

 the custom which prevails in some countries, of brides wearing jasmine flowers 

 in their hair when they are married. The origin of the custom is said to be, 

 that a grand-duke of Tuscany had, in 1699, a {)lant of the deliciously scented 

 jasmine of Goa (./. odoratissimum), which he was so careful of, that he would 

 not suffer it to be propagated, llis gardener, however, being in love with a 

 peasant girl in the neighbourhood, gave her a sprig of this choice plant on her 

 birthday; and he having taught her how to make cuttings, she planted the 

 sprig as a n)emorial of his affection. It grew rapidly, and every one who saw 

 it, admiring its beauty and sweetness, wished to have a [)lant of it. These the 

 girl supplied from cuttings, and sold them so well, as to obtain enough money 

 to enable her to marry her lover. " Tlie young girls of Tuscany, in remem- 

 brance of this adventure, always deck themselves, on their wedding-day, with 

 a nosegav of jessamine ; and they have a proverb, that ' she who is worthy to 

 wear a nosegay of jessamine, is as good as a fortune to her husband." 

 (Sentimeiit of Flowers, p. 8.) This custom, however, appears to prevail, also, 

 in the East, according to Aloore : — 



" And brides, asdchcateand fair 

 As the white jasmine flowers they wear. 

 Hath Yemen in her bhssful clime." 



The flower alluded to in the beautiful lines below, also by Moore, is./. Samhar, 

 a hot-house plant, but, which like many other tender shrubs, might be turned 

 out to blossom for the summer. 



" Twas midnight — through the l.ittice, wreathed 

 With woodbine, many a perfume breathe<l. 

 From plants that wake when others sleep, 

 From timid jasmine buds, that keep 

 Their odour to themselves all day. 

 But, when the sunlight dies away. 

 Let the delicious secret out 

 To every breeze that roams about." 



Propagation and Culture. The common jasmine throws up side-suckers in 

 great abundance ; by which, by layers, or even by cuttings, it is readily pro- 

 pagated. The double-blossomed variety is rare, and is generally propagated 

 by budding on the species. When it is desired to turn a green jasmine into 

 a variegated one, a single bud of either the silver-leaved, or the golden-leaved, 

 will communicate its variegation to every part of the plant, even to suckers 

 thrown up by the roots. This has been done in the Chelsea Botanic 

 Garden ; and we are informed by Mr. Pince of Exeter, that the same result 

 takes place with the va- 1079 



ricgated laburnum, even if 

 the bud should die, pro- 

 vided a portion of the bark 

 to which it was attached 

 continues to live. We have 

 little doubt that the same 

 thing would take place in 

 the jasmine, and, doubtless, 

 in various other plants. 



Insects. That very re- 

 markable lepidopterous in- 



-V 



