438 



sons treats of it historically, poetically, and scientifically, 

 as well as in a practical manner. We must, of course, 

 say something of the Rose ourselves poetically, for who 

 can dwell long upon this beautiful flower without some 

 aspirations of this kind ? but not having a faculty of 

 soaring upon our own wings, we must cull from others, 

 and finding in a work entitled " Flora Domestica" all we 

 desire under this head, we give the following copious ex- 

 tracts, which may not be unacceptable to a portion of our 

 readers at least : 



" The Rose is preeminently the flower of love and poetry, 

 the very perfection of floral realities. Imagination may 

 have flattered herself that her power could form a more 

 perfect beauty j but, it is said, she never yet discovered 

 such to mortal eyes. This, however, she would persuade 

 us to be a mere matter of delicacy, and that she had the 

 authority of Apollo for her secret success : 



No mortal eye can roach tlie flowers, 



And 't is right just, for well Apollo knows 



'T would make the poet quarrel with the Rose.' 



It is, however, determined, that until the claim of such 

 veiled beauty, or beauties, shall rest upon better founda- 

 tion, the Rose shall still be considered as the unrivalled 

 Queen of flowers. 



' I saw the sweetest flower wild nature yields, 

 A fresh-blown Musk Rose.' 



"It is said, however, that the angels possess a more 

 beautiful kind of Rose than those we have on earth. 

 David saw in a vision a number of angels pass by with 

 gilded baskets in their hands. 



' Some as they went, the blue eyed Violets strew, 

 Some spotless Lilies in loose onler threw ; 

 Some did the way \\ith full-blown Roses spread, 

 Their smell divine, and color strangely red ; 

 Not such as our dull gardens proudly wear, 

 Whom weathers taint, and winds' rude k 



