FLAX. 



VAttlED ANALOGIES AND USE^OF FLAX. 



X, say the fanciful disciples of Fourier, signifies " the 

 industrious lover ;" for its flowers are blue, the colour 

 of love, the passion which animates him ; its stem is 

 straight and upright, like his honest course of uniform 

 labour ; the small and numerous leaves denote that his 

 occupation is made up of many details trifling in them- 

 selves ; the annual and fibrous root imply that he has no 

 firm hold on the gifts of fortune, but is obliged to live by 

 daily toil ; while the elegance of the petals declares that 

 his exertions are not left unrewarded. 



In sober truth, it would be difficult to find a plant, 

 even in the list of more pretending vegetables, which 

 renders to Man such important, diversified, and wide- 

 spread services as the fragile annual which is the subject 

 of the present treatise. "With the sole exception of 

 not furnishing a stimulating beverage, it lends its aid, 

 directly and indirectly, in furthering the whole life-long 

 journey of the human race, from the cradle to the grave. 

 In this respect it contrasts strongly with the vine, which 

 supplies us with a cheering liquor, but aids us in nothing 

 else besides. Not that we would depreciate the noble 

 vine for the purpose of dignifying what are called hum- 

 bler plants. The vine, according to the theory of the 

 above-mentioned speculative philosophers, the vine bears 

 fruit of two colours, white and violet, thereby symbolising 

 universal friendship. It is a plant which delights iu 

 clinging to trees and Walls ; it tries to love and embrace 



B 



