106' MAY. 



throwing up in this month a pyramid of white 

 flowers, which will continue during the next. 



PANSIE VIOLET. 



Nor is the Violet last in this shining embassy of the year." 



This flower, always a charming one, expressive 

 emblem of those modest virtues which delight to 

 bloom in obscurity, has, latterly, by careful culti- 

 vation, become, professionally speaking, a florist's 

 flower, exhibiting as long a list of names as any of 

 its compeers. It has been brought to its great per- 

 fection in size and color by mixing the seeds.* 



The culture is very simple, by seed and parting. 



FICOIDES. 



" and the spangled beau 



Ficoides, glitters bright, the winter long." 



Notwithstanding the allusion to winter in the motto, 

 Picoides are now in blossom. They are curious 

 plants, and rather hardy. Their best position is out- 

 side the wall of a hot-house, where they grow better 

 in rich and fresh mould, than if complimented with 

 pots inside. They are classed by botanists under 

 the name, Me-sem-bry-an-the-mum, which word is 

 derived from Greek words, signifying a flower which 

 opens in mid-day. 



Some of them are very beautiful : they are sun- 

 flowers in miniature, of various colors, and flower 



* Technically termed, hybridizing. [ 



