THE VIOLETS. 



FIG. XV. Viola cucullata : 1, the corolla displayed ; 2, the odd petal ; 3, the sta- 

 mens, &c. ; 4, the ovary and style ; 5, section of a seed ; 6, section of a flower of V. 

 rotundifolia ; 7, section of ovary ; 8, the capsule wide open, the valves covered with 



crowned Athens." The Romans had their " Dies Violaris," the day devoted to 

 decking the graves with flowers. An old English herbalist says, " Verie manie of 

 these violets receive ornament and comelie grace, for there be made of them gar- 

 lands for the head, nosegaies and posies, which stirre up a man to that which is 



comely and honest." Who cannot respond to these lines of Willis : 



1 ' There is to me 



A daintiness about these early flowers 

 That touches me like poetry. They bloom 

 With such a simple loveliness among 

 The common herbs of pasture, and breathe out 

 Their loves so unobtrusively, like hearts 

 Whose beatings are too gentle for this world." 



