388 breck's new book of flowers. 



Hunt, in his enumeration of the flowers in hlossom, in 

 his history of the months, too fond of tlie Heart's-ease 

 even to name it without a passing commendation, he calls 

 it the Sparkler, a name which it so truly deserves, that it 

 might well be added to those it now bears. Herrick 

 plays upon its name of Heart's-ease: — 



" Ah cruel love, must I endure, 



Thy mnuy scoins, and find no cure? 

 Say, are thy medicines made to be 

 Help, to all others but to nie ? 



" I'll leave thee and to Pansys come, 

 Comforts you'll afford me some ; 

 You can ease my heart, and tlo 

 What love could ne'er be brought unto." 



Pansies recommend themselves to notice not only by 

 the brilliancy and variety of their colors, and the profusion 

 of flowers they produce, but also for their durability in 

 bloom, which, by attention to culture, will extend from 

 April to December, including a portion of nine months of 

 the year ; and in warm, sheltered places, straggling flow- 

 ers may be gathered through the winter. The facility 

 with which all the kinds can be propagated, and the very 

 little attention they require afterwards in culture, are ad- 

 ditional recommendations. 



The flowers ought to be planted in clumps or beds, and 

 then the rich mass of bloom, so mixed and so many 

 colored, produces a very pleasing effect. The most pre- 

 vailing colors are plain purple and violet, of many shades ; 

 red, brown, white, yellow, etc., as well as purple and violet 

 variegated, with white or yellow, etc., freaked with stripes 

 and spots, in every diversity of coloring. One of the 

 most remarkable varieties is one, called the King of the 

 Blacks ; the color, a i)lain jet-black. 



The largest flowers are generally found on young vig- 

 orous plants, and in the earliest part of the season have 



