178 MIDSUMMER TIDE. 



JUNE 26. St. John and Paul, martyrs, a. d. 362. 



St. Maxentius, abbot, 515. 



St. Vigilius, bishop and martyr, 400. 



St. Babolen, abbot. 



St. Anthelm, bishop, 1178. 



B. Raingarda, widow, 1135. 



Obs. These saints were both officers in the army under Julian 

 the Apostate, and received the crown of martyrdom probably in 362, 

 under Apronianus, prefect of Rome, a g-reat enemy of the Christians. 

 These saints glorified God by a double victory : they despised the 

 honours of the world, and triumphed over its threats and torments. 



Damask Rose Rosa Damasccna full fl. 

 Blue Sowthistle Sonchtis coernleus fl. 

 Forster's Blue Sowthistle Soyichim Forsteri fl. 

 Garden Hawkseyes Crepis barbata^. 



The Blue Sowthistle, introduced by the late T. F. Forster, esq. is 

 larger than the common blue sort, rising to seven feet high or even 

 higher. Its smell is very fragile, and we often find recorded in our 

 Journal of Flora Soncld caernlei frangitur canut ve)ito. 



The Hay harvest is already begun, and near London far ad- 

 vanced. Perhaps one of the most cheerful sounds which we hear in 

 the morning at this time of year is the whetting of the mower"s 

 scythe. 



Milton, in I'Allegro, beautifully expresses Haytlme and its 

 frolics :— 



And the milkmaid singing blythe, 

 And the mower wets his scythe. 



And again in the same poem : — 



Or, if the earlier season lead 



To the tanned Haycock in the mead, 



Sometimes with secure delight 



The upland hamlets will invite, 



When the merry bells ring round, 



And the jocund rebecks sound 



To many a youth, and many a maid. 



Dancing in the chequered shade ; 



And old and young come forth to play 



On a sunshine holiiday. 



