218 rORTY DAYS OF ST. SWITHIN 



AUG. 5. Our Lady ad N'ives. 

 St. Oswald, king and martyr. 

 St. Afra, &c. martyrs, 304. 

 St. Memmius, bishop, 290. 



Obs. The Cliurch of St. Mary Major is one of the three great 

 patriarchal churches at Rome, and it was called St Mary's ad 

 JS'ives from a tradition that our Blessed Lady marked the spot 

 where the church was to be built by a miraculous fall of snow in 

 summer time. It is also called St, IMary's ad Presepe, from the 

 holy crib or manger wherein Christ was born being preserved in it, 

 containing a little silver image of our Lord. The whole is kept in a 

 case of massy silver, and is exposed to view on Christmas Day. 

 This holy relic excited the pious devotions of St. Jerom and of St. 

 Paula, when it was yet at Bethlehem. In the same Church of St. 

 IMary ad Nives is the famous picture of our Lady said to be painted 

 by St. Luke. The Votive Mass is said today. 



Egyptian Water Lily Nelumbo Nilotica fl. 



Sea Bindweed Convolvulus soldanella fl. 



Bellflowered Bindweed Ipomoea campanulata fl. 



Jalap Ipomoea Jalapa fl. 



Broadleaved Bellflower Campanula latifolia fl. 



Calathian Violet Gentiana Pneu7nonanthe fl. 



Alpine Gentian Gentiana nivalis fl. 



Field Gentian Gentiana campestris fl. 



'i'he Egyptian Water Lily will blow in a greenhouse in a vessel 

 of water. 



The several species of Bindweed, Bellflowers, and Gentian, that 

 we have described today constitute some of the most elegant of the 

 late aestival Flora. 



Early Peaches, Nectarines, Apricots, and Plums, are now ripe. 

 The Green Gages and Orleans Plum are certainly the best of all. 



Currants begin now to fail, except those preserved on walls or 



railings, or those which are matted up for keeping. Strawberries 



also, with the exception of the Alpine and Wood Strawberries, are 



gone ; and Gooseberries are nearly over. The loss of solstitial 



fruits however is amply repaired by the presence of the aestival ; for 



now, as Mr. Bidlake the poet observes. 



The mealy Plnm ' 



Hangs purplin?, or displays an amber hue ; 

 The luscious Fig, tlie tempting Pear, the Vine, 

 Perchance, that in the noontide eye of light 

 Baslis glad in rich festoons. The'downy Peach 

 Blushing like youthful cheeks; the Nectarine full 

 Of lavish juice. 



Defructu edendo. 

 Fmctibus aestivis qui papcitur ille valescit 

 Nee minus ex animis ingenioque valet. 



