WIND OW GARD ENINQ . 



221 



beauty of the leaves of some of the plants, and the spicy fragrance of others, 

 makes it suitable for the smallest collection of plants. 



It requires a friable loam, and does not need the sun during the warmest part 

 of the day in the summer. 



There are three methods of increasing this pretty plant : by seed, which ripen 

 abundantly in this country, and from which the various beautiful hybrid varie- 

 ties recently introduced have been obtained ; by cuttings, and by divisions of the 

 roots. Seed sown in sandy soil in May, will make tine blossoming plants in 

 January. 



Cuttings strike readily in damp sand or water. The dwarf varieties are quite 

 an improvement upon the older sorts. 



The Wall Flower. 



The Wall Flower is an old fashioned flower, not much cultivated in these days 

 of novelties. Yet many flowers, much less worthy of admiration, are seen, and 

 the double varieties are particularly attractive, on account of their sweetness and 

 peculiar colorings. We read in old literature of "The yellow Wall Flower 

 stained with iron brown," and again 



" The rude stone fence with fragrant Wall flowers gay, 



To me more pleasure yield 

 Than all the pomp imperial domes survey." 



Tradition associates with this plant one of her wildest fantasies : 

 In ancient days a noble castle stood amid woods and wilds near the Trent, 

 and a fair damsel had long been detained a prisoner within its walls, because she 

 had given her young love to the heir of a hostile clan ; and although the youth 

 was of equal birth, and renowned for feats of arms and strength, the deadly 

 hatred of those fierce days forbade all thoughts of their marriage. 



Many stratagems did the youth devise to obta n possession of his love, but they 

 had all failed. At length a serving woman came to his aid, and it was arranged 

 that with a silken ladder she should descend the fearful height and meet her 

 lover, and the poetry thus describes her fate : 



"Up then she got upon a wall, 

 Attempted down to slide withal; 

 But the silken twist untied, 

 So she fell, and bruised, she died. 

 Love in pity to the deed, 

 And her loving luckless speed, 

 Turn'd her to this plant, we call 

 Now, the Flower of the Wall" 



Hence, the Wall Flower has become an emblem of fidelity. 



The ancient English dames took much pleasure in cultivating this plant, and 

 in wearing its blosi-oms, so that the title of " Dames' Violet " was applied to it. 



The blossom is cruciform, having in its natural state only four petals ; but cul- 

 tivation has changed the stamens into petals, as is often the case. It will not 

 bloom until the second year from the seed, but if potted in Septemb.r will bloom 



