142 AEALIACEJE. 



sipated by heat: hence tlie change in their condition when 

 boiled. The author of this article in the Cyclopaedia points 

 out what essentially good service this tribe does to us. The 

 roots of the Parsnip and Carrot contain a large quantity of 

 starch and sugar, which makes them very nutritious. The 

 Celery, Sea Holly, and Angelica have pleasant stalks, which, 

 when cultivated or cooked, are wholesome. The leaves of the 

 Parsley, Fennel, and Chervil are also good when boiled. The 

 thick juice of the Assafcetida, Hemlock, and others, though 

 poisonous in itself, is useful as a medicine ; and the seeds of the 

 Coriander, Carraway, Dill, and Anise are very valuable. It 

 occurs to me, that God permits poisonous plants to exist in 

 order to compel us to use the senses He has given us, in 

 avoiding what we find to be evil, and, by industry and research, 

 remedying it, or turning it to beneficent purposes. All His 

 works are good, and He teaches to the earnest and humble- 

 minded how to find out the true and beautiful, and to gather 

 wholesome fruit from the creation of His hand. 



We are now so near the end of the Calyx order, that we had 

 better look over the few remaining plants. 



The Ivy family succeeds the Umbelliferous plants, and our 

 native Ivy needs little description. Clothing the venerable 

 ruin, and at once supporting it in its decrepitude, and adding 

 to its beauty, the Ivy has continually been the theme of poets 

 and moralists. It flowers in October, and its clusters of black 

 berries are greatly enjoyed by the blackbirds and thrushes in 

 spring. Sir Walter Scott describes it as mantling the rocks 

 about Eokeby, where it does indeed thrive in great luxuriance 

 at the present day. 



" Oft, too, the Ivy swathed their breast, 

 And wreathed its garland round their crest, 

 Or from the spires bade loosely flare 

 Its tendrils in the upper air ; 

 And so the ivied banners' gleam 

 Waved wildly o'er the brawling stream." 



In old times it was worn around the brow at bacchanalian 



