SECT. IT, VEGETATION t$ 



delight. the eye, that we chiefly cultivate them; and 

 in this respect we may exclaim with the poet, 



Who can paint like nature ? Can imagination boast 



Amidst its gay creation, hues like hers? 



Or can it mix them with that matchless skill, 



And lose them in each other, as appears 



la every bud that blows ? 



THOMSON*. 



Not only the colours of Flowers delight the eye, 

 twt the forms are objects of admiration. The leaves 

 of the plants (not to mention the shades of their 

 .green and variegations) are of various symmetry, 

 some plain, others indented, some hard, some soft, 

 smooth, hairy, &c. Flowers are composed, some of 

 only one, others of several and numerous leaves. 

 Here it appears like a large vessel gracefully open- 

 ing. There it forms some grotesque figure, in imi- 

 tation of a muzzle, head piece, or cowl. . Here it is 

 a butterfly, a star, a crown, a radiant sun. Some 

 are scattered on the plant without any art ; others 

 compose nosegays, globes, tufts of feathers, garlands, 

 pyramids, c. The seeds of plants too are as va- 

 riously formed as their leaves and flowers, round, 

 square, angular, long, &c. 



The following description of Flora's festival and 

 the month of May, may very well finish the notice 

 here taken vfjlowers. 



The good Posthumius chose the first of May, 

 To FLORA sacred, and observed the day 

 With holy rural rites, that won by prayer 

 She might diffuse her blessing o'er the year ; 

 H is homely neighbourhood in green privet dress'd, 

 With strict devotion keep the cheerful feast, 

 And crowned with chaplets, to fair Flora bring 

 The first and freshest beauties of the spring. 

 Clardens are now with choice perfumes supplied, 

 % these and thousand nameless sweets beside; 



