14 FLOWER-GARDENING. 



" Come, virgins, then, and see 



Your frailties, and bemoan ye ; 

 For lost like these 'twill be 

 As time had never known ye." 



But let us not forget the fragrant, the very fragrant Wall 

 and Gillyflowers ; some of these regale us with their perfumes 

 through various vicissitudes and alternations of the season, while 

 others make a transient visit only. 



In favored climates the Anemone appears encircled at the 

 bottom with a spreading robe, and rounded at the top into a 

 beautiful dome. In its loosely flowing mantle, you may ob- 

 serve a noble negligence ; in its gently bending tufts, the most 

 exquisite symmetry. This may be termed the fine gentleman 

 of the garden, because it seems to possess the means of unit- 

 ing simplicity and refinement, of reconciling art and ease. 

 The same month has the merit of producing the Ranunculus. 

 All bold and graceful, it expands the riches of its foliage, and 

 acquires by degrees the loveliest enamel in the world. As per- 

 sons of intrinsic worth disdain the superficial arts of recom- 

 mendation practised by fops, so this lordly flower scorns to 

 borrow any of its excellences from powders and essences. It 

 needs no such attractions to render it the darling of the 

 curious, being sufficiently engaging from the elegance of its 

 figure, the radiant variety of its tinges, and a certain superior 

 dignity of aspect. 



We had intended to confine our meditations to the beauties of 

 April and May, but Nature seems to improve in her operations. 

 Her latest strokes are the most masterly. To crown the col- 

 lection, she introduces the Carnation, which captivates our 

 eyes with a noble spread of graces, and charms another sense 

 with a profusion of exquisite odors. This single flower has 

 centred in itself the perfection of all the preceding. The 

 moment it appears, it so commands our attention that we 

 scarcely regret the absence of the rest. 



