APRIL. 53 



taken from the Greek word signifying war, and 

 Pliny relates, that it received this designation 

 from its having been the cause of war between 

 two kings, each of whom claimed the merit of 

 having discovered some medicinal properties 

 which it was supposed to possess. Great in- 

 deed must its virtues have been, if its good to 

 mankind could have at all compensated for the 

 ills brought on by war, and its attendant 

 miseries ; but if the plant we now call Greek 

 valerian, is the same as that which occupied so 

 much attention in ancient days, the discovery 

 was indeed of little value, and its remedial 

 effects of small power. It is not improbable, 

 however, that the old name has descended, in 

 this instance, to another flower than that to 

 Avhich it was originally given. 



And now several of those ornamental plants 

 of modern gardens, the flowering currant and 

 gooseberry bushes, are hanging their abundant 

 blossoms to the sunshine. These shrubs were 

 iinkuown to us a century since, though now so 

 many species are common. One of the most 

 general of them all is now in blossom. This is 

 the red -flowered black currant, (Eibes sangui- 

 7icum.) Several varieties of this species are 

 cultivated, distinguished chiefly by the colour 

 of their blossoms. The dark-tinted variety is 

 the prettiest. This plant was brought hither 

 from California, where it grows wild, be- 

 neath the shade of the wood. It is found wild, 

 too, most frequently, and in greatest luxuri- 

 ance, in the neighbourhood of streams. MrS' 



