JUNE. Ill 



these flowera, and the bushes are described as 

 " forming small forests in the gardens." Burck- 

 hardt found roses in plenty among the ruins of 

 Bozra, beyond the river Jordan. 



There seems little doubt that the isle of 

 Rhodes derived its name from Bhodos, the 

 Greek word for this flo^yer, on account of its 

 lovely roses. Dr. Clarke speaks with delight 

 of the fragrant atmosphere of this island, and 

 says that, in addition to the odours of the rose, 

 every gale is scented Avith citron and orange 

 trees, and that numberless aromatic herbs ex- 

 hale at the same time such profuse fragrance, 

 that the whole atmosphere seems to be im- 

 pregnated with its spicy perfume. The pagan 

 writers said of this island, that Jupiter poured 

 on it a golden shower. 



And now, when the sun shines brightly, the 

 eye is absolutely dazzled as it gazes on the 

 glowing flowers of the scarlet lychnis, {Lychnis 

 chalcedonica.) Pliny observes that this flower 

 was in his time called flammea, from its colour 

 60 like to the flame of fire. He speaks of its 

 having been brought from Asia. It appears to 

 have been introduced hither from the Russian 

 gardens, in the year 1596, and it is generally 

 thought to have been sent into Em^ope from 

 Asia° during the period of the crusades. The 

 large clusters of this brilliant flower, growing 

 on a stem often three feet high, render it a 

 valuable addition to the garden. It blooms also 

 for three or four months. The Avhite and 

 double-flowered varieties are equally handsome, 



