JULY. 149 



aud may be recognised hy their strong perfume, 

 which, in all the species, resembles, more or less, 

 the common mint {MentJia viridis) used at table. 

 The distilled waters made from these plants are 

 well known. Some of the mints are handsome 

 as wild flowers, and growing by river sides, 

 or on field borders, look very beautiful on the 

 summer landscape. 



But leaving the less gay and showy flowers, 

 for one of rich golden beauty, we may now see 

 in full bloom the lovely yellow blossom of the 

 rock rose, {Ileliantliemum vulyare.) This flower 

 grows sometimes singly, more often in clumps, 

 on rocky barren })laces ; just svicli spots as are 

 described in the parable of the sower ; where if 

 the sower were to sow his corn, it might s])ring 

 up and wither awav, because there is no deep- 

 ness of earth. But many a dry and arid spot 

 is clothed by God with occasional verdure and 

 beauty ; for he has fitted the flower to the soil, 

 and given to all their ajipointed times and jdaces. 

 This flower is not of a bright glossy colour, like 

 the buttercup, nor of the firm structure of that 

 blossom ; but the petals are of a paler tint, and 

 velvet surface, and so soft and cruiupled, that 

 they seem as if they had been wrinkled by being 

 crowded in the cup, out of which they expand. 

 They are of the shape of the brier rose, or 

 rather of the strawberry flower, as they are flat 

 when fidly open. It was termed Ilelianthemum 

 from two words signifying tlie sun and a flower ; 

 perhaps, because of its golden beauty ; ])ut more 

 probably, because of the old fancy tliat its flowers 



