124 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



flowers holding an important part in one of the stories firmly 

 believed by the Mexicans of today, and forming a part of their 

 religious faith. 



The most refined of England's nobilitj' particularly esteemed 

 the gift of "augmentation," as it was called, which consisted of 

 diflTerent little ornaments given as a mark of merit, and among 

 them often a lily or rose. 



The heraldry of nations gives further evidence of the value 

 placed upon flowers. Henry the Fourth carried a plain white 

 banner at the battle of Ivry, but afterward golden lilies were pow- 

 dered upon it, and later, when the color of the banner was 

 changed to blue, three lilies were found upon it. Louis the 

 Seventh, King of France, when going on a crusade to the Holy 

 Land, selected the fleur-de-lis as his heraldic emblem. This flower 

 had already been worn by other kings of France and by emperors 

 of Constantinople. 



The fleur-de-lis is chiselled upon the statue of Joan of Arc which 

 stands in a public square in Rouen, which fact shows that the 

 influence of this flower was not confined to roj'altj', but that the 

 signification of it was understood by the common people. 



Certain flowers have become associated in our minds with 

 certain nations. According to " Folk Lore," the elder Pliny, 

 when discussing the etymology of the word Albion, suggests that 

 England may have been called by that name from the while roses 

 so abundant there. Whether this be true or not, do we think of 

 England and not of the rose? And do we think of Germany and 

 not of the corn-flower? of Egypt, and not of the lotus? of Japan 

 and not of the chrysanthemum? of Scotland, and not of the 

 unfortunate Danes who tried to swim over her thistles? of Turkey 

 and not of her poppies? or of Switzerland and not of her Alpine 

 roses and creamy edelweiss? Why have flowers and not other 

 objects been taken as emblems, if it be not because the}' are in all 

 countries the objects of national appreciation and delight? 



Let us look still farther and consider the influence of flowers 

 upon architecture in the past. In the Old Testament is given the 

 description of the wonderful temple of Solomon, in which we find 

 that " the chapiters that were upon the tops of the pillars were of 

 lily work in the porch." In later years, the capital of the main 

 column of the northern portico of St. Mark's Cathedral, in 

 Venice, seems to have been intended as an imitation of those on 



