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FLOWERS 



m 



LESSON 94. 



Flowers. 



Carnation, a fine and fragrant flower whose varieties of colour 

 and luxuriance are innumerable. Class Decandria, order 

 Digynia, genus Dianthus. 



The infinite variety of flowers is not less a subject of ad- 

 miration than their regular succession, and equally evinces 



* 4r consummate wisdom and design. This diversity is not dis- 

 cernible only in the different families of flowers, but it is to 

 be seen in the individuals. In a bed of tulips or carnations, 

 there is scycely a flower m which some difference may not 



^ be observed in its structure, size, or assemblage of colours ; 

 nor can any two flowers be found in which the shape and 

 shades are exactly similar. Flowers have not only furnished 

 the poets with inexhaustible description, but the philoso- 

 j»hers in every age with a variety of moral sentiments. Those 

 who have gathered a rose, know but too well how soon it 

 withers ; and the familiar application of its fate to that of 

 human life and beauty is not more striking to the imagina- 

 tion than philosophically and literally true. 



The following interesting account has been given by Sir 

 John Hill of what appeared on examining a carnation. Its 

 fragrance led me to enjoy it frequently and near ; the sense 

 of smelling was not the only one affected on these occasions ; 

 while that was satisfied with the })owerful sweet, the ear was 

 constantly attacked by an extremely soft but agreeable mur- 

 muring sound. It was easy to know that some animal 

 within the covert, must be the musician, and that the little 

 noise must come from some little creature suited to produce 

 it. I instantly distended the lower part of the flower, and 

 placing it in a full light, could discover troops of little in- 

 sects frisking with wild jollity among the narrow pedestal 

 that supported its leaves, and the little threads that occupied 

 its centre. What a fragrant world for their habitation I 

 What a perfect security from all annoyance, in the dusky 

 husk that surrounded the scene of action ! Adapting a mi- 

 croscope to take in at one view the whole base of the flower, I 

 gave myself an opportunity of contemplating what they were 

 »bout, and this for many days together, without giving them 



