xxvi PREFACE. 



It was this that brought the gentle family of roses into 

 such unnatural broils in the civil wars : and still the united 

 countries of Great Britain have each a floral emblem : 

 Scotland has its thistle, Ireland its shamrock, and England 

 the rose. France, under the Bourbons, has the golden lily. 

 It was an annual custom with the Popes to send a golden 

 rose perfumed to the prince who happened to be most in 

 their good graces. 



Our different festivals have each their own peculiar 

 plant, or plants, to be used in their celebration : at Easter 

 the willow as a substitute for the palm ; at Christmas, the 

 holly and the mistletoe ; on May-day every flower in 

 bloom, but particularly the hawthorn or May-bush. In 

 Persia they have a festival called the Feast of Roses, which 

 lasts the whole time they are in bloom (See ROSES, page 

 371). Formerly it was the custom, and still is in some parts 

 of the country, to scatter flowers on the celebration of a 

 wedding, a christening, or even of a funeral (See ROSES, 

 page 364, and ROSEMARY, page 384). 



It was formerly the custom also to carry garlands before 

 the bier of a maiden, and to hang them, and scatter flowers 

 over her grave : 



" Her death was doubtful ; 



And, but that great command o'ersways the order, 

 She should in ground unsanctified have lodged 

 Till the last trumpet ; for charitable prayers, 

 Shards, flints, and pebbles should be thrown on her, 

 Yet here she is allowed her virgin crants*, 

 Her maiden strewments, and the bringing home 

 Of bell and burial." 

 The Queen scattering flowers : 



" Sweets to the sweet. Farewell ! 



I hoped thy bride-bed to have decked, sweet maid, 

 And not have strewed thy grave." 



HAMLET, Act v. Scene 1. 



* Crants is the German word for garlands. 



