AMARANTH. 21 



cock. Sometimes the heads are divided like a plume of 

 feathers. It is said that in Japan these crests or heads of 

 flowers are often a foot in length and in breadth, and 

 extremely beautiful. The colour of the scarlet varieties 

 is highly brilliant. 



The Amaranths are all annual, must be raised in a hot- 

 bed, and may be had from a nursery when strong enough 

 to bear removal, which, for the last three kinds, will not be 

 earlier than the middle of June : the others may be placed 

 abroad earlier. In dry weather they should be watered 

 every evening. Such flowers as are intended to be pre- 

 served should be cut before they run to seed ; and should 

 be observed daily after they are blown, that they may be 

 taken in full beauty. 



The Amaranth is recommended, among other flowers, as 



a food for bees : 



" II timo e 1' amaranto 

 Dei trapiantare ancora, e quell' altr' erbe 

 Che danno a questa greggia amabil cibo." 



L API DEL IIUCELLAI. 



Thyme and the amaranth 

 Also transplant, and all such other herbs 

 As yield the winged flock a food they love. 



One of the most popular species of the Amaranth is the 

 Love-lies-bleeding. The origin of this name is not generally 

 known ; unless we are to suppose it christened by the 

 daughter of O'Connor, in her tender lamentations over the 

 tomb of Connocht Moran : 



" A hero's bride ! this desert bower, 



It ill befits thy gentle breeding : 

 And wherefore dost thou love this flower 



To call my love-lies-bleeding? 

 This purple flower my tears have nursed ; 



A hero's blood supplied its bloom : 

 I love it, for it was the first 



That grew on Connocht- Moran 's tomb." 



