90 FLORA DOMESTICA. 



the sun. " The allusions to the whiteness of the corollas/' 

 says Rousseau, " will not hold, for they are commonly 

 purple." 



The various shades of these flowers, with the little green 

 leaves that enclose the unopened buds, have an exceedingly 

 pretty effect when a quantity of them are collected ; and 

 if kept in fresh water, and well supplied, they will survive 

 their gathering for a fortnight or more. The young leaves 

 are eaten in salads. 



The double varieties are white or purple : they are in- 

 creased by parting the roots in autumn. They love the 

 shade, and should be plentifully watered every evening. 

 It is called the Cuckoo-flower, because it comes at the same 

 time with the cuckoo ; and, for the same reason, the name 

 has been given to many other flowers. Shakspeare's Cuckoo- 

 buds are yellow, and supposed to be a species of ranunculus. 

 Indeed, he expressly distinguishes his Cuckoo-bud from 

 this flower : 



" When daisies pied, and violets blue, 

 And lady's-smocks all silver white, 

 And cuckoo-buds of yellow hue, 

 I)o paint the meadows with delight." 



" So have I seen a ladie- smock soe white, 

 Blown in the mornynge, and mowd down at night." 



CHATTERTON'S BATTLE OF HASTINGS. 



Clare more accurately styles this flower " wan-hued." 



" And hooded arum, early sprouting up, 

 Ere the whitethorn bud half unfolds to view ; 

 And wan-hued lady-smocks, that love to spring 

 'Side the swamp margin of some plashy pond." 



Again, he says 



" In spite of nipping sheep and hungry cow, 

 The little daisy finds a place to blow ; 

 And where old winter leaves her plashy slough, 

 The lady-smocks will not disdain to grow/' 



CLARE'S POEMS, vol. ii. 



