116 FLORA DOMESTIC A. 



woods, hedges, and bushes, in most parts of Europe. They 

 are greatly changed by culture ; become double in various 

 ways ; and are of almost all colours ; blue, white, red, 

 purple ; flesh, ash, and chestnut coloured ; blue and white, 

 and red and white. It is a perennial plant, and, with us, 

 flowers in June. 



Every part of this plant has been considered as a useful 

 medicine, but Linnaeus affirms that, from his own know- 

 ledge, children have lost their lives by an over dose of it. 

 That might, however, be the case with some of our best 

 medicines. 



The Alpine Columbine has blue flowers tipped with a 

 yellowish green, blowing in May and June. (Biennial). 



The Canadian Columbine flowers in April : the flowers 

 are yellow on the in, red on the outside. (Perennial). 



The Columbines may be increased by parting the roots ; 

 but, as they are apt to degenerate, are most commonly 

 raised from seed : these will not grow to flower till the 

 second year ; and, as you cannot be sure of the kinds they 

 will produce, it is better to procure the plants from a nur- 

 sery. They should have a little water, two or three times 

 a week, in dry weather ; and may remain in the open air. 



Gawin Douglas speaks of the Columbine as black, from 

 the deep purple which some of them take : 



" Floure-damas, and columbe blak and blew." 

 This has been differently expressed in Mr. Fawkes's 

 modernized version ; and not happily, for the Columbine 

 drops its head : 



" And columbine advanced his purple head." 

 W. Browne speaks of it in all its colours : 



" So did the maidens with their various flowers 



Decke up their windowes, and make neat their bowers ; 

 Using such cunning, as they did dispose 

 The ruddy piny with the lighter rose, 



