152 FLORA DOMESTICA. 



The Trailing Daphne grows naturally in many parts of 

 Europe: it is remarkably sweet-scented, and has purple 

 or white flowers, which appear very early in spring. It 

 may be treated like the Mezereon, but that it will not 

 bear transplanting. 



The Spurge-laurel, Daphne laureola in French, laureole 

 male ; laureole des Anglois : in Italian, laureola maschio ; 

 has flowers of a yellowish green, which, if the season 

 be not very severe, come out soon after Christmas. It is a 

 native of Britain, and many other parts of Europe. This 

 shrub, like the Mezereon, is very useful as a medicine; 

 but, like that also, should be trusted to the skill of expe- 

 rienced persons only. It is a hardy plant, and may be 

 treated like the Mezereon. The plants may be removed 

 from the woods, or elsewhere, in the autumn ; and at that 

 season may be increased by cuttings. 



The Alpine may be treated like the Trailing Daphne. 

 The Flax-leaved Daphne* has flowers like the Mezereon, 

 only smaller : they blow in June, and are very sweet-scented. 

 This is a native of Spain, Italy, and the South of France : 

 it will sometimes flower twice in the year. Gerarde gives 

 this shrub the name of Mountain Widow-wayle. It may 

 be treated in the same manner as the Silvery-leaved. 



This is supposed to be the herb Casia mentioned by 

 Virgil, and other Roman writers : the Cneoron of the 

 Greeks f. Virgil mentions it as a plant agreeable to and 

 good for bees : 



" Haec circum casiee virides, et olentia late 

 Serpylla, et graviter spirantis copia thymbrae 

 Floreat, irregumque bibant violaria fontem." 



Georgic iv. 



" Round these places let green casia, and far-smelling wild-thyme, 



* French, garau, sains bois; Italian, gnitlia, pepe montano. 



t For some remarks on this subject, see Martyn's Virgil, p. 159. 



