260 FLORA DOMESTICA. 



reduced to powder, excite sneezing. A beautiful and de- 

 sirable green colour may be prepared from the leaves with 

 lime.' 1 The distilled water is used in perfumery. 



There are several varieties of this species : one with red 

 flowers, one with double red, and one with double whit e 

 blossoms. There is also a variety much larger than the 

 common sort, and beautifully variegated with purple. It 

 was brought from the Royal Garden at Paris, and flowered 

 several years in the Chelsea Garden : but the roots do not 

 increase so much as the other varieties. 



The Lily of the Valley requires a loose sandy soil and a 

 shady situation. It is increased by parting the roots in 

 autumn, which should be done about once in three years. 

 They may be gently watered every evening in dry summer 

 weather. When the roots of this plant are confined in a 

 pot it may also be increased by its red berry ; but in the 

 woods, where the roots are allowed to spread, it seldom 

 produces the berry *. 



The other species of the Lily of the Valley are natives of 

 Japan. 



Thunberg mentions one called the Convallaria Japonlca ; 

 of which, he says, the knobs at the root were preserved in 

 sugar, and were highly commended by the Japanese and 

 the Chinese as good in different disorders (-. 



" No flower amid the garden fairer grows 

 Than the sweet lily of the lowly vale, 

 The queen of flowers." 



" And valley-lilies whiter still 



Than Leda's love." 



KEATS' s ENDYMION, p. 10. 



" The lily, silver mistress of the vale." 



CHURCHILL. 



* See Rousseau's Letters on Botany, 

 t Thunberg's Travels, vol. ii. p. 85. 



