MYRTLE. 293 



MYRTLE. 



MYRTUS. 



MYRTE.E. ICOSANDKIA MONOGYNIA. 



So named from Myrsine, an Athenian damsel, and favourite of Mi- 

 nerva, who was metamorphosed into this shrub, which is consecrated 

 to Venus. The connexion between Minerva's favourite and Venus is 

 not clear ; but nothing can be fitter for rendering sacred to Venus than 

 the myrtle. It is the perfection of neatness and elegance, and leaf and 

 flower are alike worthy of each other. French, le myrthe ; myrte. 

 Italian, mirto, mortella, mortellone, mortellina. 



THE myrtle is a native of Asia, Africa, and the South 

 of Europe ; and, though not very tender, is not quite hardy 

 enough to bear our winters without some protection, except 

 in the most southern and western parts of the island. 



The beauty and fragrance of the flower are exquisite : 

 it blossoms in July and August, but does not bear fruit in 

 England. 



The Common Broad-leaved or Roman Myrtle does not 

 grow higher in England than eight or ten feet ; but in 

 Italy it grows much higher, and is the principal under- 

 wood of some of the forests. The flowers'of this are larger 

 than those of the other species, and it is by some called the 

 Flowering Myrtle, because it flowers more freely in this 

 country than most others. 



There are many varieties of the Common Myrtle ; as the 

 Italian, the Orange-leaved, the Bay-leaved, the Broad- 

 leaved Dutch, the Box-leaved, the Thyme-leaved, the 

 Double-flowering, &c. The Box-leaved has very small 

 blossoms, which blow late in the summer. 



All the varieties of this Myrtle may be increased by 

 cuttings. The most straight and vigoroufe young shoots 

 should be selected : they should be six or eight inches long, 

 and the leaves should be stripped off two or three inches 

 high. The part which is put into the earth should be a 



