450 FLORA DOMESTICA. 



Wallflowers, or Stocks : but some of the species having 

 been distinguished by custom as Wallflowers, entirely 

 dropping the other name, they are here placed under that 

 head. 



Herrick tells us the origin both of the name and flower : 



" Why this flower is now called so, 

 List, sweet maids, and you shall know. 

 Understand this firstling was 

 Once a brisk and bonny lass, 

 Kept as close as Danae was, 

 Who a sprightly springal loved ; 

 And to have it fully proved, 

 Up she got upon a wall, 

 Tempting down to slide withal : 

 But the silken twist untied, 

 So she fell, and bruised, she died. 

 Love, in pity of the deed, 

 And her loving, luckless speed, 

 Turned her to this plant, we call 

 Now the flower of the wall." 



Of all the species so named, the common Wallflowers are 

 by far the finest ; their colours are extremely rich, and, as 

 the artists express it, warm ; and their fragrance very de- 

 licious : they are apt to have a ragged appearance, looking 

 sometimes at a little distance like a number of beautiful 

 petals hung accidentally together ; but when their form 

 is preserved, they are in every respect elegant. There are 

 single and double varieties ; red and yellow of all shades, 

 and pure white. The flower is too well known to make 

 further description necessary. 



" The common Wallflower, 1 ' says Mr. Martyn, " is a 

 native of Switzerland, France, Spain, &c. ; and is common 

 on old walls and buildings in many parts of England. It 

 is one of the few flowers which have been cultivated for 

 their fragrancy time immemorial in our gardens." 



Some prefer the Alpine Wallflower for appearance, the 



