MYRTLE. 179 



will exemplify ; all were held in great estimation by the 

 ancients, and were dedicated to Venus, the goddess of 

 Love. It was much used by the Romans, in the decora- 

 tions of their triumphant marches, when celebrating some 

 conquest, and in decorating their heads with wreaths or 

 crowns. The plant is tender, and requires protection 

 through the winter. It is easily managed as a parlor 

 plant, and will grow readily by cuttings at almost any time 

 of the year, but the spring is best for that purpose. The 

 leaves are sweet scented, the perfume being contained in 

 small cells, which are perceptible when looked at with a 

 microscope. There is a double variety (M. communis mul- 

 tiplex) a very handsome shrub, of a neat appearance and 

 a great bloomer. There is also one a native of China 

 (M. tomcntosa), of erect habit, and of a noble, command- 

 ing appearance. The flowers are the largest of the whole 

 species, changing to a purplish white, after being fully 

 expanded. 



One of this tribe bears the allspice of commerce, but it 

 requires the hot-house, and is therefore not of much ac- 

 count to the amateur. I have seen the common Myrtle 

 (M. communis) in England fifteen feet high, standing in 

 front of a house having a southern aspect, which had 

 grown there for many years without protection ; when in 

 flower, it was beautiful, and an object of public admiration ; 

 a goldfinch used to build her nest in it every season, which 

 associated the most pleasing feelings. I have heard, with 

 regret, that the house has been razed to the ground, and 

 the shrub destroyed. It must be evident, that this shrub 

 is held with reverence, as we often see wreaths and gar- 

 lands of the artificial substituted for the genuine at balls 



