16 FLOWERS AND FRUITS. 



in purple and gold. The seeds may be sown at almost any season 

 of the year. Those sown late in the autumn blossom early, whilst 

 those sown in the spring, flower during the summer. It is a flower 

 that bears transplanting ; and if the branches are cut off when the 

 beauty of the blossom is past, they will send out fresh branches, 

 and continue to flower throughout the year; but when suffered 

 to ripen the seed the plant generally dies. The plants have 

 been frequently kept alive by this treatment, and transplanting 

 rather adds to their beauty than otherwise. It will grow in any 

 soil and situation, but the self grown plants degenerate very rapidly, 

 producing only small, dingy, flowers. The perfume is too weak 

 when singly taken; but a cluster of the blossoms gives out an 

 agreeable fragrance. It is a native of most parts of Europe 

 This flower was held in such high estimation by the ancients that 

 one of the prizes of the Floral games consisted of a Golden 

 Violet, and we are told in their fables, that lo, the daughter oi 

 Atlas, fleeing into the woods from the pursuit of Apollo, was 

 through the power of Diana, changed into a Violet, which still 

 retains the bashful timidity of the nymph, by partially concealing 

 itself from the gaze of Phoebus in its foliage. It was the study ot 

 the Violet which induced John Bertram, a quaker of Pennsylvania, 

 to study plants. He had employed his time in agricultural pursuits 

 without a knowledge of Botany, but being in the field one day, he 

 gathered a Violet and examined its formation, and reflected upon 

 it, until he became so prepossessed with the flower, that he 

 dreamed of it. This circumstance inspired him with a desire oi 

 becoming acquainted with plants; he therefore learned for this 

 purpose as much Latin as was necessary, and soon became the 

 most learned Botanist of the New World. It is the emblem of 

 Modesty. 



