Sckell's Landscape-GarcJe7iing. 503 



oak leaves. Oak groves were the first temples in which the 

 Germans, and also the British druids, performed religious cere- 

 monies. The palm tree (Phoe^nix dactylifera) was also the symbol 

 of victory and peace, and sacred to wedded love, Apollo, and 

 the Muses. 



The sweet bay (/yaurus nobilis), which ornamented the brow 

 of the conqueror, was also sacred to Apollo, as Daphne was 

 transformed, when flying from that god, into a bay tree ; and 

 the pythoness, or priestess of the oracle of Apollo at Delphos, 

 decorated herself with a wreath of bay leaves, when she appeared 

 on the tripod. A similar wreath was the ornament of the Muses, 

 ^sculapius and Hygeia, the goddess of health, were also crowned 

 with a wreath of bay. 



The myrtle (Myrtus communis) was dedicated to Venus, Ceres, 

 the Graces, and other divinities. 



The Scotch fir (Pin us sylvestris) was the symbol of the re- 

 turning and inexhaustible productive power of the earth, and, 

 therefore, dedicated to Cybele, and also to Rhea. The cones 

 of this tree were offered in sacrifice to them. 



The silver fir (Picea excelsa), and the larch (Larix europae^a), 

 were dedicated also to Vulcan, Neptune, Faunus, and Pan ; to 

 the latter the rush was also dedicated. 



The cones of the pines and firs ornamented the ends of the 

 rod, or thyrsus, of the bacchanals in the train of Bacchus, at 

 the festivals of that god. 



The cypress (Cupressus sempervirens), also, was planted on 

 graves ; and it was under it that Orpheus lamented the death 

 of Eurydice. It was on the elm that Diana first tried her 

 arrow; and it, with the dark alder (^'Inus glutinosa), was 

 dedicated to the Eumenides, or Furies. The three Heliades, 

 or daughters of the sun, Lampetia, Phaethusa, and iEgle, who 

 wept for their brother Phaethon, who was killed by the lightning 

 of Jupiter, were changed into poplars; and as this tree, like the 

 cypress, is of a pyramidal form, and stands our climate quite 

 well, whereas the other does not, it should be planted on graves 

 or among monuments. This tree was also dedicated to Her- 

 cules and Mercury. The mountain ash (Pyrus aucuparia) was 

 also planted on graves by the ancients, because it was considered 

 famous for. sanctity. W^hen this tree is seen growing in the 

 clefts of rocks, or hanging in a slanting direction over venerable 

 ruins, it produces a fine romantic effect. 



The weeping willow (5alix babylonica) is particularly adapted 

 for tombs. This tree, on account of its almost perpendicularly 

 drooping branches, has a peculiar character of melancholy ; and, 

 among all trees, is therefore, perhaps, almost the only one 

 which the most touchingly expresses the pain of temporary 

 separation, as it has not the gloomy melancholy character of the 



