SckelVs Landscape-Gardening. 537 



as an ornament for graves. These delightfully smelling flowers 

 should be planted round shrubs and bushes, and particularly 

 near habitations. The household gods, Lares, were decorated 

 with violets and rosemary. 



The forget me not (Myosotis palustris) should decorate any 

 object erected to love and friendship, and should also be planted 

 by the sides of running brooks. The heartsease (Fiola tricolor) 

 belongs also to love. 



The hyacinth (/fyacinthus orientalis) should be planted 

 round the temples of Apollo and Ceres; it was also used to 

 decorate graves. 



The poet's narcissus (iVarcissus poeticus) was dedicated to 

 Ceres, Proserpine, and the Eumenides. 



The safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) belonged to Ceres and 

 the Eumenides. 



The sword lily (Gladiolus) was the symbol of eloquence, and 

 should be seen around the temple of Mercury. 



The anemone and the everlasting (Gnaphalium *S'toe^chas) were 

 dedicated to Juno. It is said by the poets, that Prometheus 

 brought fire from heaven in the hollow stalks of the fennel 

 (i^erula communis). 



The French marigold {Tiigetes erecta) and the chrysan- 

 themum are planted on graves in many parts of Europe. The 

 amaranthus was also dedicated to sorrow. The asphodel, which 

 was sacred to Proserpine, belongs also to those of a sorrowful 

 character. 



The mallow was sacred to Osiris. 



The opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) was dedicated to 

 Ceres and to Juno, as the protectress of wedded fruitfulness. It 

 was also the symbol of sleep, and was therefore also dedicated 

 to Morpheus. 



The Indian lotus flower {Nelumbmm speciosum) was the at- 

 tribute of Ceres, of Isis, and of fruitfulness. 



The bean (^icia Paba) was the symbol of death. 



The flax (Z/inum usitatissimum) was sacred to Isis. 



Acanthus mollis has, for more than 2000 years, been the 

 ornament of the Corinthian capital ; and, according to tradition, 

 from the following circumstance: — 



A young girl died in Corinth who was very much beloved by 

 her nurse. This tender and affectionate woman visiied the 

 grave of her young charge, and set on it a basket filled with 

 small dishes and vases, and other playthings, which were highly 

 valued by the deceased, and then covered the whole with a brick. 

 There happened to be an acanthus close by this basket, which 

 grew up by degrees among its wicker-work, till it reached the 

 brick, where the leaves were forced to bend and hang down in 

 the most agreeable forms. The Corinthian statuary and ar- 



