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Hloluccella hniis. Natural Order: LablatiV — Mnit Family. 



\^ O LUCCA. BALM, or Shell Flower, is a native of the 



\ Molucca or Spice Islands, where it mingles with the odor- 



-a ileioiis flowers of the clove, the citron and the lime. 



','j I he stem is from one to two feet high, smooth, and of a 



^. -. i-green color. It is an annual, often grown in the flower- 



^ uden as a curiosity, for its singular manner of inflioresence. 



The i..il\\ or floral sheath is large and bell-shaped, which suggests 



the appearance of a hollow shell, while down in the bottom sits 



the flo\\er itself, out of sight, the color being a yellowish-green. 



The blooming time is from May to August. 



p\H strange it is, and wide tlie new-world lore, 



For next it treateth of ovn- native dust! 

 Must dig out buried monsters, and explore 

 The green e.arth's fruiti'ul crust; 



Must write the story of her seething vouth — 

 I low lizards paddled in her lukewarm seas; 

 Must show the cones she ripened, and forsooth 

 Count seasons on her trees; 



■pETSY! art thou Eve's true daughter? 



Betsy! hast a peering eye.' 

 Wouldst thou read as clear as water 

 All the honeyed terms that lie 

 Within that letter's fragile folds.' 

 .Spell every word that letter holds, 

 And know when thy young master Harrv 

 Or Lady Jane intends to marry? 



With all the fruits 

 Save only one, r 



Must know her weight, and pry into her age, 



Count her old beach-lines bv their tidal swell 



Her sunken mountains name, her craters gauge. 



Her cold volcanoes tell. —Jean Ing-elow. 



What! not yet in the secret, Betsy? 

 That's very puzzling — very! Let's see — 

 The letter 's not from Lady Jane, 

 No, no! you need not peep again. 

 A lady's hand — the envelope 

 Perfumed — the seal expresses "Hope." 

 The waiter waits — no longer tarry ! 

 Go, give the letter to Lord Harry! 



— Ajwttymmis. 

 Eve, 



of Eden blest, 

 •ather than leave 



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