LILIES. 



55 



White Lily. 



Song of Solomon was written on the occasion of his 

 marriage with an Egyptian princess. 



The great beauty of the com- 

 mon White Lily of our gardens, 

 would naturally suggest that it 

 was the one so often spoken of in 

 Scripture - } but as it is not certain 

 that this was a native flower in 

 Palestine, it seems more probable 

 that the plant often referred to is, 

 as Dr. Kitto believes, the Yellow 

 Amaryllis, which covers large 

 tracts of country in the Holy 

 Land, and blooms until so late 

 in the year, as to be almost in its 

 prime when most other plants 

 have yielded to the influence of the cold. 



The many -colored Tulip, whose gorgeous tints 

 would outshine even the robes of eastern royalty, has 

 also been supposed by some to be the subject of our 

 Saviour's allusion when he so beautifully and so ten- 

 derly encouraged the drooping faith of his disciples. 

 The beauty of the Tulips in the plains of Sharon, as 

 well as at Joppa, has frequently attracted the notice 

 of British travellers ; and even the gayety and bril- 

 liancy of a bed of Tulips in our own gardens, is an 

 unfailing source of admiration. 



Another kind of Lily which adorns our green- 

 houses and gardens early in the Spring, is the Calla. 

 This plant is a native of Africa, and frequents low, 

 wet grounds, where its tall leaves and flower-stalks 



