23 



PRIVET. LIGUSTRUM. 

 COMMON PRIVET, OR PRIM-PRINT. Li gust rum culyare. 



Plate \, fig. 1. 



This delicate shrub adorns almost every- garden hedge ; in the 

 summer with its little bunches of sweet- swelling white flowers, 

 and in the winter with its grape-like clusters of black, glossy, 

 round berries, which, though bitter and unpleasant to our taste, 

 are eaten readily by the bullfinches and blackbirds. In some 

 cottage gardens the Privet may be seen trimmed into curious 

 shapes ; and as it retains its leaves nearly all the winter, it 

 forms one of the neatest and prettiest ornaments of our hedge- 

 rows. The Privet is considered as the emblem of gentle pro- 

 hibition, from the following anecdote. " Why," said a young 

 mother one day to the venerable village pastor, " did you not 

 plant a strong quickset hedge round your garden, instead of 

 this weak hedge of flowering Privet ? ' ' The benevolent minister 

 replied, " when you forbid your child a hurtful pleasure, the 

 prohibition is sweetened by an affectionate smile, by a kind look ; 

 and, if he is refractory, a mother's hand immediately offers 

 some plaything to pacify him. In like manner the pastor's 

 hedge, while it keeps off intruders, should not hurt any one, 

 but offer flowers to those whom it repels." 



SPEEDWELL. VERONICA. 



THYME-LEAVED SPEEDWELL. Veronica serpyllifolia. 



Plate 1, jig. 2. 

 Leaves opposite, smooth, blunt. Flowers in terminal spikes. 



A neat little plant, growing about three or four inches high, 

 and creeping over the ground on banks and road-sides. The 

 upper division of the flowers is of a light blue color, with five 

 purple stripes. The other divisions are white, with from one 

 to three purple stripes. The seed vessel is heart-shaped, and 

 brown when ripe. In flower from April to July. The corollas 

 are very short-lived, and fall off almost directly they are 

 gathered. 



" Pluck, but be cautious lest you shed 

 The petals of the tender flower; 

 And shorten thus the little hour 

 At most allotted it to grace, 

 With transient bloom its native place." Mnnt. 



