144 FLORA DOMESTICA. 



grows naturally in England and many other parts of 

 Europe. If it be in strong moist earth, it will flower 

 every year. 



Cowley, taking advantage of the origin of the name, pro- 

 poses this plant, by the name of Royal Gentian, in answer 

 to Virgil: 



" Die quibus in terris inscripti nomina regum 



Nascantur flores." 



VIRGIL, Eclogue 3. 



" Now tell me first in what new region springs 

 A flower that bears inscribed the name of kings." 



DRYDEN. 



Not very aptly, however, for the Gentian is not supposed 

 to bear a name inscribed on its blossoms. Virgil has been 

 supposed to allude to the Hyacinth and some of the poe- 

 tical fictions connected with it. 



The Dwarf Gentian, or Gentianella, has a most beau- 

 tiful blue flower, which blows in April and May : it is a 

 native of the Alps, requires the same treatment as the 

 others, and may be increased by parting the roots once in 

 three or four years. The Fringed-flowered species has 

 also large blue flowers, appearing in August and Sep- 

 tember. It is a native of many parts of Europe, and of 

 Canada, and may be treated in every respect like the last. 



The Small Alpine, and the aquatic kinds have also 

 blossoms of a vivid blue, flowering in May and June. 

 Linnaeus speaks of the first as adorning the Pyrenees with 

 its splendid blossoms ; the latter is a native of China and 

 Japan. These two are annual, and, growing naturally in 

 wet spongy places, should be sown in a boggy earth, and 

 placed in the shade. When the plants come up, the sur- 

 face of the earth should be covered with moss, which 

 should be kept always moist, or rather wet. Of most of 

 the species, there is a variety with white flowers. 



The Large Yellow Gentian is a very useful plant, being 



