XXVI 



and through him obtained its specific name ; it has been 

 from that day highly prized by the botanists and florists of 

 Europe. Parkinson says, "it was brought out of Virginia 

 by Master John Tradescant, and flowereth somewhat earlier 

 than any of the garden kinds, usually by a month." There 

 is a remarkable locality of this showy flower on the hills 

 of the Great Pasture on the east side of the road, which 

 is much frequented by the young during the vacation of 

 this month, who, returning with bunches of them in their 

 hands, remind us — 



"That spring is here, the delicate footed May, 

 With its slight figures full of leaves and flowers." 



Sanguinaria canadensis, Blood-root, appropriately nam- 

 ed, as may be seen by breaking the root, which is rarely 

 avoided in digging them up. This fine flower, as large as 

 the Ox-eye daisy, has a deserved place in many gardens, 

 where it gradually increases and elevates its numerous 

 and paper-white flowers in a flat surface over the plant 

 about four inches above the ground. Its singular root 

 is used extensively in medicine, and probably worthily so, 

 and the plant is often figured in medical books. Its large 

 and deeply lobed leaves give to the plant, throughout the 

 summer, a tropical appearance. It was carried to England 

 and cultivated as early as 1680. Linnaeus wrote to John 

 Ellis from Upsal in 1765, " If you see Mr. Lee, ask him for 

 the Sanguinaria, which I know is to be had in England, 

 though I have not received it from any of my correspon- 

 dents." 



Violets. Two or three species of this well known genus 

 can now be obtained from the fields. They are celebrated 

 both by the exact botanists and the idealist. Pliny says. 

 " There be some wild and of the field ; others domestical 

 and growing in our gardens. Garlands made of violets 

 and set upon the head resist the heaviness of the head 



