CLEM A TIS. 



Of one species of Cinquefoil we have read that, in rainy 

 weather, the leaves draw together, and incHne over the 

 flower, so as to form a kind of parapluie, or umbrella. 

 A fanciful mind sees in this the act of a tender mother, 

 carefully shielding a beloved daughter from impending 

 calamities. 



CLEMATIS.— Artifice. 



The Clematis is a great favourite in our gardens, because 

 of its mass of flowers and their delicious fragrance in autumn. 

 It is a deciduous climber of very rapid growth, and, carefully 

 trained over trellis work, or around windows, is very gracefully 

 ornamental. The species have long been used to cover 

 rustic arbours, whence probably their name " Virgin's Bower." 

 Cowper addressed a few lines to one presented to adorn a 

 garden seat, by that appellation, — 



" Thrive, gentle plant! and weave a bower for Mary and for me. 

 And deck with many a splendid flower thy foliage large and free." 



Keats mentions it by the same name, — 



" The creeper, mellowing for an autumn blush ; 

 And Virgin's Bower, trailing airily." 



The chief of our garden kinds are C. Florida, a Japanese 

 species, with whitish-yellow flowers ; C. Viticella, with purple 

 flowers from June to September ; and C. fiammula, an 

 importation from France, which puts forth a profusion of 

 white highly odoriferous flowers during the latter part of 

 summer aiid until the frosty nights destroy its bloom. We 



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