6 FAJIILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 



was not founded on Pentandria monogynia nor on Pulemo- 

 niaceip. Plants that were found useful in some way or 

 other were cultivated and described, and plants that were 

 not useful were entirely neo-lected. Even when supersti- 

 tion or poetical fancy ruled, the theory was the same, for 

 a supposed use is equix'alent to a real use, so long' as the 

 supposition holds good ; and many of the plants that were 

 of importance in ancient times owed their distinction to 

 properties perceptible to the eyes of faith alone. Even 

 then it was their usefulness that inspired and justified the 

 study of them ; for to this hour utility is as much a matter 

 of faith as of pmof, or there would be no fortunes made 

 by the sale of many articles, some of which are truly 

 invaluable, while others " perhaps ■'■' are absolutely worth- 

 less, or, worse than that, pernicious to health. Well, we 

 can rest in the word faith, and throw utility overboard, 

 and then where are we ? 



We are then in the presence of the true valerian, 

 the history of which is not only important, but is in its 

 way touching'. 



Our common valerian offers us in its roots a camphor- 

 ated and flitter principle. The partialit}' ijf cats for the 

 plant is well known ; but to mankind the plant is in 

 these parts no administrator of .esthetic pleasures. Now 

 here is a strange truth illustrative of the tendencies of 

 race, climate, and tlie resultant idiosyncracies, that in these 

 Western parts of the world sweet mild odours, like those 

 of mignonette, wallflower, wild thyme, and woodruff, are 

 universally enjoyed, while cocoa-nut oil and the cheese- 

 tlavoured wormwood are universally disliked ; but these last 

 are the very odours that give delight in tlie East, where 

 our fragrant favourites are the least valued. 



