THE FLOWERS OF MAY. 
Now the bright morning-star, day’s harbinger, 
Comes dancing from the east, and leads with her 
The flowery May, who from her green lap throws 
The yellow cowslip and the pale primrose. 
Hail, bounteous May, that dost inspire 
Mirth and youth and warm desire; 
Woods and groves are of thy dressing; 
Hill and dale doth boast thy blessing ! 
Thus we salute thee with our early song, 
And welcome thee, and wish thee long. 
— MILTON — Song on May Morning. 
In the palmy days of Athens, Pindar could invent no 
prouder titles for that preéminent city, none which 
could give the Athenians greater pleasure, than these 
three, Fruitful, Famous in Story, Violet-crowned. The 
month of May, rich in promises, famous in song, is, most 
of all, the month of the violet crown. All our violets 
can be found in May, most of them in great abundance, 
so that they form one of the most characteristic groups 
of spring flowers. 
About a liundred species of violets have been de- 
scribed, mostly from the North Temperate Zone. Two 
