16 WILD FLOWERS. 



this layer as though from the metal coating of a 

 looking-glass. 



Another curious C)rcl"iid, Scrapias Lnio-na (Fig. p. SS.-!), 

 is often to be met with on grass\- slopes of the 

 Riviera. Its reddish - brown flo'wers are almost hidden 

 in red bracts, showing on]^' the projecting lij). The 

 flower-lover will be delighted with a tulip Tidipa Llnsiaiui 

 (Fig. p. 407), which has white llo\\'ers striped on the 

 outside with red. These are raised on long stalks. The rose- 

 red blossoms of the Gladiolus segctiDii \Y\q^. p. !'.•.''), \\'hich 

 are arranged on one side of the stem, light up the fresh 

 green of the meadows and fields. ^[I/i/mi iicapulilnmiju ^ 

 with its white fkjwers, gathered from the (nitskirts of the 

 garden will be a welcome addition to a bouquet; for it 

 has a pleasant perfume, although belonging to the Garlics. 

 But it is the \'ellow Tazetta (JVarcissiis Ta~clla, Fig. p. 301 ) 

 which lends the choicest fragrance to the boucjuet, 

 while the ^Vnemones (.1. coruinirid. Fig. ]3. 17, slellatd, 

 Fig. p. 25, and pai-onina. Fig. p. 21), sui:iph' brilliant 

 colouring. 



The culture of the \'ine dates back as far as that 

 of the 01i\'e; hence the\' have alwa\'s been mentioned 

 together. In his Natural Histor\' the elder Plin\- says 

 that "Two liquids are particularly beneiirlal to the human 

 bod\' — internalh' \vine, externally oil; both are derived 

 from the N'egetable A\'orld and arc excellent, but oil 

 is the more necessary", ^^'hen the Emperor Augustus 

 asked the centenarian PoUio Romilius by what means 

 he had kept himself so hale, he replied, "By wine and 

 hone^' internalh', and oil externall\". The ancients 



