SYRINGA. 229 



" Oh ! memory, thou fond deceiver, 

 Still importunate and vain, 

 To former joys recurring ever, 



And turning all the past to pain. 

 Tho' like the world, the opprest oppressing, 



Thy smiles increase the wretch's woe : 

 And he who wants each other blessing, 

 In thee must ever find a foe." 



Goldsmith. 



The Greeks named this plant QiXaoeXtpog, 

 from Ptolemy Philadelphia, king of Egypt ; 

 but on what account we are left to surmise. 

 The name of syringa comes from the Greek 

 word syrinx, flute, because it was one of the 

 woods from which musical instruments were 

 manufactured. 



It is frequently called the mock-orange, 

 from the resemblance the flowers and their 

 perfume have to those of the citrus tribe. 

 The petals of these flowers are frequently used 

 with black or Souchong tea, to which they 

 give the flavour of gunpowder tea ; and the 

 young leaves are often sent to table with 

 spring sallad, on account of their having the 

 taste of fresh cucumbers. 



The syringa mixes very agreeably with 

 evergreens of a dark tint, as its own foliage is 

 of a yellowish or apple green, and the white 

 flowers are seen to greater advantage when 

 interspersed with deeper coloured plants. 



q 3/ 



