TAMARISK. 25 



The tamarisk thrives in bleak situations by 

 the sea-side, where most other trees and shrubs 

 are cut off* by the blast ; for the branches 

 of this plant are so pliable, that they bend 

 without resisting the slightest gale, thus re- 

 minding us of the fable of the reed and the 

 oak, or the lines of Hurdis. 



" And so the storm, 



That makes the high elm couch, and rends the oak, 

 The humble lily spares. A thousand blows, 

 That shake the lofty monarch on his throne, 

 We lesser folks feel not. Keen are the pains 

 Advancement often brings. To be secure, 

 Be humble; to be happy, be content." 



We have few shrubs more graceful than the 

 tamarisk, its slender branches being covered 

 w r ith a chesnut-coloured bark, and garnished 

 with very narrow leaves, lying over each other 

 like the scales of fish, and of a fine bright- 

 green colour. This plant is in appearance 

 between the cypress and the common heath. 

 Its flowers appear in July, and are produced 

 in taper-spikes at the ends of the branches ; 

 they are very small, and set close all round 

 the spike, of a lilac colour, with red anthers. 

 These are succeeded by oblong, acute-pointed, 

 three-cornered capsules, filled with small 

 downy seeds. 



When planted in the shrubbery, the tama- 

 risk should mix with plants of broad and fixed 



