The Mezereon. 43 



so as to obtain the juice ; to which add a small quantity of alum, 

 and then put it in clean shells for use. The blue derived from 

 the outer florets will of course be of a paler color. This plant 

 is the fitting emblem of Delicacy. It is used only in the 

 arts : as Diana no longer ensures success in its exhibition, it of 

 course was found wanting when weighed in the balance, and 

 the days of its medicinal reputation have passed away. 



The Mezereon, 



" Thou hast thy wish, all love to see 

 Thy simple bloom, Mezereon tree, 

 Long shalt thou hold thy gentle sway, 

 For when thy wreaths must fade away, 

 Beneath the summer's scorching ray, 

 Thy stems shall glow in vesture gay, 

 With scarlet berries, rich array." 



This plant, long before a leaf is put forth, clothes itself in its 

 summer robes, often even when the flowers have to be surrounded 

 by the snow. These are of a pale rose color, celebrated for their 

 fragrancy, and disposed in clusters, each consisting of two or 

 three flowers, forming together a kind of spike at the upper part 

 of the stem and branches ; at the base of each cluster are decidu- 

 ous floral leaves. It rises three or four feet in height, covered 

 with a smooth, dark grey bark, having the appearance of dead 

 wood, and which is very easily separable. The leaves, which 

 spring direct from the ends of the branches, are lance-shaped, 

 about two inches long, smooth, of a pale green color, and whitish 

 below. The fruit is an oval, fleshy berry, of a shining, bright 

 red color, containing a single round seed. As we must give 

 the generic character in another place, it may be omitted here. 

 It is a native of the northern parts of Europe, in every part of 

 which it is very abundant. The bark of the stem is the part 

 found in the shops; we have generally procured it in bundles 

 of about three or four feet in length, and an inch in breadth. An 

 alkaline principle, called Daphnine, has been obtained from it; 

 this is in prismatic crystals, grouped together, colorless, transpa- 



