68 The Croivn Imperial. 



tions it in a nosegay, composed of almost every flower in the 

 garden : 



Bring Cornflag, &c, &c, &c. 

 Bring Crown Imperial, &c, &c. 



Evans remarks : 



Then heed ye not the glittering gem, 

 That gleams in Frilillaria's diadem. 



This is about all. — Ed.] It is the same property of the plant 

 that hinders its being rifled of its nectareous juices, which are not 

 only rejected by the bees, but refused by every kind of insects. 

 But the beauty and splendor of this magnificent flower will ever 

 secure it a situation in pleasure grounds, and it is equally adapted 

 to decorate the centre of large flower borders, or to intermix with 

 dwarf shrubs in more sylvan scenes ; and it is one of the few 

 flowers which, like noble personages, is seen to the best effect 

 when planted singly. 



The more closely we attend to the natural history of plants, 

 the more surely are we delighted with the works of Nature. To 

 the Crown Imperial a large flower is bestowed, that has not the 

 gift of closing its petals like the Tulip, and most other flowers, 

 to secure the parts of fructification from the wet and inclement 

 season in which it flowers ; but to counteract this apparent in- 

 convenience, a pendulous position is given to the corolla, which 

 effectually protects the important parts of the flower, like a bell- 

 glass, until impregnation has taken place, when the peduncles 

 change to an upright position, in order to facilitate the ripening 

 of the seed. The singularity of the nectary or honey-cup of this 

 flower is too peculiarly conspicuous to have been overlooked by 

 the curious; it is a white glandular cavity at the base of each 

 petal ; and as long as the flower remains in vigor, a large drop 

 of limpid nectareous juice is hung to each nectary ; and thus 

 we are struck with the important uses of the petals, in addition 

 to that of a covering to the stigma and anthers, for they appear 

 to be organs by which the polarised primitive matters are directed 

 to their evolution, and to their different attractions. [These italics 

 show a specimen of senseless jargon in which scientific men 

 now-a-days rarely indulge. It arises from considering Electri- 

 city as the source of life !— Ed.] We have consulted some of 

 the first botanists of the age on the use of the nectareous juice 



