Lucerne. 297 



seems spread before our eyes like a carpet of green and violet. 

 Cherished by the husbandman, it yields him an agreeable crop 

 without much care, and when mowed, it springs up again. — 

 The cattle rejoice at its appearance ; it is a favorite plant with 

 the sheep ; and the goat receives it as a delicacy, while the 

 horse also eats it with avidity. This precious gift may be said 

 to be showered direct from heaven. We possess it without 

 much trouble, enjoy it without reflection, and often without 

 gratitude ; and frequently prefer to it a flower whose only merit 

 is transient beauty. 



We are told that although it affords more green food, it con- 

 tains less nutriment in a single crop than red clover ; but this 

 it fully compensates for by the fact of its growth being much 

 quicker and bearing cutting at least twice as often. It thrives 

 well in places one hundred miles north of New-York city, and 

 stands cold weather even better than clover. Fifteen pounds 

 of seed are required for the acre if drilled, and ten more if sown 

 broad cast. 



The authoress of the Moral of Flowers observes that the ex- 

 quisite adaptation of scriptural imagery to the subject intended 

 to be illustrated,^nust be apparent to the commonest observer. 

 Is sublimity required ? " The heavens above, the earth be- 

 neath," nay, even " things under the earth," are put in requi- 

 sition to give dignity to the subject ; and whilst imagination 

 sinks under the accumulated grandeur of the figures employed, 

 nothing seems strained, nothing out of place. In the same 

 manner, when patjios is intended, what can exceed the touch- 

 ing propriety, if one may so speak, of the illustrations selected. 

 What, for instance, can form a more mournful comment on 

 man's earthly history than the simile which compares him to 

 grass, and his glory to the flowers of the field ? unless, indeed, 

 we add to it the declaration of Job, " man that is born of 

 a woman is of few days and full of trouble." 



'Twas not to tell of foes subdued, 

 Or battle spoils to bring, 



Tli' appointed herald daily stood 

 Before the Grecian king. 



