31S Lily of the Valley. 



any earth, but produces most flowers in a loose, sandy soil, 

 that is rather poor than otherwise ; for when planted in a rich 

 cow-yard mould the roots spread arid multiply rapidly, but the 

 plants give but few flowers, and like most other creeping-rooted 

 plants it seldom produces seed where it can propagate so rea- 

 dily by the nature of its roots. From the economy of nature, 

 an observing gardener will be taught to transplant many kinds 

 of his fruit trees into poorer soil when the richness of the earth 

 forces the growth of the tree too rapidly to form its fruits. 



The Lily of the Valley is a desirable creeper for the shady 

 banks of lakes and ornamental streams, and we love to meet 

 its grateful fragrance beneath the pendulous branches of the 

 Weeping Willow. Autumn is the proper season for pla- 

 cing their perennial fibrous roots in the ground, where they 

 should he covered with about two inches of earth, and not be 

 disturbed oftencr than every third or fourth year, as they sel- 

 dom flower strongly or plentifully after being removed. The 

 plants will require no other attention than that of keeping them 

 free from weeds and thinning the roots about once in three or 

 four years, according to the nature of the soil and increase of 



the plants. 



It is one of the few flowers that will bear forcing in pots, and 

 as but few plants are more agreeable in the house in the 

 months of March and April, this mode of flowering the Con- 

 vallaria Majalis should never be omitted when there is an op- 

 portunity of doing it ; and we strongly recommend potting 

 them for the market ; for 



Whoever a true epicure would be 



May there find cheap and virtuous luxury. 



Cowlet. 



These plants are so numerous in the woods of Eileride, in the 

 neighborhood of Hanover, that the ground in many places is 

 completely covered with them, and the air scented for a con- 

 siderable distance by their agreeable perfume. These woods 

 are regularly visited on Whit Monday by numerous parties 

 from Hanover, who go to gather these May-flowers ; and the 

 forest on that day is a scene of rural festivity and mirth. Cot- 

 tages are erected for the sale of coffee, and other refreshments, 



