64 



AN ALPHABETICAL LLST OF 



Cowper too must have been particularly struck with their idea of 

 natural liberty, when so disposed that they 



' Catcli tlie neiglibomiug slirub 



Witli clasping tendrils, and infest his branch, 



Else unadorned, with many a gay festoon, 



And fragrant chaplet, recompensing ^Yell 



The strength they borro^A', Trith the grace they lend.' 



Laurelia. — A genus of tall-growing trees, one species being found in 

 Chili, the other in New Zealand ; the leaves exhale a powerful 

 aromatic odour when bruised. The seeds of the South American 

 variety are largely used as a spice. 



Laurus nobilis {Siceet Bay). — A shrubby tree from South Europe, now 

 largely grown in British gardens for its dainty leaves, which possess 

 an agreeable fragrance, and are largely used for flavouring purposes. 

 It grows luxuriantly in most soils, and is decidedly ornamental. 



Laurus sassafras. — A hardy deciduous tree of the Laurel family from 

 North America. The leaves are pleasantly fragrant, and the bark 

 powerfully aromatic. 



Lavandula vera {Siceet Lavender). — A shrubby 'plant, cultivated in 

 large areas all over the world for its agreeable perfume and the 

 valuable essence that is extracted therefrom. It is supposed to have 

 been the spikenard of the ancients, and at the time of Pliny the 

 flowers were used in baths and laid in wardrobes, giving a most 

 agreeable perfume to the garments. There seems little doubt of its 

 being a plant under notice for its usefulness in all ages. 



It appears to have been largely grown in our own country during 

 Queen Elizabeth's time, for no less than six varieties are spoken of 

 by Gerard, who had an important garden in London at that date, 

 and he used it extensively as a medicine for many ailments. We 

 have already learnt Lord Bacon's opinion upon the healthful influ- 

 ence of sweet odours, and such valuable testimony should induce 

 us to plant Lavender everywhere in our gardens, where its elegance 

 in habit is pleasing and its spikes give an agreeable scent, and the 

 older the shrub gets the richer is its fragrance. The delicacy of its 

 blossoms is said to have given name to the colour that is the gayest 

 worn by our fair young Quakers, and it is still a common practice to 

 scatter the flowers over linen, whilst the stalks, if burnt, difl'use an 

 agreeable but powerful odour. In London it becomes a kind of rural 

 pleasure to hear the cry of ' Three bunches a penny, sweet Lavender.' 



'And Lavender, whose spikes of azure bloom 

 Shall be erewhile in arid bundles bound, 

 To lurk amidst her labours of the loom. 

 And crown her kerchiefs clean with rnickle rare perfume.' 



— Shenstone, 



