SECT* II* 



VEGETATION* 



light the eye, that we chiefly cultivate them \ and in 

 this refpeft we may exclaim with the poet, 



Who can paint like nature ? Can imagination boaft 

 Amidft its gay creation, hues like her's ? 

 Or can it mix them with that matchlefs ikill* 

 And lofe them in each other, as appears 

 In every bud that blows ? 



Thomson, 



But not only the colours delight the eye, the forms of 

 Dowers are obje&s of admiration. The leaves of the 

 plants (not to mention the {hades of their green and 

 variegations of other colours) are of various fymmetry, 

 fome plain, others indented, fome hard, fome foft, 

 fmooth, hairy, &c. Flower's are compofed, fome of 

 only one, others of feveral and numerous leaves. 

 Here it appears like a large vefiel gracefully opening. 

 There it forms fome grotefque figure, in imitation of a 

 muzzle, head piece, or cowl. Here it is a butterfly, a 

 ftar, a crown, a radiant fun. Some are fcattered on 

 the plant without any art ; others compofe nofegays, 

 globes, tufts of feathers, garlands, pyramids, &c— 

 The feeds of plants too are as varioufly formed as their 

 leaves and flowers. 



The following defcription of Flora s feflival and 

 the month of May, may very well finifh the notice here 

 taken of flowers. 



The good Pofthumhis chofe the firft of May y 

 To Flora facred, and obferved the day 

 With holy rural rites, that won by prayer 

 She might diffufe her bleffing o'er the year ; 

 His homely neighbourhood in green privet drefs'dj 

 With flricl devotion keep the cheerful feaft, 

 And crowned with chaplets, to fair Flora bring 

 The firft and f rem eft beauties of the fpring. 

 Gardens are now with choice perfumes fupplied, 

 By thefe and thoufand namelefs fweets befide : 



