THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



125 



and thus dislodging the powdery 

 pollen which falls in a shower on the 

 bee's head. The bee thus laden, flies 

 to another flower, and its forehead 

 coming in contact with the projecting 

 stigma, inserts some of the pollen into 

 its hollow receptacle. The pressure of 

 the bee's head against the stigma acts 

 upon the bent spring-like style, which 

 also aids in unlocking the pollen box. 

 This most elaborate mechanism is in- 

 tended to secure cross-fertilisation, and 

 the violet is proved to have lost the 

 power of self-fertilisation, i.e,, it must 

 be visited by insects before seeds can 

 be formed ; the seeds themselves are 

 produced abundantly, they contain a 

 considerable supply of albumen, and as 

 far as yet ascertained they are the only 

 seeds which British ants store away in 

 their nests. Cleistogamic flowers are 

 common in various species, these are 

 produced later than the ordinary showy 

 blossoms, in them the non-essential 

 parts are aborted and they never ex- 

 pand, yet they are very prolific of seed, 

 see Y.N., Yol. I. p. 266. The medi- 

 cinal properties of Fiolaceoe are emetic 

 and purgative, the roots of a foreign 

 species are often used instead of the 

 true Ipecacuanha. The well-known 

 syrup of violets of the shops is pre- 

 pared from the sweet violet, it is gently 

 laxative, and a favourite household 

 remedy in children's ailments. The 

 universally common name " heart's 

 ease " has doubtless originated from its 



reputed efficacy as a cordial, in cardiac 

 affections, in some of those mysterious- 

 ly compounded drinks our forefathers 

 so delighted in. Thus we have Sir 

 W. Scott, in the " Antiquary," saying 

 " buy a dram to be eilding and claise, 

 and a supper and heart* s-eme in the 

 bargain." 



The beautiful blue colouring matter 

 extracted from the flowers is a valuable 

 and deHcate chemical test, as it is red- 

 dened by acids and turned green by 

 alkalis. Yiolets were the favourite 

 flower of the first Napoleon and adopted 

 by him as the cognisance of his dynasty, 

 so they are dearly cherished by Im- 

 perialist Frenchmen, and worn by them 

 as a badge of attachment to that che- 

 quered cause. Byron refers to this in 

 his musing lines i—* 

 "Farewell to thee, France; but when 

 Liberty rallies 



Once more in thy regions, remember me 

 then ; 



The violet still grows in the depths of thy 

 valleys, 



Though withered, the tears will unfold 

 it again." 



In the language of flowers violets 



are emblematic of faithfulness, modesty, 



&c. Yiolets are often associated with 



youth and early or untimely death. 



Shakespeare feelingly alludes to this 



when Laertes, at the grave of Ophelia, 



says : — 



" Lay her i'the earth, 

 And from her fair and unpolluted flesh 

 May violets spring." 



Milton also strews it on the hearse of 

 Lycidas : — 



