22 
THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. 
It is frequentl_v assumed that the name of virgin's 
bower applied to this plant was given in honor of the 
Virgin Alary but this is a mistake. The European count- 
erpart of our plant (C/e /22a t/s vitalha) was named virgin's 
bower b^^ Gerard "by reason of the goodly shadows 
which they make" and our plant appears to have had the 
name transferred to it. Nor does the specific name have 
a similar allusion for it was given because this species 
was first known from Virginia. The Old World plant is 
sometimes called w^hite vine and old man's beard, the 
latter doubtless in allusion to the feather3' styles when 
ripe. Traveller's joy is another name the plant often 
bears in literature, at least. The stems are said to afford 
the small bo^^ with the materials lor smoking. 
MY SPRING GARDEN. 
BY DR. WILLIAM WHITMAN BAILEY. 
HAPPY is that person who has a garden bed, however 
small it is. Here may be watched the coming on of 
Spring, and after a cold, bleak winter what is more 
delightful ? Whatever ma^- happen to a garden later, and 
many things occur to mine, such as excessive shade, 
thieving elm-roots, drouth, burrowing dogs (dogs do 
burrow do they not ?), the disrespectful gamin, and weeds 
sempiternal, still, the vernal season discloses a mystery 
and declares a dividend. I experience a delight like unto 
German Elizabeth, she of the immortal babies. Every 
morning there is a revelation. 
Early in March, or some 3^ears even in February, may 
be seen the pretty snowdrops nodding on their stems. 
One is apt to consider this cernuous habit an accident, 
but there are few if any accidents in Nature. A little 
attention discloses the fact that the pretty white flower, 
tipped with apple green, acts like a tent to protect the 
pollen from rain. It is essential that it be not washed 
away as, in its own country, it is necessary to the perfec- 
tion of fruit and seed. This rarely, if ever, attains perfec- 
tion with us. 
