184 
ANNALS OF THE 
It seems proper to allude to the allied species of Cicuta, viz., C. virosa^ which 
is best known in Europe, being an indigenous European plant. It does not occur 
in the United Stat^-s, and is little known in British America, beyond the record in 
Sir William Hooker's "Flora Boreali-Americana," vol. i., page 259, viz., "Woody 
country of North America, between lat. 54 ° and 64 ° North. Sir John Richard- 
son and Mr. Drummond." 
There is still another North American species of this genus, viz., Cicuta buJr 
bt/era, which is a common Canadian plant, growing by the edges of creeks and in 
wet swamps. It is particularly abundant in the neighborhood of Kingston, as 
along the little Cataraqui Creek, and many ether places. It is always profusely 
bulbiferous on the upper part of the stem. 
LINES FOR THE BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA. 
By Mrs Professor Weir. 
Bead 10th January, 1862, hj Prof. G. Weir, A. M. 
AJtho' my modest muse may not aspire 
To climb the heights of Scientific Lore 
Where sous of Genius shine, 
And though I dare not even hope to please 
This erudite and learn' d Society 
By simple lay of mine. 
Yet, with a humble Fellow bear, I pray, 
Though mine is no seraphic strain. 
While I my song shall sing. 
To say how much I love our pleasing themes. 
How much I wish that I to this great shrine 
Could worthier oflTring bring ! 
THE FLOWERS. 
Why love the flowers, those perishable things 
Whose starlike blossoms fade so soon away ? 
Why gaze with tender longing on the bloom 
Which even now is falling to decay ? 
Oh ! what were man without the Fair and Bright, 
The Beautiful, in earth, in sea and sky. 
What draws him from himself in darker hours. 
What soothes bis soul and leads his thoughts on high ! 
This longing for the Lovely and the True 
Inwoven in our inmost souls — would seem 
A something borne within us from afar, 
-Of Paradise a lingering precious dream. 
Ah ! yes, we've lov'd the flowers e'rs since the days 
When happy guileless children, blithe and free, 
We gathered gem-like daisies on the mead, 
Or shook the snowy blossoms from the tree. 
Whence comes that gush of feeling o'er the heart 
While gazing on some flower to childhood dear ? 
A latent chord is touched and memory wakes 
Thoughts slumbering there through many a weary year. 
While life is yet a dream, and youth's bright sun 
Sheds glowing rosy tints o'er earthly bowers. 
How throbs the heart to read those words that breathe 
Their magic in the language of the flowers I 
Bright children of the glad and sunny days 
Of smiling spring, and glowing summer-time. 
Now twined to form the snowy bridal wreath, 
Now wreathed by loving hands to deck the shrine. 
The lowly shrine, where sleep the loved and lost — 
No, not the lost but loved ones gone before — 
Life seemed far brighter while they lingered here — 
Whose smile shall light our path on earth no more. 
Yes, from our childhood's hours when first we grasp 
Too eagerly and crush the wish'd for prize. 
We gather, love and scatter flowers, until 
We leave this scene to seek our native skies. 
Fair emblems of our mortal state, how soon 
At Autumn's blasts they wither on the stem; 
They die forgotten 'neath the Winter's snows. 
And we, too, soon shall droop and die like them. 
But genial Spring shall come again, and they 
Shall bloom once more, as we a^ain shall bloom 
Beyond the grave — for, see the Duds and flowers 
Of promise springing even from the tomb! 
They cling around the sod — those precious things — 
Robbing Uie lonely spot of half its gloom. 
Like some now sainted soul whose name yet lives 
To breathe, e'en from the grave, a sweet perfume. 
Some noble soul — who, while he trod life's path 
Liv'd not for self alone, but left behind 
Deeds that can never die— for blest is he 
Who lives to serve and elevate his kind. 
Like him whose earnest voice first called us here. 
That son of k-cience fn)m a distant isle, 
Who came at duty's call, whose hand hasrear'd 
This hardy sapling on Canadian soil. 
Long may it flourish in this glorious land, 
'Neath Freedom's shelter, and in peaceful times. 
Strike deep its roots, and spread its branches wide. 
Till it o'ershadows even distant chmes ! 
And may our children's children yet to come 
Take pleasure in its ample boughs, and say. 
They love to rest beneath its pleasant shade 
When we who bailed its rise nave pass'd away. 
