258 LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS. 
JUNIPER. 
PROTECTION. 
The ancients consecrated this shrub to the Furies. 
The smoke of its green roots was the incense which 
they offered in preference to the infernal gods ; and 
they burned its berries during funerals to ban malign 
influences. In some parts of the Continent, the 
simple villager still believes that the perfume of Juni- 
per berries purines the air, and drives evil spirits 
from his humble cot. 
The Juniper, which sometimes clothes itself in a 
golden yellow livery, rarely thrives under cultiva- 
tion : when left at liberty, it loves to grow on the 
margin of woods. Weak and timorous animals fre- 
quently seek refuge under its long branches, which 
droop to the ground. The hare, when hard pressed, 
repairs to it, and squats with confidence beneath its 
sprays, the strong scent of which frequently sets the 
dogs at fault. Often, too, the thrush entrusts to it 
her young brood, and feeds upon its fruit : while the 
