of the kinds they will produce, it is better to procure the plants from a nursery. They should have a little 
water, two or three times a week, in dry weather ; and may remain in the open air. 
Gawin Douglas speaks of the Columbine as black, from the deep purple which some of them take: — 
“ Floure-damas, and columbe blak and blew.” 
This has been differently expressed in Mr. Fawkes’s modernized version; and not happily, for the 
Colu m bine drops its head : — 
“And columbine advanced bis purple bead.” 
W. Browne speaks of it in all its colours: 
“ So did the maidens with their various flowers 
Decke up their windowes, and make neat their bowers; 
Using such cunning, as they did dispose 
The ruddy piny with the lighter rose, 
The monk’s-hood with the bugloss, and intwine 
The white, the blewe, the flesh-like columbine 
With pinks, sweet-williams ; that, far off, the eye 
Could not the manner of their mixture spye.” 
He tells us that the King-cup is an emblem of jealousy; that — 
“ The columbine in tawny often taken, 
Is then ascribed to such as are forsaken ; 
Flora’s choice buttons, of a russet dye, 
Is hope even in the depth of misery ; 
The pansie, thistle all with prickles set, 
The cowslip, honeysuckle, violet, 
And many hundreds more that grace the meades. 
Spring commences on the 6th of March, and lasts ninety-three days. 
According to Mr. Howard, whose practical information concerning the seasons is highly valuable, the 
medium temperature during spring is elevated, in round numbers, from 40 to 58 degrees. “The mean of 
the season is 48.94° — the sun effecting by his approach an advance of 11.18° upon the mean temperature of 
the winter. This increase is retarded in the forepart of the spring by the winds from north to east, then 
prevalent ; and which form two-thirds of the complement of the season ; but proportionately accelerated 
afterwards by the southerly winds, with which it terminates. A strong evaporation, in the first instance 
followed by showers, often with thunder and hail in the latter, characterises this period. The temperature 
commonly rises, not by a steady increase from day to day, but by sudden starts, from the breaking in of 
sunshine upon previous cold, cloudy weather. At such times, the vapour appears to be now and then 
thrown up, in too great plenty, into the cold region above : where being suddenly decomposed, the tempe- 
rature falls back for awhile, amidst wind, showers, and hail, attended, in some instances, with frost at night.” 
In “ Sylvan Sketches ,” a charming volume by the lady who wrote the “ Flora Domestica,” it is delight- 
fully observed, that, “ the young and joyous spirit of spring sheds its sweet influence upon every thing : the 
streams sparkle and ripple in the noon-day sun, and the birds carol tipseyly their merriest ditties. It is 
surely the loveliest season of the year.” One of our living minstrels sings of a spring day, that it 
Looks beautiful, as when an infant wakes 
From its soft slumbers ; 
and the same bard poetically reminds us with more than poetical truth, that at this season, when we 
See life and bliss around us flowing, 
Wherever space or being is, 
The cup of joy is full and flowing. Iiuwrirg „ 
Another, whose numbers are choralled by worshipping crowds, observes with equal truth, and under 
the influence of high feelings, for seasonable abundance, that 
To enjoy is to obey. 
In spring the ancient Romans celebrated the Ludi Florales. These were annual games in honour to 
Flora, accompanied by supplications for beneficent influences on the grass, trees, flowers, and other pro- 
ducts of the earth, during the year. The Greeks likewise invoked fertility on the coming of spring with 
many ceremonies. The remains of the Roman festivals, in countries which the Roman arms subdued, have 
been frequently noticed already; and it is not purposed to advert to them further, than by observing that 
there is considerable difficulty in so apportioning every usage in a modern ceremony, as to assign each to 
its proper origin. Some may have been common to a people before they were conquered ; others may have 
been the growth of latter times. Spring, as the commencement of the natural year, must have been hailed 
by all nations with satisfaction; and was, undoubtedly, commemorated, in most, by public rejoicing and 
popular sports. 
Columbine is the emblem of Folly. 
