79 
THE SHAMROCK. 
The Shamrock, 
The green immortal Shamrock; 
Chosen leaf 
Of bard and chief, 
Old Erin’s native Shamrock. 
Mooee. 
Mugh différence of opinion exists as to the plant 
which may lay just claim to the title of Shamrock, 
and several hâve been pointed out to me as this em- 
blem of Erin. It almost seems that any species of 
Trefoil is accepted as such, though some hâve tried to 
estahlish the Wood Sorrel (Oxalis Acetosella) as this 
far-famed plant; others, the Hop Trefoil (Medicago 
Lupulina), the White Clover (Trifolium Repens), and I 
hâve been also assured that a brown-leafed variety of 
the White Clover is the truest Shamrock; but this is 
so completely at variance with ail descriptions of the 
“ green Shamrock ” that I hâve unhesitatingly rejected 
it, and adopted in our wreath the common White 
Clover, having received it as the true Shamrock from 
the Dublin Botanic Garden. 
