21 
THE ROSEMARY AND VIOLET. 
THE ROSEMARY. 
ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS. 
“ There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance.” 
The rosemary is not indigenous, but a native of the 
South of Europe; it will, however, brave our winters, 
if planted in a dry soil and favourable situation. Its 
common time of flowering is April, but in mild seasons 
it puts forth its blossoms in March, or even earlier. 
Henry Kirke White, in one of his most beautiful and 
plaintive productions, apostrophises it as loving “ to 
bloom on January’s front severe;” but this must be a 
rare circumstance, and rather the exception than the 
rule. 
“ The generic name, Rosmarinus, is derived from 
the Latin ros, dew, and marinus , in allusion to its in¬ 
habiting the sea coast.” “ Those,” says a distinguished 
modern traveller, “ who have observed it mantling the 
rocks of the Mediterranean, with its grey flowers glit- 
c 3 
