XVI 
PLANT-LORE OF SHAKESPEARE 
certain that they must have known each other’s published 
works. 1 
My subject naturally divides itself into two parts—• 
First, The actual plants and flowers named by Shakespeare; 
Second, His knowledge of gardens and gardening. 
I now go at once to the first division, naming each plant in 
its alphabetical order. 
1 I may mention the following works as more or less illustrating the 
Plant-lore of Shakespeare - 
1. — £ f Shakspere’s Garden,” by Sidney Beisly, 1864. I have to thank 
this author for information on a few points, but on the whole it is 
not a satisfactory account of the plants of Shakespeare, and I have 
not found it of much use. 
2. —“Flowers from Stratford-on-Avon,” and 
3. —“ Girard’s Flowers of Shakespeare and of Milton,” 2 vols. These 
two works are pretty drawing-room books, and do not profess to be 
more. 
4. —“Natural History of Shakespeare, being Selections of Flowers, 
Fruits, and Animals,” arranged by Bessie Mayou, 1877. This gives 
the greater number of the passages in which flowers are named, 
without any note or comment. 
5. —“ Shakespeare’s Bouquet—the Flowers and Plants of Shake¬ 
speare,” Paisley, 1872. This is only a small pamphlet. 
6. — “The Rural Life of Shakespeare, as illustrated by his Works,” 
by J. C. Roach Smith, 8vo, London, 1870. A pleasant but short 
pamphlet. 
7. —“A brief Guide to the Gardens of Shakespeare,” 1863, i2mo, 12 
pages, and 
8. —“Shakespeare’s Home and Rural Life,” by James Walter, with 
Illustrations. 1874, folio. These two works are rather topographical 
guides than accounts of the flowers of Shakespeare. 
9. —“The Flowers of Shakespeare,” depicted by Viola, coloured 
plates, 4to, 1882. A drawing-room book of little merit. 
10. —“The Shakspere Flora,” by Leo H. Grindon, i2mo, 1883. A 
collection of very pleasant essays on the poetry of Shakespeare, and 
his knowledge of flowers. 
11. —“Gardener’s Chronicle,” vol. i. pp. 135, 349, by A., to prove 
that Shakespeare was actually a gardener. 
12. —“Observations on some of the plants mentioned by Shakespeare,” 
by S. Rootsey, Esq., in Burnett’s “ Magazine of Botany,” &c., vol. 
iii. p. 41. A very poor account of a few of the plants. 
