82 
THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS. 
evergreen branches rise there to the height of the 
tallest trees. The property of resisting lightning was 
anciently ascribed to it. 
The Flora Domestica says, “ The bay or laurel 
was in great esteem with physicians. The statue of 
iEsculapius, in allusion, perhaps, to his father, Apollo, 
was adorned with its leaves. From the custom which 
prevailed in some places of crowning the young doc¬ 
tors in physic with this laurel in berry, the students 
were called bacccdaureats , or bachelors.” 
Every poet has sung the laurel. Byron said of Pe¬ 
trarch, — 
“Watering the tree which bore his lady’s name 
With his melodious tears, he gave himself to fame.” 
Though the laurel be the “ meede of mighty con¬ 
querors,” Oglevie bids us remember that 
“ Short is Ambition’s gay, deceitful dream; 
Though wreaths of blooming laurel bind her brow, 
Calm thought dispels the visionary scheme, S 
And Time’s cold breath dissolves the withering bough.” 
This classic tree is not a native of our country; 
but we have the beautiful kalmia, or American sheep 
laurel, which can challenge comparison with any shrub 
of Europe. 
HOLLY (Ilex). Forethought. 
“Boldest of plants that ever faced the wind.” 
Wordsworth. 
The holly brings to mind delightful scenes of Christ¬ 
mas festivities and family joys. Its curiously cut, 
