PKEEACE. 
The language of flowers is said to have originally 
come from the East, and to have been of very ancient 
origin. That it may have come originally from the 
East is possible, as in Persia, Arabia, and Egypt, it 
is used as a means of communication at the present 
day—hut I am certain that we are more indebted to 
the Occidentals than the Orientals for the contents 
of the present volume. 
In America the language of flowers seems to have 
more disciples and patrons than in any other part 
of the world—at least if we are to judge from the 
number and splendour of the works which have ap¬ 
peared on the subject during the last ten years in 
Philadelphia, Boston, and New York. Yet America 
receives no credit for its exertions ; whilst the lazy 
Turk, who knows nothing about either flowers or 
their language, is erroneously supposed to he better 
