DICTIONARY. 
309 
You are radiant with Charms , Ranunculus. 
Early in spring, the dazzling Ranunculus 
adorns our gardens with its brilliant flowers, 
glowing with a thousand colours, resplendent 
with a thousand charms. Scarcely any plant 
rewards the cultivator with such a striking 
diversity of tints, or affords so rich a view. 
Your charms are engraven on my heart , Spindle- 
tree. This shrub is thus named, because its 
wood is used for making spindles. Crayons 
also are prepared from it. It is in request 
with sculptors and turners. If its wood is va¬ 
luable to artists, the shrub which furnishes 
it ought to be esteemed by the farmer : the 
hedges formed with if appear in autumn 
loaded with red berries that produce a very 
pretty effect. 
Your looks freeze me , Ice plant. The leaves 
of this singular plant are covered with trans¬ 
parent vesicles full of water. When the plant 
is in the shade, it looks as if covered with 
dew; when in the sunshine, it seems to be 
powdered with frozen crystals, that give it a 
brilliant appearance, and hence it derives its 
name. 
