roots every year, and transplant them, to prevent their degenerating, or rather returning, to their natural state. We have never observed this circumstance take place, but have frequently known the plants decay altogether if left undisturbed for three or four years. The Double Daisy thrives best in a moist loam, that has no mixture of dung; and the plants should have the advantage of the morning sun, and a shelter from the mid-day heat, by placing them on the south-east side of shrubs or trees, as in such situations the flowers are not only larger, but continue much longer in blossom than those that are exposed to the full sun. The mode of placing them depends much on the size and nature of the garden. In the gardens of the cottagers, the Double Daisy is generally employed as an edging to borders, and we infinitely prefer it to that of box for such situations; but an edging of any description to the parterre of Flora shows a want of taste in the planter; and if these flowers are placed in patches of twenty or forty plants on a spot, about three inches apart, they give a most delightful effect either in the foreground of the shrubbery or the flower-garden.

The varieties should be kept in distinct situations, and their colours so contrived as to be made subservient to other flowers, as by planting the red or scarlet variety near clumps of the Snowdrop or

other white blossoms. The White Daisy in the neighbourhood of Yellow Crocuses or blue flowers, and the striped and variegated kinds, are seen to most advantage when surrounded only by the green foliage of flowers that blossom at a later season. The varieties of the Double Daisy are not confined to its different colours, as some of them, instead of being composed of flat petals, are entirely formed of a mass of fistular florets, or little pipes; these are distinguished as Quilled Daisies. The most singular variety is the Proliferous Daisy, commonly called the Childing or Hen and Chicken Daisy, because the flower is surrounded by a number of smaller flowers, which are produced from the sides of the principal flower, but out of one and the same calyx. These little secondary Daisies appear like satellites revolving round a nobler star; and we, therefore, submit the name of Saturnia for this luxuriant variety, in preference to that of Hen and Chicken Daisy.

PRIMROSE. Primala.

Natural Order Preciæ. Lysimachiæ, Juss. A Genus of the Pentandria Monogynia Class.

THIS delicately-perfumed, and modestly-coloured early blossom is considered the emblem of early youth, and represents the age between child and womanhood.

Pale Primroses,

That die unmarried, ere they can behold
Bright Phœbus in his strength.

Winter's Tale.

The generic name of this flower is derived from primus, it being one of the earliest flowers of the spring, and from thence the English name of Primrose, the French Primevère, and the Italian Prima

vera.

The German name Frühlings blume has a similar signification.

As we enumerate twenty distinct species of Primula, we shall notice them under various heads, first confining ourselves to the Primula vulgaris, or common Sulphur-coloured Primrose, which has lent its name to distinguish a delicate pale yellow colour slightly tinted with green.

In tracing back the nativity of flowers, we are greatly assisted by the mythological writings of the ancients, for without these records we should have pronounced them all as being the children of Nature; and the relationship which this favourite flower bears to the gods would have remained unknown, as well as the history of its origin.

The Primrose was anciently called Paralisos, after the name of a beautiful youth who was the son of Priapus and Flora, and who died of grief for the loss of his betrothed Melicerta, but was preserved by his parents by being metamorphosed into this flower, which has since divided the favours of the poets with the Violet and the Rose. Clare

says

O, who can speak his joys when Spring's young morn
From wood and pasture opened to his view;

When tender green buds blush upon the thorn,
And the first primrose dips its leaves in dew.

VOL. I.

D

And while he pluck'd the Primrose in its pride,
He pondered o'er its bloom 'tween joy and pain ;
And a rude sonnet in its praise he tried,

Where nature's simple way the aid of art supplied.
I did the same in April time,

And spoilt the Daisy's earliest prime;
Robb'd each Primrose-root I met,
And ofttimes got the root to set;
And joyful home each nosegay bore,
And felt as I shall feel no more.

To crop the Primrose of the plains!

Village Minstrel.

Does she not sweets in each fair valley find,

Lost to the sons of pow'r, unknown to half mankind!

Sur le gazon la tendre Primevère

SHENSTONE.

S'ouvre et jaunit, des le premier beau jour.

And lanes in which the Primrose ere her time

Peeps through the moss that clothes the hawthorn root,
Deceive no student. Wisdom there and truth,

Not shy, as in the world, and to be won

By slow solicitation, seize at once

The roving thought, and fix it on themselves.

COWPER.

As some wayfaring man passing a wood
Goes jogging on, and in his minde nought hath,
But how the Primrose finely strow the path.

W. BROWNE.

There are some flowers that contribute to dispose us to a pensive or melancholy strain wherever we meet with them; whilst others seem equally to exhilarate the spirits and enliven the ideas. The colour and character of the flower may, in some degree, assist to make this impression; but it must