S._

and it still holds a place in the Pharmacopoeia, while the chemist
finds the pretty flowers one of the most delicate tests for detecting
the presence of acids and alkalies; but as to the many other virtues of
the Violet I cannot do better than quote Gerard's pleasant and quaint
words: "The Blacke or Purple Violets, or March Violets of the garden,
have a great prerogative above others, not only because the minde
conceiveth a certain pleasure and recreation by smelling and handling of
those most odoriferous flowres, but also for that very many by these
Violets receive ornament and comely grace; for there be made of them
garlands for the head, nosegaies, and poesies, which are delightfull to
looke on and pleasant to smell to, speaking nothing of their appropriate
vertues; yea, gardens themselves receive by these the greatest ornament
of all chiefest beautie and most gallant grace, and the recreation of
the minde which is taken thereby cannot but be very good and honest; for
they admonish and stir up a man to that which is comely and honest, for
flowres through their beautie, variety of colour, and exquisite forme,
do bring to a liberall and greatte many minde the remembrance of
honestie, comelinesse, and all kindes of vertues. For it would be an
unseemely and filthie thing (as a certain wise man saith) for him that
doth looke upon and handle faire and beautifull things, and who
frequenteth and is conversant in faire and beautifull places, to have
his minde not faire but filthie and deformed." With these brave words of
the old gardener I might well close my account of this favourite
flower, but I must add George Herbert's lines penned in the same
spirit--

"Farewell, dear flowers, sweetly your time ye spent,
Fit, while ye lived, for smell or ornament,
And after death for cures;
I follow straight without complaint or grief,
Since if my scent be good, I care not if
It be as short as yours."

_Poems on Life._

FOOTNOTES:

[310:1] Appel-leaf is given as the English name for Viola in two other
MS. Glossaries quoted by Cockayne, vol. iii. p. 312.

[313:1] This peculiarity is not confined to the Violet. It is found in
some species of Oxalis, Impatiens, Campanula, Eranthemum, Amphicarpea,
Leeisia, &c. Such plants are technically called Cleistogamous, and are
all self-fertilizing.

WALNUT.

(1) _Pet