The Daffodil.

Narcissus Pseudo-narcissus.

Class Hexandria. Order Monogynia.

THIS flower, more frequently mentioned by the older poets than perhaps any other native plant, blooms in rather moist woods and thickets in March; its growth being rapid, and duration short. It waves in rich profusion in marshy spots on the borders of some of the lakes of Westmoreland.

Daffodils,

That come before the swallow dares, and take The winds of March with beauty; violets, dim, Yet sweeter than the lids of Juno's eyes,

Or Cytherea's breath.

WINTER'S TALE.

FAIR Daffodils, we weep
You haste away so soon;
As yet the early rising sun
Has not attained his noon :
Stay, stay,

Until the hastening day

Has run

But to the even-song;

And, having prayed together, we,
Will go with you along.

We have short time to stay, as you;
We have as short a spring,

As quick a growth to meet decay,

As you, or any thing:
We die,

As your hours do; and dry

Away

Like to the summer's rain,

Or as the pearls of morning dew,

Ne'er to be found again.

HERRICK.

I WANDERED lonely, as a cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host of golden Daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never ending line
Along the margin of the bay:

Ten thousand saw I at a glance,

Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced, but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A Poet could not be but gay

In such a joyful company;

I gazed

and gazed--but little thought

What wealth to me the show had brought;

For oft when on my couch I lie,
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude,
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the Daffodils.

WORDSWORTH.

The Almond Flower.

Amygdalus Communis.

Class Icosandria. Order Monogynia.

THE Almond is cultivated as a beautiful orna. ment to shrubberies and pleasure grounds, in which it is very valuable, as its leafless branches are generally adorned with their innumerable flowers of vivid pink in the beginning of March, continuing in full bloom about three weeks; and also on account of its fruit, though of less importance, as the crop is often liable to fail in this climate. It is supposed that the quality of the kernel depends upon its culture, as the almonds received from Barbary, where the tree is indigenous, are bitter, and those of Europe, and of other parts, where it is cultivated, are in general sweet. A white variety, common in the East, has furnished some graceful similes to our poets.

VEGGIA il mirto odorato, il molle fico;
Veggia la palma eccelsa, il poco accorto
Mandorlo aprico che sovente pianse

Tardi i suoi danni, c'anzi tempo (ahi lasso !)
De suoi candidi fior le tempie cinse.

ALAMANNI. DEL COLTIVAZIONE.

(From the Description of Prince Arthur's Helmet.)

UPON the top of all his lofty crest,

A bunch of haires discoloured diversly,

With sprinkled pearle, and gold full richly drest,
Did shake, and seemed to dance for jollity,
Like to an Almond tree ymounted hie

On top of green Selinis all alone,

With blossoms brave bedecked daintily;

Whose tender locks do tremble every one,

At every little breath that under heaven is blowne.

SPENSER'S FAERY QUEENE.