again, it would not do to make a selection from the passages, my object not being to give "floral extracts," but to let him say all he can in his own choice words. There is not much difficulty in this, but there is difficulty in determining how much or how little to quote. On the one hand, it often seems cruel to cut short a noble passage in the midst of which some favourite flower is placed; but, on the other hand, to quote at too great a length would extend the book beyond reasonable limits. The rule, therefore, must be to confine the quotations within as small a space as possible, only taking care that the space is not so small as entirely to spoil the beauty of the description. Then, having listened to all that Shakespeare has to say on each flower, I shall follow with illustrations (few and short) from contemporary writers; then with any observations that may present themselves in the identification of Shakespeare's plant with their modern representatives, finishing each with anything in the history or modern uses or cultivation of the plant that I think will interest readers.

For the identification of the plants, we have an excellent and trustworthy guide in John Gerard, who was almost an exact contemporary of Shakespeare. Gerard's life ranged. from 1545 to 1612, and Shakespeare's from 1564 to 1616. Whether they were acquainted or not we do not know, but it is certainly not improbable that they were; I should think it almost certain that they must have known each other's published works.'

'I may mention the following works as more or less illustrating the Plant-lore of Shakespeare :

1.-" Shakspere's Garden," by Sidney Beisly, 1864. I have to thank this author for information on a few points, but on the whole it is not a satisfactory account of the plants of Shakespeare, and I have not found it of much use.

2.-" Flowers from Stratford-on-Avon," and

3.-"Girard's Flowers of Shakespeare and of Milton," 2 vols. These two works are pretty drawing-room books, and do not profess to be more.

4.-"Natural History of Shakespeare, being Selections of Flowers, Fruits, and Animals," arranged by Bessie Mayou, 1877. This gives the greater number of the passages in which flowers are named, without any note or comment.

5.-"Shakespeare's Bouquet-the Flowers and Plants of Shakespeare," Paisley, 1872. This is only a small pamphlet.

6." The Rural Life of Shakespeare, as illustrated by his Works,"

My subject naturally divides itself into two parts—

First, The actual plants and flowers named by Shakespeare; Second, His knowledge of gardens and gardening.

I now go at once to the first division, naming each plant in its alphabetical order.

by J. C. Roach Smith, 8vo, London, 1870. A pleasant but short pamphlet.

7.-" A Brief Guide to the Gardens of Shakespeare," 1863, 12mo. 12 pages, and

8.-"Shakespeare's Home and Rural Life," by James Walter, with Illustrations. 1874, folio. These two works are rather topographical guides than accounts of the flowers of Shakespeare. 9.- The Flowers of Shakespeare," depicted by Viola, coloured plates, 4to, 1882. A drawing-room book of little merit.

10. "The Shakspere Flora," by Leo H. Grindon, 12mo, 1883. A collection of very pleasant essays on the poetry of Shakespeare, and his knowledge of flowers.

PART I.

THE PLANT-LORE OF SHAKESPEARE,

Perdita.

Here's flowers for you.

Winter's Tale, act iv, sc. 4.

Duke.

Away before me to sweet beds of flowers.
Twelfth Night, act i, sc. I.

K. Henry.

ACONITUM.

it in

The united vessel of their blood,
Mingled with venom of suggestion-
As, force perforce, the age will pour
Shall never leak, though it do work as strong
As Aconitum or rash gunpowder.

2nd King Henry IV, act iv, sc. 4 (44).

There is another place in which it is probable that Shakespeare alludes to the Aconite; he does not name it, but he compares the effects of the poison to gunpowder, as in the passage above.

Romeo.

Let me have
A dram of poison, such soon-speeding gear
As will disperse itself through all the veins,
That the life-weary taker may fall dead
And that the trunk may be discharged of breath
As violently as hasty powder fired

Doth hurry from the fatal cannon's womb.

Romeo and Juliet, act v, sc. I (59).

The plant here named as being as powerful in its action. as gunpowder is the Aconitum Napellus (the Wolf's-bane or Monk's-hood). It is a member of a large family, all of which are more or less poisonous, and the common Monk'shood as much so as any. Two species are found in America, but, for the most part, the family is confined to the northern portion of the Eastern Hemisphere, ranging from the Himalaya through Europe to Great Britain. It is now found wild in a few parts of England, but it is certainly not indigenous; it was, however, very early introduced into England, being found in all the English vocabularies of plants from the tenth century downwards, and frequently mentioned in the early English medical recipes.