MEZEREON.

(Daphne mezereum.)

THIS beautiful and hardy shrub is a native of England, and is found growing wild in the woods near Andover, in Hampshire, and about Laxfield, in Suffolk. The colour of their blossoms varies in hue from deep red to peach-coloured and white.

This shrub, which is valued for visiting us when few others are in bloom, flowers in February and March; the blossoms surround the stem, and the leaves, which are lance-shaped, appear at the terminations of the branches after the flowers are expanded.

There is a different sort found wild in woods and shady hedges, called spurge laurel, (Daphne laureola,) which is evergreen; but it will not bear a comparison with the Daphne mezereum, the corollas being of a dingy green, and not having the agreeable odour of that more beautiful shrub. The germen, which is oval, becomes a beautiful red berry, and is said to be poisonous both to man and beast, but birds eat freely of it.

Class, OCTANDRIA.

Order, MONOGYNIA.

ON RECEIVING A BRANCH OF MEZEREON,

WHICH FLOWERED AT WOODSTOCK, DECEMBER, 1803.

ODOURS of spring, my sense ye charm

With fragrance premature,

And, 'mid these days of dark alarm,

Almost to hope allure.

Methinks with purpose soft ye came,
To tell of brighter hours,

Of May's blue skies, abundant bloom,
Her sunny gales and showers.

Alas! for me shall May in vain

The powers of life restore;

These eyes, that weep and watch in pain,
Shall see her charms no more.
No, no, this anguish cannot last!
Beloved friends, adieu !

The bitterness of death were past,

Could I resign but you.

Oh ye! who soothe the pangs of death
With love's own patient care,
Still, still retain this fleeting breath,
Still pour the fervent prayer.
And ye, whose smile must greet my eye

No more, nor voice my ear,

Who breathe for me the tender sigh,
And shed the pitying tear;

Whose kindness (though far, far removed)
My grateful thoughts perceive;
Pride of my life-esteemed, beloved,

My last sad claim receive!

Oh do not quite your friend forget

Forget alone her faults;

And speak of her with fond regret,

Who asks your lingering thoughts.

MRS. TIGHE.

NARCISSUS.

(Narcissus Tazetta.)

THIS beautiful and fragrant flower is a native of Northern India, of China, and Japan. Sir James Smith informs us that it decorated in profusion the banks of the Alpheus; even the barbarians had taste enough to collect nosegays of those lovely flowers. The appearance of this elegantly formed flower, so early in the season, we hail with more pleasure because it is almost among the first to welcome the approach of spring. The colour of the corolla varies; some being white, with a deep yellow cup edged with red; others pale primrose; and some entirely of a bright yellow. By the art of cultivation, the florists have produced a very fine variety with double petals in the corolla.

Class, HEXANDRIA. Order, MONOGYNIA.