HARVARD COLLEGE LIBRARY SHELDON FUND JULY 10. 1940 Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1860, by CHASE, NICHOLS & HILL, In th Herk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetta INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. IN 1832, "FLORA'S INTERPRETER," the first part of this work, was published. The plan was original; and the many imitations, as well as the extensive and steady demand for our book, have alike proved its excellence. The work has now passed into the hands of new and enterprising publishers, who wish to add to its attractions: we improve the opportunity by filling all the blank spaces on the pages of "Interpretations," thus giving one hundred and sixty new quotations, comprising "Sentiments" and "Answers" from the best of the poets. We had, previously, prepared an original department of Flower Literature in its mystical language, and "FORTUNA FLORA" completes the work. We trust this last part will be received with favor by that portion of our friends to whom "years have taught wisdom." Such persons will not regard this effort to stimulate the young to the observance of the hidden meanings which may lie concealed in the flower volumes of nature as unworthy their notice. They will feel that Wisdom is with the heart. As falls the dew And the young will learn these lessons easier, and remember them longer, when connected with the innocent amusements that belong to their flower-time of life. Flowers have always been symbols of the affections, probably ever since our first parents tended theirs in the garden of God's own planting. They seem hallowed from that association, and intended, naturally, to represent pure, tender, and devoted thoughts and feelings. The expression of these feelings has been, in all ages, the province of poetry; therefore we must refer to the poets in order to settle the philology of flowers. This we have done. We have carefully (iii) searched the poets and writers on Eastern manners, where flowers are now the messengers of the heart, and have selected the most approved interpretations. We have, moreover, endeavored to unite real knowledge with this fanciful language; the arrangement of each flower with its botanic as well as common naine, and also its class and order, will be found of much utility by familiarizing or fixing these terms in the mind of the reader. The locality of the plant, too, will enable those who desire the information to judge where any particular flower may best be cultivated whether in the garden or greenhouse. But the most important aim of the work was to select and incor porate with our love of nature and flowers the choicest and the bes specimens of American poetry. In this we think we have succeeded and that the beauty, variety, and excellence of these gems of thought, fancy, feeling, and passion can never be equalled in any work of this kind- because we had the first choice of the field; unless, indeed, our imitators take our selections bodily from "FLORA'S INTERPRETER,” as some of them have already done to an extent which is very obvious. But we trust that in the part now added —“ FORTUNA FLORA "— no one will thus interfere, for some years at least, to take from us the profits of projecting and preparing a work that has cost us much time and research. The choice extracts from the British Poets are, of course, open to every writer, and are often used; but we have endeavored to place these truly classical specimens of the Old World literature in a new light, by linking them, as it were, with the hopes and loves of our "own green forest land." We feel quite at liberty to select whatever is best and brightest from the productions of British genius for this work, because "FLORA'S INTERPRETER "has been republished in London, and, under the title of "The Book of Flowers," sold largely without any remuneration to the author. It is quite probable this new and enlarged work may have the same honor. To the youth of America we dedicate anew this book we have prepared for them. May it inspire our young women to cultivate those virtues which can only be represented by the fairest flowers; and may our young men strive to be worthy of the love that these fairest flowers can so eloquently reveal. PHILADELPHIA, August 1, 1860. HINTS TO THE LOVERS OF NATURE, EVERGREENS. A MOST beautiful and easily attained show of evergreens may be had by a very simple plan which has been found to answer remarkably well on a small scale. If geranium branches taken from luxuriaut and healthy trees, just before the winter sets in, be cut as for slips, and immersed in soap-water, they will, after drooping for a few days, shed their leaves, put forth fresh ones, and continue in the finest vigor all the winter. By placing a number of bottles, thus filled, in a flower basket, with moss to conceal the bottles, a show of evergreens is easily insured for the whole winter. All the different varieties of the plant being used, the various shapes and colors of the eaves blend into a beautiful effect. They require no fresh water. FLOWERS. IF gifted with a garden of any size, from a yard square upwards, you have ample means for keeping up a full supply of bouquets. If not, you can probably find room for a box of earth. If this he wanting, buy a sea-shell-one which will hold two ounces of soil will doand, drilling holes in it, hang it with cord and tassels. One which holds only two ounces will maintain a beautiful flowering vine, which, as it grows and twines and blossoms over the braided cords, will prove the most beautiful ornament in the parlor. A very pretty arrangement is that of ferns under glass. They are a self-supporting institution, watering themselves, growing their own carbonic acid, and form a most beautiful ornament for the parlor. Ivy will also grow in the house, and twine even pillars or any fanciful supports which may be extended to it. We have seen a design for a narrow, square and tall Gothic tower, with the receptacle for earth inside; the ivy growing out through a lower window, which was very graceful. With a little ingenuity one can be readily constructed, and used in the garden during the summer for any kind of climbing vines (vi) |