SEASONAL WILD FLOWERS.-No. VI. THE scattered leaves which, 'sere and dead,' are strewn across our path in our rambles during the present month, forcibly remind us that Flora's beauties are diminishing, and that winter is coming, when in vain we shall look for an abundant supply of them; yet, during this and the succeeding month, there are some pretty blossoms to interest the botanist and to call forth his admiration of his Creator's works. Nor is the present season fruitless in sources of meditation to the Christian; as the leaves are scattered to the winds around him, he may recal the prophet's simile, " We all do fade as a leaf;" and as he expects in the spring, again to behold the trees clad in verdure and beauty exceeding that they have had since their freshness in that season: so may he anticipate the renewal of his faculties, after death shall have scattered his mortal body in dust, in a more perfect and enduring state; these changes in the appearance of creation, are all calculated to teach us lessons of wisdom, and we ought to consider the lilies" with the references given by the Saviour. If they be instrumental in leading us to prepare for the great changes of which decaying nature is a type, how thankful should we be! how ready to ascribe praise to Him who made the summer with its sunny skies and healthful pleasures, and winter with its "winds and storms alike fulfilling his word!" Not many novelties claim our notice at this season ; one of the principal of them is the ivy (Hedera Helix) which affords food to innumerable insects. Its name was given it by Pliny; Hedra signifying a cord, and ivo, green; it is well known, softening as it does, the features of many a rugged and ruined building, which would otherwise be unsightly, and giving it a picturesque appearance. The flowers are green, in runbels, and are succeeded by a smooth black berry resembling a currant. It is parasitical, having its root at the end of the stalks, and is applied to a variety of useful purposes. The roots are used by leather-cutters to whet their knives upon. The Highlanders of Scotland make an ointment from the leaves, which they apply to burns: horses and sheep eat it. An ivy crown was bestowed by the ancients as a reward for poetical merit. Two species of crocus blossom during October: one, the naked flowering crocus (Crocus Undiflorus) growing on the banks of the Trent; and the other the showy autumnal crocus (Crocus Spicionsus), found at Warwick, and Halifax in Yorkshire. Many of the plants which bloomed some months since, and have continued unnoticed on account of the variety which called for attention at the time, may now, lingering as they do still with us, be fitly introduced. The wood cornel, or dog-wood (Corneus Sanguinea) puts forth its white flowers in June, but is particularly conspicuous now, from the foliage which, during the summer, has been green, assuming a deep red hue. It is about five feet high, and bears purple fruit. It is one of a very large tribe of plants called the dogwood tribe, which is found in all parts of Europe, Asia, and America, and in the United States is used instead of Peruvian bark in intermittent fevers. The word cornel is derived from cornu, a horn, the wood being remarkably hard. The narrow-leaved wall mustard (Sinapis tennifolia) also blossoms during October; its bright lemon-coloured flowers making a cheerful spot of heaps of rubbish where it generally grows; it is mixed with the better sorts and used for the table. The devil's bit, scabious, is seen in moist pastures and sometimes in cornfields; its corolla is divided into four equal segments, its root is fleshy abrupt. "The great part of the root," says Gerarde, "seemeth to be bitten away; old fantastic charmers report that the devil did bite it for envy, because it is an herb that hath so many good vertues and is so beneficiale to mankinde." flowers are deep purplish blue, sometimes milk-white, and the root is said to furnish an effectual cure in cutaneous diseases. Its The maiden pink (Diarithers Deltoides) is still discovered on hills. The stems are matted together on the ground, but when they flower they rise five or six inches; it has pale rose-coloured flowers, with a circle of deep coloured spots at the mouth. The five-leaved heath and sea-tree-mallow, already described, may be occasionally met with; one, in thickets or dry pastures, and the other on the sea-shore; and a stray branch of honey-suckle, in a more sheltered situation than its neighbours that have already faded. Our list of autumnals is short, but we are scarcely perceptible of their diminution, adorned as the decaying foliage is with a thousand hues to charm the eye. Alas! those thousand hues declare E. J. S. [Unintentionally omitted from our last Number.] THE FADING ROSE. TORN from thy tree-ah, there thou liest ! What, can no art thy strength revive! Once to have left that parent tree, Thus when my soul rebellious strays Yet, unlike thee, it needs not die ; Jehovah's strength can heal its woes; He is thy hope-' Lord, save me!' cry, Dull, fading rose. Portsea. W. C. SEASONAL WILD FLOWERS.-No. VII. We have short time to stay as you, We have as short a spring, As quick a growth to meet decay, We die, As your hours do; and dry Away. HERRICK, 1640. THE progress of decay has been rapid during the past month; and with few exceptions the leaves, whose varied tints gave a peculiarly soft beauty to the landscape in October, lie in a bed beneath our feet; yet the botanist is not left without some little interesting memorials of the departing year. The ivy-leaved toad-flax (Linaria Cymbalaria) has a procumbent stem, leaves alternate, stalked; flowers pale purple, with a yellow palate, and short-pointed spurs ; it grows on old walls, and gives a picturesque appearance to many an unsightly ruin, which it speedily mantles, after once taking root. It belongs to the same tribe as the large yellow toad-flax which blossomed in June, and although admitted amongst British plants, is supposed not to be a native of the country. The periwinkle, which bloomed in May, again puts forth its flowers in sheltered pastures in the county of Sussex. The cheerful softness of the flowers, which are blue, delicately shaded, and the rich green of the leaves, accords well with the situations in which it is found. This plant is an universal favourite throughout |