according with the general belief: he describes Minerva as representing the contest in embroidery: "She made the story of the old debate, Which she with Neptune did for Athens 'try; Before them stands the god of seas in place But seldom seen, forejudgment proveth true. Then to herself she gives her Ægide shield Then sets she forth how with her weapon dread That all the gods admired; then all the story MUIOPOTMOS. All Attica is covered with Olives; it is the tree most valued there, says the Abbé Barthelemy: no person is allowed to cut down more than two in the year, unless it be for religious purposes; and any one who transgresses in this respect, is obliged to pay, for every tree, a hundred drachmas to the accuser, and another hundred to the royal treasury, from which a tenth is deducted for the treasury of Minerva. Little plantations of Olives are often seen surrounded by a hedge: these do not belong to the proprietor of the land, but to the temple of the Goddess of Wisdom; and the produce is destined entirely to her service. Should the proprietor cut down but one of them, though it should be but a useless trunk, he would be exiled, and his property confiscated *. It was formerly a custom, especially in Athens, for ambassadors to bear an Olive-branch, as an expression of their pacific intentions: "Yet might they see the Cretans under sail From high-built walls; when with a leading gale A branch of Attic olive." says Spenser. SANDYS'S OVID, Book Seventh. "Olives been for peace When wars do surcease;" Peace is always represented with either a branch or a crown of Olive. Mr. Hunt, in his Mask, expressively twines Myrtle with the Olive of Peace. Milton also puts a Myrtle sprig in her hand : "But he her fears to cease, Sent down the meek-eyed Peace; She, crowned with olive green, came softly sliding Down through the turning sphere, His ready harbinger, With turtle-wing the amorous clouds dividing, And waving wide her myrtle wand, She strikes a universal peace through sea and land.” Virgil makes frequent mention of the Olive, and of the situation in which it best thrives: "Difficiles primum terræ, collesque maligni, VIRGIL, Georgic 2. "In the first place, stubborn lands, and unfruitful hills, where the bushy fields abound with lean clay and pebbles, rejoice in a wood of long-lived Palladian olives. You may know this soil by wild olives rising thick, and the fields being strewed with wild berries.” MARTYN'S TRANSLATION. Ulysses was indebted to his patroness Minerva for a safe and sheltered retreat to repose in after shipwreck : "Thus long debating in himself he stood: At length he took the passage to the wood, Waved high, and frowned upon the stream below. Alike their leaves, but not alike they smiled Of gathered leaves an ample bed he made (Thick strewn by tempest through the bowery shade); AURANTIACEE. ORANGE-TREE. CITRUS AURANTIUM. POLYADELPHIA ICOSANDRIA. The derivation of the word Citrus is unknown: some say it is the name of a place in Asia; others will have it of African origin; some fix it on the Arabian.-French, l'oranger.—Italian, melarancio; arancio; melangolo. THE Orange most known in England is the China or Portugal Orange, so called from its having been brought from China by the Portuguese. There are several other varieties in the English gardens; as the Turkey-orange, the Double-flowering, the Dwarf or Nutmeg-orange, the Seville, &c. The leaves of the Dwarf-orange are very small, and grow in clusters; the flowers grow very close together and appear like a nosegay, the branches being completely covered with them. This species is very ornamental; and, when in blossom, will perfume a room most delightfully. blossom is white, and begins to appear in June. The Towards the middle of September Orange-trees should be housed; and it would be well to keep them in an inhabited room, but not too near a fire. When it is not frosty, they should be frequently, but sparingly, watered. About April the earth should be removed as deep as can be done without disturbing the roots, and fresh earth supplied. Early in June they may be replaced in the open air; but must be sheltered from keen winds, and from the noon-day sun, which would be hurtful to them. The morning sun will be very beneficial, as also the gentle dews of morning: "E quale annunziatrice degli albori L'aura di Maggio muovesi e olezza Tutta impregnata dall'erba e da ' fiori.” DANTE PURGATORIO, 24. "When to harbinger the dawn, springs up On freshen'd wing the air of May, and breathes Every second year the plants should be newly potted at this season; all the roots, on the outside of the ball of earth attached to them, should be cut off; as much of the old earth taken away as can be done without tearing the roots; and the plants set in a tub of water for a quarter of an hour, to soften the lower part of the ball. The stem and leaves should be cleansed with water and a soft woollen cloth. Some stones should be placed at the bottom of the pot, and on these some earth, purposely obtained for Orange plants, to the depth of three or four inches. The plant should then be placed upright in the middle, and the pot filled up, within an inch of the top, with the same earth, being pressed hard down with the hands. The plant should then be watered all over, the watering-pot having the rose on. After this transplanting, the plants should remain in the house a week or two later than on the intervening year, that they may take firm root before they are exposed to the air. In dry summer weather, they should be watered every evening, both roots and leaves; observing to shed water on the leaves, from a rose finely perforated on the spout of the watering-pot. This must not be done until after sunset, or it will cause the leaves to scorch. This caution will apply to plants in general. Water should not be allowed to remain in the saucers: it is injurious to most plants, but to Orange-trees in particular. Another thing to be observed with respect to these plants is, not to put them in pots or boxes too large for them. The largest size used for them should not exceed twenty-four inches in diameter, and much smaller will suffice for the first eight or nine years. |