A GROUP OF HYACINTHS.
THIS plant, like most of the others of Spring extraction, in its wild state,
bangs down its
azure bells, and having a delightful scent, is one of the most agreeable
gifts that Providence has
bestowed upon mortals.
From its plaintive air, arose to the imagination of the poet the fancy of
a Youth converted into this flower.                 
                       I die, I die, young HYACINTHUS said, a
                       Sunk on the earth and droop'd his lovely head.
                       Quick to his aid distress'd APOLLO flew,
                       And round the hero's neck his arms he threw.
                       But whilst he held him to his throbbing breast,
                       And all the anguish of his soul exprest,
                       His polish'd limbs, by strange enchantment's pow'r,
                       Shoot into buds and blossom into flow'r,
                       His auburn locks in verdant foliage flow,
                       And wreaths of azure florets shade his brow.
                                                                       OVID.
  Although the Hyacinth cannot boast of broad petals, and a variety of stripes,
yet is this
flower, from its early appearance, and the effect that cultivation produces
on it, made one of
the most pleasing gifts proceeding from the Deity.  Botanists have usually
affected to despise
double flowers, forgetful that the benevolence of the Almighty is best displayed
in such produc-
tions, and have branded them by the appellation of Monsters.  They are, however,
useful, not
only as agreeable objects, but scientifically, proving most satisfactorily
the doctrine of the sexes
of plants; for the Hyacinth in its natural state has six Stamina and one
Pistillum, and is pro-
ductive; the petals are likewise six; but in a cultivated state the flowers
usually cease to be pen-
dulous, and the petals are so considerably multiplied, as to constitute the
whole of the flower, and
there is neither Stamina nor Pistillum, and consequently no propagation by
seeds, but merely
by offsets from the bulbs-The double White Hyacinth has been denominated
LA HEROINE;
that which is double and all of a light blue, GLOBE TERRESTRE.   The DIANA
VAN EPHESON
is a double White Hyacinth with small red spots; and VELOUR PURPRE is the
dark double
Blue Hyacinth with green at the edges of the petals; and the single dark
Blue is named DON
GRATUIT.
   Hyacinthus was accidentally struck by a quoit flung by Apollo, and killed
on the spot.       He was converted into the flower that
bears his name, and Apollo's grief was allayed by viewing the beauties of
this charming flower.   vide Ovid's METAMORPHOSES