during the month of June, when the stems are rising. This common White Lily may be grown to perfection in pots. The bulbs should be potted in a rich soil, composed of rotten hot-bed manure; turfy loam, and sharp sand. It should never be in a temperature higher than the average of green-house plants; and the pots should be placed where they have full exposure to light and abundant ventilation; under these circumstances it is almost sure to flourish. Our large White Lily is a native of Palestine, and possibly the "Lily of the field," spoken of by our blessed Lord in the Sermon on the Mount. We all know something of the virtues of the healing ointment which is prepared from the leaves of this Lily; but the special reason in many minds for loving the large White Lily with a love one can hardly give to any other flower is that, from the very earliest ages of Christianity, it has been associated with one particular festival of the blessed Virgin Mary, i.e., that of the Visitation, observed by the whole Church on July 2nd-the day on which the Virgin Mary went to visit St. Elizabeth, the mother of St. John the Baptist. It is probably connected with "Our Lady," from the exceeding purity of its whiteness,

for was it not from her spotless purity and innocence that she was in some sort found to be worthy of the high honour bestowed upon her in being chosen to be the blessed mother of our Divine Lord. All true Church people love to cultivate this Lily, which is really an emblem of the Faith.

As this beautiful flower of which our Blessed Lord speaks in His Word requires warmth and light, so do we His children require the warmth and sunshine of His ever-abiding presence and the light of His love.

Do we not also glean from the earnest study of this beautiful flower some teaching on the doctrine of the intermediate state, of which we are reminded in reading in the Song of Solomon the words, "My Beloved is gone down into His garden to gather the Lilies," taking His own, as it were, into His loving arms, when in death? He calls us to go with Him into the "other room of His Holy Church.

"A beautiful legend tells us that when the grave of the mother of Jesus was opened it was full of blossoming Lilies, fit emblem of the thousand flowers of holy thoughts and purposes which spring up in our hearts from the memory of our sainted dead."

If we strive after the child-like purity and innocence which He requires, He will give us these things in order that we too may "flcurish," and, growing in His likeness, may be reckoned among the choicest flowers in the garden of His everlasting kingdom.

"He feedeth among the Lilies."

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God' They rest from their labours; their works do follow them."

E

The Sensitive Plant.

A Sensitive Plant in a garden grew,
And the young winds fed it with silver dew,
And it opened its fan-like leaves to the light,
And closed them beneath the kisses of night.

And the spring arose on the garden fair,
And the Spirit of Love fell everywhere;
And each flower and herb on earth's dark breast,
Rose from the dreams of its wintry rest.

But none ever trembled and panted with bliss,

In the garden, the field, or the wilderness,

Like a doe in the noontide with love's sweet want, As the companionless Sensitive Plant.

The Snow-drop, and then the Violet,

Arose from the ground with warm rain wet,

And their breath was mix'd with fresh odour, sent From the turf, like the voice and the instrument.

Then the pied Wind-flowers, and the Tulip tall,
And Narcissi, the fairest among them all,
Who gaze on their eyes in the stream's recess,
Till they die of their own dear loveliness.

And the Naiad-like Lily of the Vale,

Whom youth makes so fair and passion so pale, That the light of its tremulous bells is seen Through their pavilions of tender green.

And the Hyacinth purple, and white, and blue, Which flung from its bells a sweet peal anew Of music, so delicate, soft, and intense,

It was felt like an odour within the sense.

Percy B. Shelley.