By this it will be seen that the expression of almost all flowers may be varied by a change in their positions, or an alteration of their state or condition.  For example, the marigold flower placed in the hand signifies “trouble of spirits;” on the heart, “trouble or love;” on the bosom, “weariness.”  The pansy held upright denotes “heart’s ease;” reversed, it speaks the contrary.  When presented upright, it says, “Think of me;” and when pendent, “Forget me.”  So, too, the amaryllis, which is the emblem of pride, may be made to express, “My pride is humbled,” or, “Your pride is checked,” by holding it downwards, and to the right or left, as the sense requires.  Then, again, the wallflower, which is the emblem of fidelity in misfortune, if presented with the stalk upward, would intimate that the person to whom it was turned was unfaithful in the time of trouble.

The third rule has relation to the manner in which certain words may be represented; as, for instance, the articles, by tendrils with single, double, and treble branches, as under—­

[Illustration of The, An & A.]

The numbers are represented by leaflets running from one to eleven, as thus—­

[Illustration of ‘1’, ‘2’, ‘3’, ‘4’, ‘5’, & ’6’.]

From eleven to twenty, berries are added to the ten leaves thus—­

[Illustration of ‘12’ & ’15’.]

From twenty to one hundred, compound leaves are added to the other ten for the decimals, and berries stand for the odd numbers so—­

[Illustration of ‘20’, ‘34’ & ’56’.]

A hundred is represented by ten tens; and this may be increased by a third leaflet and a branch of berries up to 999.

[Illustration of ’100’.]

A thousand may be symbolized by a frond of fern, having ten or more leaves, and to this a common leaflet may be added to increase the number of thousands.  In this way any given number may be represented in foliage, such as the date of a year in which a birthday, or other event, occurs, to which it is desirable to make allusion, in an emblematic wreath or floral picture.  Thus, if I presented my love with a mute yet eloquent expression of good wishes on her eighteenth birthday, I should probably do it in this wise:—­Within an evergreen wreath (lasting as my affection), consisting of ten leaflets and eight berries (the age of the beloved), I would place a red rose bud (pure and lovely), or a white lily (pure and modest), its spotless petals half concealing a ripe strawberry (perfect excellence); and to this I might add a blossom of the rose-scented geranium (expressive of my preference), a peach blossom to say “I am your captive” fern for sincerity, and perhaps bachelor’s buttons for hope in love”—­Family Friend.

There are many anecdotes and legends and classical fables to illustrate the history of shrubs and flowers, and as they add something to the peculiar interest with which we regard individual plants, they ought not to be quite passed over by the writers upon Floriculture.