THE EDELWEISS-THE SWISS BRIDAL FLOWER.

Otago Witness, Issue 1834, 14 January 1887, Page 8

THE EDELWEISS-THE SWISS BRIDAL FLOWER.

It will be a great consolation for young ladies to know that the Edelweiss, associated with mystery, matrimony, and maidens, and rejoicing in the name of Leoutopodium Alpinum, has been making quite a sensation in the Standard newspaper. This Edelweiss, so. familiar to tourists in the Alps, and' to young ladies fresh from the newest novel, has always been thought to belong, exclusively to the Alpine regions of Switzerland; but the range of ita geographical distribution has been widely extended, and/it is now found to belong to various other altitudes besides those of the Switzers. Much' romance attaches to the favourite plant, so nearly allied to our cudwpeds and gnaphaliums, and solvery near and'eharming a relation of our pretty, centpnnaria dioica, the mountain everlasting, found upon our heaths. The Edelweiss i« the bridal flower of the Swiss girls, being used bj^heih', as we use orange }>lossora,s, in .the hnir'ano'inibou* quets at their weddings. It is'a'plaivb'farfetched; dear-bought, and good for ladies', and they will be glad to learn that they have no need to spend anxious hours in seeking it in its Alpine fastnesses in .order to possess it, , . ■ . }l > ;, a The writer got some. seeds— just a pinch-r-oC Freemans (l of Norwich.' It was, pub in a. cold frame, by way of protection ;' it came upibeauti* fully 1 and flowered well in the. open .garden, in Yorkshire sunshine. The Edelweiss js. a<hardy perennial, and succeeds well in bog soil with, plenty of sun ; and when sown in sprinK,every* lady may watch it grow for herself in England, and decorate her tresses, with it in the autumn. All budding maidens and blushing, brides .will, we hope, be thankful for this idea,-,;,. The romantic plant about, which- they have thought and read so often, and about which such long yarns have been spun, is in reality no more difficult of cultivation than .ordinary get-me-nots," or mustard and cress. ■ We have great hopes that, after -this succinct statement, when we look, up at drawing room windows, and when we get into our friends'- con?, servatories, we shall be sure to see the Edek weiss, with its, round? head of silvery, white,* fluffy, downy flowers and leaves. « And when' we nee them, we shall also be quite, sure that gome fairy fingers have been at work, tbat.,Bpme, tender heart is beating fast, that, some romance is being t played out /under, 'those, .very, eaves , and that some .happy maiden. is : cumvatfngthe delicious Edelweiss'ior no ojiher purpose in- t^e^ world except an early wedding. Aud, majr good, luck attend her- ! It -is" too much" to' believe, of course, that the plant will be, grown simply as, a, botanical rarity, or, to send oiit as souvenir?, or to place in herbariums and albums. Depend upon it, if you see the, Edelweiss growing and blooming, the next thing is to look but,, for, a pair of white gloves, and a sweet, "fluffy bridal cake, as white and chaste and ornate as the Edelweiss it-self. — Exchange. ,