A DISCOURSE

72

the florist, in the mean time, priding himself as if he had found theGrand Elixir, performed some notable achievement, or discovered anew country.

This for the defects,.(for such are those variegations produced by prac-tice, or mixture, mangonisms,. and starving the root,) of a fading flowerHow much more honour then were due in justice to those persons, whobring in things of much real benefit to their country ? especially trees for.fruit and timber.; the Gak alone, (beside the shelter it afforded to our lateSovereign Charles II .) having so often saved and protected the whole na-tion from invasion, and brought it in so much wealth from foreign coun-tries. I have been told there was an intention to have instituted an Orderof the Royal Oak; and truly I should think it to become a Green Ribbon,next to that of St. George, superior to any of the romantic badges towhich is paid such veneration abroad, deservedly to be worn by such ashave signalized themselves by their conduct and courage, in the defenceand preservation of their, country. Bespeaking my reader’s pardon forthis digrefsion, we now proceed to other useful Exotics.