[4:1] Perhaps the most noteworthy plant omitted is Tobacco--Shakespeare must have been well acquainted with it, not only as every one in his day knew of it, but as a friend and companion of Ben Jonson, he must often have been in the company of smokers. Ben Jonson has frequent allusions to it, and almost all the sixteenth-century writers have something to say about it; but Shakespeare never names the herb, or alludes to it in any way whatever. [4:2] It seems probable that the Lily of the Valley was not recognized as a British plant in Shakespeare's time, and was very little grown even in gardens. Turner says, "Ephemerū is called in duch meyblumle, in french Muguet. It groweth plentuously in Germany, but not in England that ever I coulde see, savinge in my Lordes gardine at Syon. The Poticaries in Germany do name it Lilium Cōvallium, it may be called in englishe May Lilies."--_Names of Herbes_, 1548. Coghan in 1596 says much the same: "I say nothing of them because they are not usuall in gardens."--_Haven of Health._ [5:1] I may mention the following works as more or less illustrating the Plant-lore of Shakespeare:-- 1.--"Shakspere's Garden," by Sidney Beisly, 1864. I have to thank this author for information on a few points, but on the whole it is not a satisfactory account of the plants of Shakespeare, and I have not found it of much use. 2.--"Flowers from Stratford-on-Avon," and 3.--"Girard's Flowers of Shakespeare and of Milton," 2 vols. These two works are pretty drawing-room books, and do not profess to be more. 4.--"Natural History of Shakespeare, being Selections of Flowers, Fruits, and Animals," arranged by Bessie Mayou, 1877. This gives the greater number of the passages in which flowers are named, without any note or comment. 5.--"Shakespeare's Bouquet--the Flowers and Plants of Shakespeare," Paisley, 1872. This is only a small pamphlet. 6.--"The Rural Life of Shakespeare, as illustrated by his Works," by J. C. Roach Smith, 8vo, London, 1870. A pleasant but short pamphlet. 7.--"A Brief Guide to the Gardens of Shakespeare," 1863, 12mo, 12 pages, and 8.--"Shakespeare's Home and Rural Life," by James Walter, with Illustrations. 1874, folio. These two works are rather topographical guides than accounts of the flowers of Shakespeare. 9.--"The Flowers of Shakespeare," depicted by Viola, coloured plates, 4to, 1882. A drawing-room book of little merit. 10.--"The Shakspere Flora," by Leo H. Grindon, 12mo, 1883. A collection of very pleasant essays on the poetry of Shakespeare, and his knowledge of flowers. PART I. _THE PLANT-LORE OF SHAKESPEARE._ _Perdita._ Here's flowers for you. _Winter's Tale_, act iv, sc. 4. _Duke._ Away before me to sweet beds of flowers. _Twelfth Night_, act i, sc. 1. ACONITUM.