THE POETRY OF THE ROSE AND THE LILY. [To THE
EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] Sra,—Allow me to point out to Mr. Massiah (August 8th, p.1,040) that the words " Hilleh lily," cited by him from " The Land and the Book," have no botanical sense whatever. The application can only be vaguely conjectured. Dr. Thomson should have given the scientific name of the flower he speaks of. Even then it would have made no difference to the proper interpretation of the Hebrew shoshan, in the Authorised Version, and in the Revised, rendered " lily," seeing that both shoshan and " lily " are collective terms.
While writing, permit me also to say that in your kindly reference to my " Scripture Botany," on p. 981, there is a slight entangling of matters. The "rose " of Ecclesiasticns is probably the rose ipsissima. The " Rose of Jericho " is quite a different thing, as correctly stated.—I am, Sir, &c., Manchester, August 10th. LEO GaDrnow.
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