WILD FLOWEES OF JANUAEY. 



CHAP. I. 



THE PLEASURE AND ADVANTAGE OF LOOKING OUT 

 FLOWERS IN THEIR RELATIONS TO THE HUMAN RACE 

 FIRST ASPECT OF THE YEAR EVERGREENS OF THE 

 SEASON IVY AND HOLLY CONTRASTED HOLY THORN IN 

 FLOWER NATURAL HISTORY OF THE MISTLETOE ITS 

 STATIONS UPON VARIOUS TREES RARITY ON THE OAK. 



' Winter is here all the flowers are dead, 



No nosegay is gracing the room ; 

 But coral and pearls of rare lustre are spread 

 In the Holly and Mistletoe bloom." 



ELIZA COOK. 



OBSERVATION is the parent of thought and simile, 

 and without it the mind must remain ignorant of 

 external objects. Hence to look out for ourselves is 

 the only way to compare description with fact, to test 

 the records of others, and to exercise our own powers 

 of discrimination. Thus the eye not only learns to 

 look on, and at, but into things, and interesting objects 

 that, to an unpractised sight, would be unnoticed, or 

 passed over, are revealed by that euphrasy with which 

 constant attention clears the eye, as the juice of the 

 eye-bright cleared the visual organ in olden times. 

 The botanist is more especially incited to observe, for 

 with untiring steps he must progress at every oppor- 



