72 AVILD TLOWEES OF 



Moss, and mattresses and door-mats in the North of 

 England. The Bog-mosses (Sphagna) form the best 

 possible packing for young trees, to send abroad. 

 Minute as the vegetation of Mosses may at first sight 

 appear, in the northern regions of the earth they 

 now form nearly a fourth-part of the vegetation, and 

 almost a thousand distinct species have been enume- 

 rated. They especially adorn and diversify alpine 

 scenery, and variegate the horrid sublimity of cliffs 

 that would otherwise frown only in horror, without 

 a gleam of beauty to charm and interest the wan- 

 derer. 



" It was a barren scene, and wild, 

 Where naked cliffs were rudely piled ; 

 But ever and anon between 

 Lay velvet tufts of loveliest green. 



SCOTT. 



In wild waste spots, or even occasionally in the 

 vicinity of towns, whence it may have escaped from 

 the nursing of cultivation, a flower of rank growth, 

 grave aspect, and dull colouring, sometimes attracts 

 the eye of the botanical observer, flourishing luxuri- 

 antly even at this cheerless period of the year, as 

 if it were sensible it would be utterly passed over, 

 as unworthy of notice at any other time. This is 

 the Fetid Bearsfoot (Helleborus fcetidus) , conspicuous 

 where it does grow amidst the rubbish that environs 

 it, by its dark digitated leaves and dirty green in- 

 volute petals edged with deep purple. The following 

 characteristic lines well describe the aspect of the 

 plant just referred to :- 



" Within the moist and shady glade, 

 What plant in suit of green array'd, 



