54 THREE KINGDOMS. 



a one, though much to be pitied, is quite innocent of 

 the posies of dead wild flowers by the wayside, or the 

 ghastly arrays of ill-stuffed birds and beasts in musty 

 cupboards and on bookshelves at home, or heaps of 

 unfortunate little butterflies which never get as far as 

 the setting-board. No ; such sights as these are gen- 

 erally the work of those who love the things of nature 

 not wisely, but too well. Like Mother Eve, they can- 

 not be satisfied with seeing, without wanting to possess 

 more than is necessary for them or good for others. 

 What is it, then, that is needed in our rambles and ex- 

 cursions ? Is it not a thoughtful love for these things ? 

 I would offer the following practical suggestions, which 

 I think can scarcely hinder any one from enjoying the 

 country as much as ever, and at the same time help to 

 carry out the objects which your Society has in view : 



1. When in the country do not ruthlessly pull up 

 and pick every flower you come across when you first 

 set off. Gather your flowers if possible in the latter 

 part of the day, when they will be less likely to die. 



2. Do not entirely denude one place of flowers, 

 whatever they may be. 



3. Do not pluck flowers which by nature fade di- 

 rectly, such as wood anemones and wood sorrel, which 

 never look half so well in vases as in their native 

 place. 



4. Do not dig up flower-roots at the time of flower- 

 ing, a most common and pernicious practice ; it is the 

 worst possible time for transplanting." 





