'1-Hl', \\I !• RIC.W lUVI'ANIST 71 



The early spring Howers. regardless of tiieir claims to 

 beauty, arc probably more in danger of' e.xterniinaLion than 

 any others. These firstlings of tlie year are more than mere 

 flowers — they are the harbingers of spring; the guaranties oi 

 a milder season. As such they attract even those prosaic 

 human beings who at other seasons pass the flowers by with- 

 out a glance, reading their morning paper, perhaps, on a train 

 flying across a country of greening fields and budding wood- 

 lands spangled with flowers. 



While mentioning the flowers in need of protection, it 

 may be well to point out some of that larger number which 

 neither ask nor need protection and which may be gathered in 

 quantity when one is so minded. We may begin with those 

 which the farmer regards as weeds, such as toad-flax and 

 daisy and include the golden-rods, asters, sunflowers, butter- 

 cups and brow-eyed Susans. Then there are others so ram- 

 pant of growth than an annual pruning seems fairly beneficial, 

 among which are the elder, the wild crab, the steeple-bush, 

 and the Joe-Pye-weed. Last of all is the violet, particularly 

 the flower of childhood, endowed by nature with two sets of 

 flowers, (-ne. bright-colored, attractive, and borne only to be 

 gathered l)y little hands ; the other inconspicuous, seeding 

 abundantly and sjjreading the race, entirely oblivious to any 

 efforts of protection made in their behalf. 



