ii PREFACE. 



There is a common little weed that is known by the familiar name 

 of Carpetweed, a small PolygoVium, that grows at our doors and often 

 troubles us to root up, from its persevering habits and wiry roots. It is 

 crushed by the foot and bruised, but springs again as if unharmed 

 beneath our tread, and flourishes under all circumstances, however 

 adverse. This little plant had less6ns to teach me, and gave courage 

 when trials pressed hard upon me. The simplest weed may thus give 

 strength if we use the lesson rightly, and look up to Him who has 

 pointed us to that love which has so clothed the grass of the field and 

 cared for the preservation of even the lowliest of the herbs and weeds. 

 ^V'ill He not also care for the creature made in His own image ? Such 

 arc the teachings which Christ gave when on earth. Such teachings 

 are still taught by the flowers of the field. 



Mothers of Canada, teach your children to know and love the wild 

 flowers springing in their path, to -love the soil in which God's hand has 

 planted them, and in all their after wanderings through the world their 

 hearts will turn back with loving reverence to the land of their birth : 

 to that dear country, endeared to them by the remembrance of the wild 

 flowers which they plucked in the happy days of childhood. 



As civilization extends through the Dominion, and the cultivation 

 of the tracts of forest land and prairie, destroys the native trees and the 

 plants that are sheltered by them, many of our beautiful wild flowers, 

 shrubs and ferns will, in the course of time, disappear from the face of 

 the earth, and be forgotten, it seemed a pity that no record of their 

 beauties and uses should be preserved ; and as there is no national 

 botanical garden in Canada, where collections of the most remarkable 

 of our native plants might be cultivated and rescued from oblivion, 

 any addition to the natural history of the country that supplies this 

 want is therefore not without its value to the literature and advancement 

 of the country, and it is hoped that it may prove valuable to the 

 incoming immigrant who makes Canada an abiding home. 



Mrs. Tkailf, takes this opportunity of acknowledging the kind and 

 invaluable assistance which she has received from her friend, Mr. Jamks 

 Vi.KiCHER, of the Dominion Library, and the encouragement to her 



