WILD, OR lYATJVE FLOWERS. 87 



jMav-Weed — Maruta Cotnla, (DC.) 



The traveller passes by 

 With reckless glance, and careless tread, 

 Nor marks the kindly carpet spread. 

 Beneath his thankless feet. 



So poor a meed of sympathy, 

 Do gracious herbs of low degree, 



From haughty mortals meet. — Agues Suickland. 



This is one of our commonest weeds, intruding itself into the very 

 streets and by-lanes of our villages, but never welcome there, as it gives 

 out a nauseous bitter scent at dew-fall. The more sunny the place and 

 the drier the soil, the more does this hardy plant flourish ; it heeds not 

 the trampling feet of man or steed, but rises uninjured from the tread 

 of the passers-by, cheerful under all persecution, despised and dis- 

 regarded as it is ; yet if we look closely we see beauty in the finely cut 

 and divided foliage, and the ivory-white, daisy-rayed flowers which 

 appear all through the summer ; but when seen in dirty streets we over- 

 look its merits and turn from it with distaste. This feeling is not very 

 amiable, but it is natural, to dislike whatever is vulgar, low and 

 intrusive. 



Wild Sun-flower — Hdianthus sin'gosi/s, (L.) 



" As the Sun-flower turns to her god as he sets, 



The same look which she turned when he rose. "^Moore. 



So sings the Irish bard, but I rather fancy it is a poetical illusion, 

 for I have watched the flowers, and never could convince myself of the 

 fact. However we may hope that as the Sun-flower has become so 

 fashionable an ornament in the present day, some of its devoted lovers 

 will strive to ascertain the truth of the tradition. 



As a not very graceful badge of the votaries of restheticism, we 

 see the garish orange Sun-flower worn in hats and bonnets, as orna- 

 ments for breast and sleeves ; and reproduced in needle-work and other 

 ornamental designs for the boudoir or drawing-room. Rows of the gigantic 

 flowers may now be seen lolling their jolly heads in gardens, and lording 

 it over the humbler and lowlier blossoms. Tastes differ — I am afraid 

 niy wild Sun-flowers would hardly be appreciated by some of the fashion- 

 able ladies and gentlemen, followers of Oscar Wilde. 



We have many flowers of this wide-spread tribe of plants extending 

 through the Country, w^herever the soil and surroundings are favourable 

 to their growth ; especially may different members of these rayed 

 flowers be found on dry plains, in open copse-woods, and on the banks 

 of streams where the soil is sandy, or gravelly. 



