6 FAMILIAR FLOWERS OF FIELD AND GARDEN. 



little misfortune, Nature has giveu the odoriferous 

 cabbage a very interesting though not a beautiful 

 appearance, and its very peculiarity invites attention. 

 There is something startling in the fact that the 

 dark, livid-colored thing is related to the spotless 

 calla (what a contrast !), and to the sturdy and happy- 

 looking Jack-in-the-pulpit ! But the appearance of 

 the brown-purple spathe must be attractive to ani- 

 mated Nature, otherwise it would not contain so 

 many relics of " a ball that is over." Many insects 

 must have led quite a lively dance inside the spathe, 

 for when we look within its folds we see plenty of 

 remains — honeybees, small flies, bugs, spiders, beetles, 

 and the like. Somehow, I never see a skunk cabbage, 

 with its company of buzzing insects, without thinking 

 of Tam o' Shanter : the little witches are having " a 

 high old time " within, and one can not help feeling 

 somewhat ungracious over the knowledge that beau- 

 tiful Nature does show herself disgusting once in a 

 while ; why, in the name of all that is sweet, do 

 dainty honeybees want to visit such a malodorous 

 character ? Thoreau says, " Lucky that this flower 

 does not flavor their honey." 



The marsh marigold is another flower 

 ars arigo . ^y^jj^jj jg found for sale in the streets 



Caltha palustris. 



of Boston in spring. It seems a pity 

 that wrong names should attach themselves to our 



