248 THE FRUITS OF THE COUNTRY-SIDE 



was everywhere the broom and nothing but the broom. 

 The shepherd's needle may certainly stand as a repre- 

 sentative of the many-named. 



We have introduced the shepherd's needle in our series 

 since it is so excellent an illustration of a beaked fruit. 

 Other good examples of this form will be seen in the 

 numerous wild geraniums, that from this feature are 

 ordinarily called crane's-bills. 



As one wanders along our peaceful country lanes, by 

 the sides of quiet streams, over the open moorland, in the 

 shade of the woodlands, by the margin of the sounding sea, 

 everywhere one is surrounded by objects of beauty. Our 

 present care has been to find somewhat of interest yet 

 remaining when, the time of flowering being over, it is 

 too hastily assumed that little or nothing attractive is 

 left. It is manifest that such an aspiration could be 

 but little more than suggestive of the field open to study. 

 Many curious forms must perforce go unillustrated, 

 undwelt on, and having indicated, as we trust, a pleasant 

 path, others at their will must walk therein. The great 

 waving pods of the horned poppy, the quaint "cheeses" 

 of the mallow, the curious heart-like fruits of the 

 shepherd's purse, the feather-like globes of the thistle, 

 the rugged heads of the teazel, the burrs of the goose-grass 

 or the hedge-parsley, the ribbed fruit of the hemlock, the 

 triangular nut of the black bindweed, are but a few illustra- 

 tions that at once occur to us as further examples of the 

 wonderful variety of fruit form in Nature. 



We commenced our work with a regret that many of 

 those who study plants should give almost exclusive attention 

 to their flowering period ; and we conclude with the earnest 



