247 
The wild carrot belongs to the Parsley family. All 
the members of this family collect a great many little 
flowers into one fairly large cluster. 
AN. OLD" FT RIEND 
HERE is one plant (Fig. 264) which you city chil- 
dren ought to know almost as well as the country 
ehildren.-- In the back yards and im. the 
_ little squares of grass which front the 
street, it sends up its shining stars; and as 
for the parks, they look as if some gen- 
erous fairy had scattered gold coins all 
over their green lawns. Fic. 264 
Now, what is this flower which is not too shy to bring 
its brightness and beauty into the very heart of the 
crowded city ? 
Tt is the dandelion, of course. You .all know, or 
ought to know, this plucky little plant, which holds up 
its smiling face wherever it gets a chance. 
And now, I am sure, you will be surprised to learn 
that this dandelion, which you have known and played 
with all your lives, is among those mischievous flowers 
which are laughing at you in their sleeves, and that 
regularly it has played you its “April fool;”’ for, like 
the dogwood and the clover, this so-called dandelion is 
not a single flower. 
No, what you call a dandelion is a bunch made up of 
a great many tiny blossoms. 
