166 



THE FLOEAL WOELD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



and soft to the foot as the most luxuriant growth of moss. This 

 plant is of finer texture than tbe last, the leaves are narrower, and 

 have a more delicate bristle-like poiut, and instead of tiny grey 

 flowers, it produces comparatively large flowers of the purest white. 

 A large patch of it in full bloom is as pretty a sight as one need 

 wish to see in a day's march. You will have no difficulty, after 

 having studied Chickweeds,and Sandworts, and Stitckworts, in deter- 

 mining that these two plants belong to the Carnation tribe, and 

 hence the natural system recognizes them as near relations. Yet, 

 because of a little disagreement in their constitutional arithmetic, 

 they are separated by the Linntean system by six classes, so that to 



PROCUJIBENS r-EAELWOET. 



cite only one example of results, if we refer to Deakin's " Flori- 

 graphia Britannica " for descriptions of them, we find the sagina in 

 tbe middle of the first volume, and the spergula in the middle of 

 the second. The first belongs to Class IV., Order III., having four 

 stamens and four pistils. The second belongs to Class X., Order 

 IV., having ten stamens and five pistils. 



There are three other species of Spurrey, and two other species 

 of Pearlwort. The Corn Spurrey, S. arvensis, is known in Norfolk 

 as the " Pick-purse," being regarded as an injurious weed, whereas, 

 in truth, it is highly nutritive, and in Holland and Germany is 

 frequently sown with corn in order that there may be plenty of it 

 on the land the following season, when the cattle are turned out on 

 the stubble. The Knotted Spurrey, S. nodosa, grows in marshy 

 soils, preferring sandy t^pots. It is of a wiry, straggling habit, and 

 produces large white flowers. 



A host of plants will have come under observation while the 

 foregoing studies were in progress. Several of the Yarrows may 

 have been found in flower, the most common being the Common 

 Milfoil, Ackillcea millefolium, a valuable pasture plant, and by no 

 means valueless in the garden, for it answers well for turfing hot 

 sandy banks ^kere grass is sure to be soon burnt up in summer. 

 The " Eosy Yarrow " of the garden border is a variety of the same 

 plant, and one so rare in its beauty, though commonest of tbe 

 common, that its flowers may be as fairly likened to jewellery, as 

 any other flowers that have been so honoured. The "Wild Yarrow is 

 usually white, but it is by no means uncommon to meet with many 

 shades of flesh and pale pink where the plant grows in plenty. 



