WHERE TO FIND THEM. 401 



weed, the other tall growing, and only increased by 

 division. The latter is by far the ' most desirable, the 

 former often proving a troublesome favorite. The Double 

 White Buttercup (Ranunculus aconitifolius), or " Fair 

 Maids of France," is very rare. It is a beautiful little 

 flower, very double, pure white, and the foliage is re- 

 markably pretty. It is, however, very liable to be winter- 

 killed. 



It has often been a question with us whether we have a 

 more beautiful wild flower than the common and much 

 despised Dandelion (Taraxacum dens leonis). The foliage 

 of pinnatifid or runcinate radical leaves, is very pretty, and 

 of a pleasing green ; the yellow flowers are of elegant form 

 and pleasant fragrance ; the single florets, when examined 

 through a microscope, are of singular beauty ; the globular 

 head of seeds is very ornamental. If this flower was now 

 first introduced from some distant country, the whole flori- 

 cultural world would go into ecstasies over its beauty ; but 

 as it is common, it is despised, and we say, in scorn, " only 

 a dandelion." We do not hope to induce any to cultivate 

 the Dandelion (to observe its beauties this is not necessary), 

 but if any will give closer heed to the beauties of the plant, 

 and observe with what lavish hand the great Creator has 

 34* 



