78 WILD fLOWEfiS OF SPEING. 



Shakespeare, and is mentioned by Ben Jonson. Useful 

 as dandelions are to the herbalist, they are by no means 

 loved by the agriculturists, though undoubtedly they 

 have their economic uses in the feeding of cattle, 

 lambs especially being, it is said, peculiarly fond of 

 them. 



When the meadows are damp, or a streamlet runs 

 through thenij the Marsh. Marigold (Calllia palv.s- 

 tris), the winking Mary-buds of Shakespeare, "ope 

 their golden eyes " in the early spring months. The 

 foliage is large, dark, and shining. The flowers are 

 the calyx, and are supported on thick, strong stems 

 which defy the March winds. Country folk call it 

 "water-blob." In Scotland, Sweden, Norway, and 

 Holland it is plentiful, and is there the first spring 

 flower. Like all dark-foliaged plants, the leaves are 

 poisonous, though the young buds, when pickled with 

 vinegar, are said to be a good substitute for capers. 

 One use the marsh marigold has : its flowers, when 

 boiled with alum, afford a good dye, but now it is 

 seldom used. Not far off the Mary-buds, and frequently 

 blooming alongside of them, is " the Ladysmock all 

 silver white" (Cardamine pratensis) , whose pale, lilac, 

 cross-shaped flowers stand erect in pretty clusters on 



