IN THE CORN-FIELDS. 127 



growing on a stem about a foot high. The peculiarity 

 of the plant consists in its seeds, which are as hard as 

 flint, and shine like pearls when the stem is withering 

 away. The roots are of a bright red colour, and are 

 sometimes used for dyeing liiieii. The Field Madder 

 (Sherardia arvensis) loves the deep furrows. Its little 

 stem is barely four inches high. The narrow leaves 

 grow in whorls, and are distinguished by their rough 

 edges. The bluish-lilac flowers grow in a close sessile 

 umbel. Amongst the earlier flowers, though fortu- 

 nately not generally, the Crow Garlic (Allium vineale) 

 must be noticed, for it grows as tall as the midsummer 

 corn, and rears it pale pink flowers as boldly as the 

 most handsome plant. The bulbs are strong smelling, 

 and the plant has hollow leaves round the base of the 

 stalk, all of which smell strongly of garlic. 



When midsummer has passed the Poppies begin to 

 bloom, and the Common Eed Poppy (Papaver rliceas) 

 grows freely in cultivated fields and waste places over 

 England. It is the most showy of all our wild flowers, 

 for its brilliant scarlet is exceedingly bright. It is also 

 known by the names of headache and cheese-bowl. 

 On the continent it is cultivated for the sake of the 

 oil contained in its numerous seeds, which is used in 



