230 AUTUMN WILD FLOWEB3. 



called (Aster tripoliwn) ; it is also known as sea- 

 starwort and blue daisy. Its shrubby stems continue 

 to bear their azure flowers until the frost nips the 

 young buds. It received its scientific name because it 

 was alleged that it changed its colour three times 

 each day, and that it was white in the morning, purple 

 at noon, and crimson in the evening. Its narrow 

 leaves are of a pale green tint. Cattle are fond of 

 the foliage, and the liking of swine for its bean-like 

 roots gave it its common name of hog's-bean. 



The salt marshes are tinged late in autumn by the 

 bluish-green hue of the Sea-Southernwood (Artemesia 

 maritima), which grows somewhere about a foot high 

 on slender stems. The leaves, stalks, and nower- 

 spikes are all of a dullish grey tint. It has the odour 

 of lad's love the common garden southernwood or 

 " old man." 



" These few pale autumn flowers, 



How beautiful they are ! 

 Than all that went before, 

 Than all the summer store, 



How lovelier far ! 



"And why ? They are tne last ! 



The last ! the last ! last ! last ! 

 Oh ! by that little word 

 How many thoughts are stirred, 

 The sister cf the past ! " 



