10 



FAMILIAR WILD FLOWERS. 



effect. Though, like many other indigenous species, the 

 present plant has fallen into disuse, it was largely used 

 in many ways at one time. We have seen it stated 

 that the leaves of the primrose are eagerly eaten by 

 the common silkworm, but we have not submitted the 

 matter to actual test. Should such be the case the fact 

 would have a certain value, as the leaves of the primrose 

 would at some times and in some localities be much more 

 easily accessible than those of the mulberry, the food 

 ordinarily sought after. 



The cowslip is an allied species, but as that forms the 

 subject of another plate in our series, we refer our readers 

 to that for remarks that naturally arise in mentioning 

 the other familiar plants of the same genus, such as the 

 cowslip, the oxlip, and the bird's-eye primrose. 



