THE 

 BULBOUS CROWFOOT. 



Ranunculus bulbbsus. Nat. Ord., Ranunculacea. 



>UR present subject, the bulbous crow- 

 foot, is one of the numerous family 

 of buttercups, and may be considered 

 as the most typical specimen, the 

 buttercup par excellence, the flower 

 that is linked with the daisy in the 

 days of rural childhood, and that 

 remains, to all those who have ever 

 qf as children enjoyed the delight of 

 |3^^ rambling in the long grass of the 

 "^ meadows, a memorial of those early 

 joys. The farmer, however, regards the 

 profusion that is golden wealth to the 

 child, the inexhaustible treasure that 

 may be gathered by handful after hand- 

 ful and yet suffer no diminution of the 

 store, with no friendly eyes, since the 

 plant has not only no economic value, 

 but is absolutely injurious, in so far as it takes the place of 

 more useful herbage. Cattle and horses, it will be noticed 

 by any one who will take the trouble to watch their proceed- 

 ings, are careful to avoid the buttercups, their burning and 

 acrid nature being evidently by no means to their taste. 

 As the meadows in June are often one sheet of brilliant 



