28 WILD FLOWERS OF SCOTLAND 



Permanent pasture is not common in Scotland. 

 Few dry meadows lighten at spring-time with the 

 passionate blossoming of those in the South. Our 

 green stretches are mainly the overflow of streams 

 marshes rather than meadows. 



Raw enough at other times, and in winter often 

 impassable, such scenes become charming when, in 

 April, a bright sisterhood of flowers is let loose 

 over them. Here and there, among the pinks are 

 glowing yellows. 



Then the spring buttercups come out among the 

 daisies of the bank, yielding the most charming 

 effects with the simplest touches. The first is that 

 with the bulb at the roots, to make it independent 

 of the niggardness of the season ; and the pale 

 sepals, bent back so quaintly against the stem. 



The later fibrous-rooted buttercups follow; the 

 taller of them to o'ertop the lengthening grasses, 

 and glisten among the brown panicles with a 

 second effect, not less simple or charming than that 

 among the daisies. 



While this lasts, Spring is abroad as if she had 

 taken lovely shape, visibly scattering from her 

 lap ; and he who would find her will do well 

 to go to such grassy banks, and look there. If the 

 beauty is not passionate, it is altogether satisfying. 



