XVII 



IN THE CORN FIELD 



The flowers included in the present chapter are to be found princi 

 pally in cultivated fields ; but since they are more particularly 

 associated with corn crops, or occiu- so commonly in those fields in 

 which grain is one of the products included in the rotation adopted, 

 we separate them from the other flowers of the field, and consider 

 them under the above head. 



It will be observed that the majority of the flowers thus dealt 

 with are summer-bloomei's that flower while the ears of corn are 

 filhng out, and consequently are in fruit at the time of harvest. 

 Hence, when the corn is cut, their seeds are shaken from the ripe 

 fruits, or the fruits are themselves levelled to the ground, with the 

 result that those which are not ploughed too deeply into the soil 

 spring up almost in the same position in the following season. 



Starting with the species of the Buttercup family (order Ranun- 

 culacece), we take first the beautiful Pheasant's Eye (Adonis 

 autumnalis), which is sometimes seen among the corn, especially 

 in the fields of the southern counties. The plant is not a native, 

 but has become weU estabUshed as a wild flower in several parts, 

 though it is common in only a few localities. It is erect, from six 

 to twelve inches high, and flowers in smnmer and autumn. The 

 colomed illustration on Plate VII, Fig. 6, renders a written descrip- 

 tion unnecessary. 



The Uttle Mouse-tail [Myosurus minimus) of the same order is 

 a very different kind of plant. It seldom exceeds a height of five 

 or six inches, and is commonly only two inches high. Its leaves 

 are all radical, very narrow, fleshy, and measure only from one to 

 three inches, including the stalk ; and the little yeUowish-green 

 flowers, which bloom from April to June, are soUtary on radical 

 stalks. Each flower has five spreading sepals which are prolonged 



