76 Country Rambles. 



notice the tribe of grasses, at least up to the time of 

 haymaking. No fewer than sixty-three different kinds 

 may be collected about Manchester, and fully a third of 

 these in the meadows. The remainder are inhabitants 

 of the woods and ponds, while a few grow exclusively 

 upon the moors. Attaining their perfection in May and 

 June, easily collected, and not withering on the way 

 home, the grasses are the very best plants to begin with 

 in forming a collection of dried flowers. We have 

 spoken before of the pleasure that attends this pursuit : 

 the utility, to anyone who takes the slightest interest in 

 nature, is quite upon a par. How pleasant at Christmas 

 to turn over the pages of one's Hortus Siccus, freshening 

 our remembrance alike of the beautiful and diversified 

 shapes of the plants, and of the days and scenes where 

 they were gathered ! A more interesting or instructive 

 pursuit for a young person, of either sex, than to set 

 about collecting specimens of the grasses, ferns, and 

 wild-flowers in general, that they meet with in their 

 country walks, is in truth scarcely to be found. The 

 attraction it gives to the country is prodigious, and surely 

 it is more sensible when out in the fields thus to employ 

 one's self than to wander along listlessly for want of an 

 object, and perhaps get into mischief. The method 

 to pursue is exceedingly simple. First get together a 

 quantity of old newspapers, and fold them to about 

 eighteen inches square. Then buy a few quires of 

 Bentall's botanical drying paper, and procure also three 

 or four pieces of stout millboard. Such is the apparatus ; 



