BRAMBLES AND THISTLES 243 



thistles, we have in England four genera : the thistle 

 proper (Carduiis), the plume thistle (Cnicus), the cotton 

 thistle {Ono])oi-cluin), to which the thistle of Scotland is 

 now generally referred, and the carline thistle (Carlina), 

 and they are all beautiful in shape or colour, or both ; 

 and if it were not for their evil habit of producing 

 abundance of seed, and scattering them in every 

 direction by means of the exquisite thistledown, 

 many of them would be welcome ornaments in any 

 garden. As it is, I never pass the grand wayside 

 woolly-headed thistle (Carduus eriopJwrus) without ad- 

 miring the splendid foliage, which is almost equal to 

 the classical acanthus, Avhile the 'great, whitish, round, 

 prickly head, flattish at the top, and thick set with 

 wool, doth so well resemble the bald crown of a fryer, 

 not only before it be in flower, but especially after it 

 had done flowring, that thereupon it deservedly received 

 the name of the Fryer's Crown Thistle ' (Parkinson) ; 

 and if I lived where goldfinches abound (but I do not), 

 I should be tempted to grow thistles simply for the 

 sake of the beautiful little birds to whom the thistles 

 are so attractive. But I must confine myself to the 

 garden species, and with something of the same apology 

 that Parkinson felt compelled to make : — 



'You may somewhat marvel to see me curious to plant 

 thistles in my garden, when, as you might well say, they are 



