FEBnCARY. 25 



parts only of Europe, and of the southern 

 countries of Asia ; but there is, perhaps, hardly 

 a European settlement in the Avorld, in -which it 

 does not grow upon the land Avhich the colonist 

 is bringing into cvdture. Its seeds must be 

 disseminated among the grain, Avhicli the Euro- 

 pean takes ■n-ith him to the foreign land. Similar 

 circumstances are kno\Mi to have occurred with 

 some other of our wild flowers. The Canadian 

 flea-bane (Erigeron Canadensis) was planted, 

 about a century since, in the gardens of Paris, 

 having been brought thither from its native 

 Canada. Its seeds have now not only crossed 

 the channel, to deck our wild landscape, but 

 have spread themselves o^cr France, German}^ 

 Holland and Italy, and brought forth their 

 flowers in the Isle of Sicily. So common is 

 the flea-bane, during the autumnal months, in 

 the southern counties of our native land, that 

 botanists class it among our mid flowers. 



Our common groundsel has a remarkable 

 power of softening water, if it is poured, while 

 boiling, on the plant ; and this fluid forms a 

 pleasant wash for the skin, irritated by the 

 winter wind. 



The groundsel is one of the largest tribes ol 

 flowers which is known throughout the world. 

 No less than five hundred and ninety-six species 

 having received each a distinct name from the 

 botanist. There are nine British kinds, and 

 many htmdreds are cultivated in the gardens of 

 this country. 



By the latter end of February, the road-side, 



