INTRODUCTION 



ONE of the most delightful pastimes of the 

 happy season of spring and summer is to find 

 the wild flowers blossoming here and there in the 

 fields and woods. Almost as soon as the snow 

 has melted one can begin the search, for in sunny 

 nooks the Swamp Cabbage sends up its strange 

 flower-heads while the winter's ice still lingers in 

 near-by pools. This is not a very attractive 

 blossom, it is true, except to the small flies that 

 find shelter within its protecting hood. But it is 

 soon followed by the Hepatica, Bloodroot and 

 Arbutus, which surely are attractive to every one 

 who finds them. And after these come the ane- 

 mones, violets, dandelions and a host of other 

 lovely flowers to make us glad that spring is here 

 again. 



I would recommend that each of you who 

 read these pages make a booklet of the wild 

 flowers in your own locality. Go into the fields 

 and woods as often as you can, and find out 

 the answers to the questions suggested in connec- 

 tion with the various flowers. It is not necessary 

 that you go every day, though you are fortunate 

 if you can do so; even once a week is better 



13 



