262 



FLASHLIGHTS ON NATURE 



buds spasmodically in every fine spell throughout 

 the winter, reaching its fullest glory of blossom in 

 April and May ; while the smaller kind begins to 

 flower in summer, as soon as its larger cousin 

 has fixed its attention on setting seed ; and it goes 

 on yellowing our heaths with its wealth of gold 

 till October or November, when the bigger sort 



once more replaces 

 it and takes up the 

 running. In this way 

 there is no bright day 

 throughout the year 

 that is to say, no day 

 fit for insects to gather 

 honey on which one 

 kind of gprse or the 

 other does not seek to 

 cater for the friendly 

 allies which help it to 

 set its precious seeds, 

 as we shall see in the 

 sequel. It is the larger 

 and better-known gorse 

 with which I shall deal 

 chiefly here, though I 



may occasionally refer by way of illustration or 

 contrast to its smaller neighbour. 



If we begin at the beginning in the life-history 

 of the gorse, it may surprise you to find that each 

 plant sets out on its way through life, not as a 

 prickly gorse plant, but as a sort of quiet and un- 

 armed little flat trefoil. No. i shows you the 



NO. I. THE BABY GORSE PLANT. 



