164 



industrious bees, who even in the winter, though they have a 

 store-house at home, lose no opportnity of adding fresh sweets 

 to their hive, and fresh food for the benefit of their community. 



" We may learn from the bee the wise man's lore, 

 * The hand of the diligent 'gathereth store.' 

 He plies in his calling from morn till night. 

 Nor tires of his labor, nor flags in his flight. 

 From numberless blossoms of every hue. 

 He gathers the nectar, and sips the dew. 



Then homeward he speeds 



O'er the fragrant meads, 

 And he hums as he goes his thankful lay. 



Let our thanks too arise, 



For our daily supplies, 

 As homeward and Heavenward we haste on our way ?" S. 



COLTS-FOOT. TUSSILAGO. 



COMMON COLT'S-FOOT. Tussilago farfara. 



Plate 13, fig. 2. 



On banks, &c., particularly where there is clay so common 

 as to be a very troublesome weed, it flowers as early as March, 

 before the leaves makes their appearance. The flowers are 

 yellow, and one upon a stalk, soon changing into a shining, 

 silky, and beautiful head of long, white, cottony hairs. The 

 leaves are heart-shaped, angular, toothed, downy beneath. 

 This is the plant that is considered so useful for coughs and 

 colds, when boiled or made into lozenges. 



GROUNDSEL. SENECIO. 



COMMON GROUNDSEL. Senecio vulgaris. 



Plate 13, fig. 3. 

 Florets without strap-shaped petals. Flowers scattered. 



At almost all seasons of the year, and in all places, this is 

 abundant. In gardens it is one of the most troublesome weeds, 

 as it grows so fast, and produces a large quantity of feathery 

 seeds, which the wind scatters about far and wide. 



" How many plants, we call them weeds. 



Against our wishes grow, 

 And scatter wide their various seeds, 

 With all the winds that blow." 



Surely it is not necessary to describe so common a plant, 

 and one which is gathered so frequently as food for the littla 



