274 OUR ROCK-GARDEN 



" Cokkell," wrote Maplet over three hundred 

 years ago, " is an vnprofitable Herbe, or rather 

 (to give him his right name) a hurtfull weede, which 

 will alwayes be medling with the pure Wheate, and 

 doth often choke it vp, and hindreth his growth : 

 So that the old Proverbe is herein verified, the ill 

 weede ouercroppeth the good corne." This passage 

 suggests another venerable old saw that reminds us 

 how promptly the dog's fate is sealed and his speedy 

 death by suspension sure if only we asperse his 

 character, but we are really not quite prepared to 

 disown an old friend at Maplet's instigation. Any 

 one who has seen the corn-cockle, not choking the 

 wheat or being choked by it, but standing alone in 

 the garden and given a fair chance, will agree with 

 us that its removal to the rubbish-heap would be an 

 absurdity. We have seen it under such conditions 

 over four feet high and blooming profusely, a delight 

 to the eye. The rich purple blossoms are very 

 showy, and the five long green points of the calyx 

 standing boldly out around the petals give it a 

 singularly handsome appearance. Its botanical 

 name, Agrostemma, signifying crown of the field, 

 suggests something a little above a noisome weed ! 



Another denizen of the farmer's wheat-field, or 

 springing up amidst his turnips or other green 

 crops, is the corn-marigold, one of the largest and 

 gayest of the starry golden blossoms of our summer 

 season. One must confess that it does sometimes 



