THREE OLD FRIENDS 65 



they are met with in other localities, are 

 abundant in the open fields. 



A familiar trio greet us at the outset the 

 Daisy (Bellis perennis), the Buttercup (Ranun- 

 culus bulbosus), and the Dandelion (Taraxacum 

 officinale). These are too well known to 

 require any figure to aid their recognition. 

 There are several species of buttercup, but I 

 have named the earliest and one of the 

 commonest, which is sometimes called the 

 bulbous crowfoot. 



The mere mention of those three flowers 

 is sufficient to conjure up a vision of spring 

 fields, such as is most sympathetically 

 expressed by Mr. Vernon in The Harvest of a 

 Quiet Eye. The sheet of white daisies cover- 

 ing the grass, the masses of golden buttercups, 

 and the rich yellow stars of the dandelions, 

 rising up amidst the fresh green herbage, are 

 indelibly impressed on the minds of all who 

 have spent their childhood in the country. 

 Some idea of the beauty of such scenes may 

 be formed even by those who dwell near 

 the parks in a large city. Those plants do 

 not improve the pasture, and gardeners wage 

 war upon them when they show themselves in 



