PERIODS OP FLOWERING. 171 



en tint to our meadows, whilst the buttercup, the 

 cowslip, and violet are found in all directions. 

 The fields, woods, and gardens are crowded with 

 blossoms of the dogwood, the May apple, the 

 arum, the thorn, the plum, the cherry, the pear, 

 the apple, and the honeysuckle; and the fields with 

 poppies, clover, lilies, and the different grasses. 



June brings us lilies, the iris, the wild lily of the 

 valley, sweet grass, blackberry, the locust, the fox- 

 glove, the clover, the mallow, the tulip tree, the 

 lime tree, sweet-williams, bind-weeds, the laurel, 

 and the wild and garden roses, as the dogrose, the 

 scotch, the cabbage, the moss, the musk, and the 

 downy-leaved roses. July ushers in the chestnut, 

 rosebay, meadow-sweet, marigolds, thistles, flax, 

 the amaranth, holyhocks, and nasturtiums. Au- 

 gust, the sunflower, docks, burdocks, the chrysan- 

 themums, China asters, and dahlias. September 

 is accompanied by the whole family of fungi, such 

 as mushrooms, toadstools, and puff-balls. 



At the beginning of autumn the petals of most 

 flowers have fallen away, and fruit and seeds ripen. 

 The means provided by God, in order to secure 

 the diffusion or spreading of the seed, are amongst 

 the most singular of his works, and show the most 

 beautiful design, with the means for fulfilling it. 

 The different coverings, or seed-vessels, may be 

 called sowing machines, and they perform their 

 work in an admirable manner. Some of them 

 burst open suddenly, and scatter the seeds all 

 around ; others are so light that they are carried 



