270 PLANTS WORTH KNOWING 



to be acquainted with these often alluring but 

 forbidden vegetables. 



It would be quite impossible in one short chapter 

 to set out in detail even the general characteristics 

 of the plants and trees that I should like the 

 lover of the outdoor world to know, for whole 

 books have been devoted to the subject without 

 in any way exhausting it. It will, therefore, be 

 my aim to point out the names and a few other 

 particulars of a selection of trees and plants worth 

 knowing, and the reader must of his own accord 

 follow up the matter and learn to become ac- 

 quainted with them. 



It is unnecessary in this book to emphasise the 

 value of trees and plants generally, for that has 

 already been drawn attention to in Every Boy^s 

 Book of British Natural History and elsewhere, 

 beyond which it is well known to all intelligent 

 people that trees and plants are of inestimable 

 service in supplying us with purified air in the 

 form of oxygen, as well as food, medicine, raiment, 

 timber, shelter, consolidation of the soil, etc., and, 

 of course, afford us pleasure by reason of their 

 beauty of form, colour, or scent. 



We may now map out three lists of British 

 Trees and Plants which may prove of service, 

 the first being devoted to what we may call Use- 

 ful Plants, the second list to Useful Trees, and the 

 third list to Poisonous Plants. 



