i68 THE JOY OF GARDENS 



weed plods along in the dust, intent on winning more 

 acreage and looking out for his chance to perpetuate his 

 kind. 



The ragweed has a prettily cleft leaf which seems as if 

 nature put herself out to invent a particularly good pat- 

 tern. Above quite a graceful plant rises the central stalk, 

 with tiers of what seem to be greenish buds, but the eye is 

 misled; every round green cap covers a dainty flower 

 which actually showers golden pollen at your touch. The 

 ragweed is lavish in its supply, and takes no chances with 

 economy; it is determined to survive and send generations 

 down the line. It scatters its pollen on the wind in boun- 

 tiful supplies, waving its wee bells in triumph as the 

 sneezing human nature passes by in frank recognition 

 that the evil hour of "hay fever" is at hand. 



The smartweed is a near relative of princes'-feather, 

 with a pretty pink plume, and the smartweed bloom is 

 not to be despised in a wild-flower bouquet. Camomile 

 is modest and daisy eyed, mallow has a wee flower and 

 little cheeses for the play teas of children, but these are 

 the gay young Romany folk who invite to the presence of 

 their coarser elders. 



The ragged pigweed is a gypsy tramp of unredeeming 

 qualities. It comes uninvited, and steals its food from 

 the soil without a friendly return. It is in league with 

 the winds, and flies on the gales, begging for transporta- 

 tion. Though not provided with the hooks by which the 



