MAY WILD FLOWERS. 



which Flora in May drops along her scent- 

 ed paths around our city ; June, July, Aug- 

 ust, have other floral tributes in store. 



More than half a century back, the study 

 of the wild flowers round Quebec, was 

 in high favor; our city ladies, inspired 

 by the noble example of Lady Dalhousie, 

 wife of His Excellency, the Earl of Dal- 

 housie and her friend the Hon. Mrs. 

 William Sheppard, of Woodfield, took a 

 lively interest in this fascinating portion of 

 the vegetable kingdom. The Transactions 

 of the Literary and Historical Society bear 

 testimony to the efforts of these two cul- 

 tured ladies to popularize here the study 

 of botany. Later on, one could meet in 

 May, botanying parties from the city, col- 

 lecting the prettiest flowers of Ste. Foye 

 and Sillery, under the direction of an en- 

 thusiastic old botanist, Mr. S. Sturton,t to 

 whom Quebecers are indebted for an in- 

 teresting paper on our wild flowers. Surely 

 Flora can yet count some votaries among 

 the denizens of the old rock. 



J. M. L. 



SUlery, 8th May, 1884. 



f Mr. Sturton was Professor of botany, in an 

 Academy for young ladies in Quebec. 



