FAMILIAK GARDEX FLOfJ'EIiS. 



variations occur : the stamens either agi'ee in number Tpith the petals or differ 

 in a strictly arithmetical manner, but in the cultivated plants the number of 

 stamens and pistils is a kind of lottery "whatever the number oiKjht to he. 

 The silene is a catchtiy because it is sticky ; but why it should delude the 

 [joor tlies to their ruin and make (as it appears) no use of them when 

 entrapped is not yet clear to us. As a matter of practical im])ortance it 

 should be noted here that all the silenes are good plants for the table when 

 rightly cooked. Of course when in flower they are useless, but whfn the 

 young growth is advancing, the tender tops make a good substitute for 

 asparagus, and if blanched they are the more delicate and equally whole- 

 some. The shoots should not be more than two inches long when taken for 

 cookiug. The best plant for the jDurpose is the bladder catchfly {H'dcnc iiij!ata). 

 Probably the tender tops of any catchfly might be used in salads. _^>. 157. 



" Sweet is the rose, but gi-ows upon a brere ; 

 Swtet is the junipere, Vmt sharpe Ms boug-h ; 

 Wweet is the eg'laiitine, but pricketh nere ; 

 iSweet is the lirblonie, but his branches rough ; 

 Sweet is the cj-press, but his rind is tough ; 

 Sweet is the nut, but bitter is his pill ; 

 Sweet is the bromeflour. but yet sowre enough ; 

 And sweet is molj'-, but his root is ill. 

 So eveiy sweet with soure is tempred still, 

 That maketh it be coveted the more : 

 For easie things that may be g'ot at will 

 Most sorts of men doe set but little store. 

 Why then should I accompt of little paine, 

 That endlesse pleasux-e shall unto me gaine 1 ' ' 



