WAYSIDE WEEDS. 155 



observing the same rule if you add a narcissus or a 

 jonquil to tlie bouquet. But^ leaving tbe garden, 

 let us seek in the meadows for the bright purple 

 orchis blossoms (Kg. 94), which every child knows 

 and gathers in early summer ; these are really way- 

 side weeds, and waterside weeds are these bright 

 yellow iris blossoms, which few can be so unobser- 

 vant as to pass without remark. Possibly all may 

 not know the wild garlics, but they are pretty 

 flowers, especially the commonest of them, the 

 white-flowered, broad-leaved species. Its smell 

 certainly does not warrant its introduction into the 

 company we have already given you, so take or 

 leave it as you like. Other plants you may find 

 with straight-veined leaves, and it is well to examine 

 all; and, last addition to the Handful, if you are 

 gathering in midland or southern England, we give 

 you the black bryony, which thrives so luxuriantly 

 amidst the hedgerows, with its very bright, shining, 

 aaid characteristic heart-shaped leaves, mentioned, 

 you may remember, in one of, our late lessons, as 

 being exceptional in their veinings. It is the 

 British representative of the yams of warmer 

 climates. 



Without again referring to the leaves of our 

 collected plants, we pass to the blossoms, and you 

 will at once observe the peculiarity which all possess 

 of having their parts in threes or sixes. We must 

 here premise that in the present division of plants. 



