PREFACE. 
Ir was several years ago, although it seems as if it were but 
yesterday, that I was walking, early in July, along the road 
which leads from Millbury to Sutton. In a low-lying meadow 
by the roadside some velvet-grass (olcus lanatus, L.) was 
conspicuous, and I had collected a little of it for my herba- 
rium. As I was getting over the wall again, a farmer returning 
from the village drove up slowly and stopped. 
Farmer. Be you Mr. Jackson that writes them articles 
about wild flowers in Zhe Spy ? 
Z. Yes, sir. 
fF I thought so when I see ye get over into the lot for that 
grass. What kind of grass is it? 
LI. (Holding it up for his inspection.) It is called velvet- 
grass in the books. I don’t find anyone about here who has 
taken the trouble to name it in any other way. 
fF. Justso. Well, I want to tell ye, Mr. Jackson, that we 
take The Weekly Spy at my house and we’re very much in- 
terested in them papers of yours. 
Z, Itis pleasant to know that. 
fF. Yes, I suppose so. You see there is nobody at home 
but my wife and me and my little granddaughter. She’s only 
young, but she ’s very much interested in the flowers all around, 
and when she gets hold of the paper every Saturday she just 
