226 THROUGH GLADE AND MEAD. 
tween the common nettle and the wood-nettle. A touch 
would prove it. In the shade by the roadside it grows 
tall and self-possessed. The spreading mats of the little 
spurge (Euphorbia maculata, L.) almost cover the space 
between the rails of the railroad and form great patches 
on the sandy shores of ponds. It basks in the open sun- 
light and thrives best in its smile. 
The delicate flowers and the tender foliage of the 
early spring have now given place to the coarser herb- 
age of summer. Tall stems rise up into the sight. 
Here is the pigeon-berry, not to be overlooked in flower, 
although it is more conspicuous when in fruit. Who 
does not know the burdock? Not to know it is to be 
ignorant of the boyish pranks for which it used to fur- 
nish material. Growing near it, and standing near it in 
the list, is a tall coarse plant, the iron-weed, the eastern 
representative of the genus Vernonia, more abundant 
further west. It gives a bit of bright color to the 
swampy meadow or the river-side where it is at home, 
and is most satisfactory, perhaps, when seen at a little 
distance. Some flowers are like oil-paintings in this 
respect: they produce the best effect when not exam- 
ined too closely. 
Compound flowers are now coming rapidly to the 
front, both in number of individuals and in number of 
species. These flowers by the roadside where unpruned 
Nature still holds sway are sunflowers, of which we have 
