INTRODUCTION 
One of the most delightful pastimes of the 
happy season of spring and summer is to find 
the wild flowers blossoming here and there in the 
fields and woods. Almost as soon as the snow 
has melted one can begin the search, for in sunny 
nooks the Swamp Cabbage sends up its strange 
flower-heads while the winter’s ice still lingers in 
near-by pools. This is not a very attractive 
blossom, it is true, except to the small flies that 
find shelter within its protecting hood. But it is 
soon followed by the Hepatica, Bloodroot and 
Arbutus, which surely are attractive to every one 
who finds them. And after these come the ane- 
mones, violets, dandelions and a host of other 
lovely flowers to make us glad that spring is here 
again. 
I would recommend that each of you who 
read these pages make a booklet of the wild 
flowers in your own locality. Go into the fields 
and woods as often#as you can, and find out 
the answers to the questions suggested in connec- 
tion with the various flowers. It is not necessary 
that you go every day, though you are fortunate 
if you can do so; even once a week is better 
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