126 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 



some pungency is the predominant property, and in the 

 grasses there is an almost complete absence of medicinal 

 virtue, but a prodigious power of producing food, so the 

 composite plants are characterised by the production of a 

 tonic stimulant, and the fragrance of the camomile is in 

 many ways repeated in this vast group of plants. But 

 we shall not seek in vain for useful plants among the 

 composites, for the lettuce, endive, salsify, artichoke, and 

 sunflower are composites ; and if we can for once put the 

 clulce before the utile, we shall find an immense assemblage 

 of these plants adorning our gardens. The dahlia is one of 

 the number ; the coreopsis is another. Between the two 

 how great and glorious is the floral throng! 



The coreopsis, or calliopsis, is one of the first among 

 garden plants to make an impression on the young amateur 

 florist. It is sure to be included in his first purchase of 

 garden seeds, along with the Virginia stock, ten-week 

 stock, sweet-pea, and mignonette ; and as these are all 

 good things, we may congratulate him that he begins the 

 world well in floriculture, and deserves to prosper. And 

 our plant belongs to that happy-go-lucky family of flowers, 

 the seeds of which may be sown where they are to remain 

 in almost any kind of soil, and will come to gladness 

 rather than grief, even with very bad gardening. Short of 

 taking them up every two or three days to see how they 

 are getting on, they will bear almost any amount of mis- 

 taken kindness, such as watering too much or not watering 

 at all; being left as "thick as thieves," instead of being 

 thinned betimes, and in being located in a shady place in- 

 stead of the full sunshine. One of our sages has remarked 

 that " Nature never did betray the heart that loved her ; " 

 but it seems Nature goes out of her way to encourage and 



