12 FLOWERS OF FIELD, HILL, AND SWAMP 



All are yellow except bicolor, a white species found on the 

 edges of dry woods. Our roadsides are lined with them. 

 They are communistic, or found singly. They are weeds, of 

 course, but not troublesome like wild carrot and daisy. I 

 never heard a farmer exclaim against the golden-rod, while I 

 have seen his wife's vases and fireplaces filled with its masses 

 of yellow bloom. 



" ' A worthless plant, a flaunting weed ! 



Abundant splendors are too cheap.' 

 Neighbor, not so ! unless, indeed. 



You would from heaven the sunsets sweep, 

 And count as mean the common day. 



Meseems the world has not so much 

 Superfluous beauty that we may 



Blight anything with scornful touch. 



'■ In times long past the harebell's grace 

 I blent with this resplendent spray ; 

 And one I loved would lean her face 



Toward their contrasted hues, and say, 

 ' The sun-like gold, the heavenly blue, 

 I know not which delights me most!' 

 Sacred are both, dear heart, to you: 

 They lit your feet from earth's dim coast." 



Lucy Larcom. 



12. Lance-leaved Golden-rod 



Solidago lanceolaia is one of the two species whose flower- 

 heads are massed in flat corymbs. The leaves have 3 or 4 

 veins reaching the entire length of the leaf. The veins and 

 edges of the leaf are rough to the touch ; largest leaves, 4 or 5 

 inches long. 2 to 3 feet high. 



13. Great Ragweed 



Ambrosia tri'fida. — Family, Composite. Color, green. 

 Leaves, with margined petioles, quite large and 3-divided. 

 Time, summer. 



