PLANTS GROWING IN LIGHT SOIL. 207 
to govern them, again as the animal world they defy any law 
that interferes with their individuality. 
The spring beauty is familiar to many of us and as we recall 
it to the mind we connect with it a shrinking type of loveliness. 
Were it not for its delicate venation we would almost confuse it 
with the anemone. In woods, often by running streams, and in 
exposed places it blooms abundantly. Itis a child of the sun 
and closes in cloudy weather. 
LIVER-LEAF. HEPATICA. 
Hlepatica Hepadtica. 
FAMILY COLOUR ODOUR RANGE TIME OF BLOOM 
Crowfoot. Pinkish blue, or white. Fragrant. Mostly east. Early spring. 
Flowers: solitary; growing on long scapes. Calyx: of six, or more 
coloured sepals which are frequently mistaken for petals, as the involucre is 
inconspicuous and adheres closely to the flowers in the manner of sepals. 
Petals: none. Stamens: numerous. /2%stz/s: numerous. Leaves: from the 
root; rounded; three-lobed ; mottled with purple; evergreen. Scape: cov- 
ered with a fuzz. 
“ Brave little wilding, herald of the spring ! 
First of the beauteous tribes that soon will troop 
Singly, in pairs, or in a joyous group, 
O’er sunny slope or sheltered bank 3; or cling, 
By their slight fibres, where the bluebird’s wing 
Alone can visit them with graceful swoop!” 
| —ELIzA ALLEN STARR. 
Father Winter is hardly well on his homeward journey when 
we go to the woods or banks and notice a subtle fragrance 
hovering about the air. Led by it we direct our steps and 
find almost hidden by dead leaves, or perhaps by snow, our 
lovely hepatica. It has pushed up its delicate bloom through 
the rusty-looking leaves that have remained over the winter, 
as though impatient to be the first to greet the spring. The 
new leaves appear later in the season. Perhaps down below 
they and the blossoms had a little disagreement about just 
when was the proper time to arrive at the flower carnival and 
the leaves scoffed at the idea of being first, so they delayed in 
getting ready, and the flowers came on alone. Neither were 
they imprudent ; the buds and stems are well wrapped up ina 
