Flowers and Gardens 



Yet, in spite of what we have said, it 

 is by no means uncommon to find Cow- 

 slips growing in the woods. And at 

 first sight you may possibly be inclined 

 to think them better than usual, the 

 plant is so large and well nourished. 

 But you may generally be sure that the 

 favourite locality of a plant is, on the 

 whole, that which suits it best. And the 

 advantages of the Wood Cowslip are 

 only apparent : they go no farther than 

 the eye. Just compare it with the Field 

 Cowslip, and see what it has lost in 

 whiteness, and how the compactness and 

 true proportion of the one plant contrast 

 with the ungoverned looseness of the 

 other. I take the Wood Cowslip at its 

 best. Even in cattle and vegetables, we 

 may be confident, size is not the chiefest 

 good. The life is more than meat, 

 and the body than raiment." 



54 



