±. 
Ctlium USitftttSSnillllU. Natural Order: Linacece—Flax Family. 
OMPARED with plants not grown directly for food, the Flax 
is probably the most useful as well as the most ancient known 
to man. In various parts of the world it is grown in large 
quantities, forming the industry of a large population, furnish¬ 
ing employment both summer and winter in raising, gathering 
and caring for the crop, considerable attention being required 
in preparing the fiber for the manufacturing arts. The fields have a 
fine appearance when the Flax is in bloom, presenting an uninterrupted 
blue surface to the eye that is truly pleasing. There are some hand¬ 
some varieties of tropical Flax for both garden and greenhouse, with 
flowers of scarlet, yellow, white, and rose color, some of them being 
perennial. 
Dcmtslir Tnhtisf rij* 
TITHAT happiness the rural maid attends, 
In cheerful labor while each day she spends 
She gratefully receives what heaven has sent, 
And, rich in poverty, enjoys content. —Gav. 
A TEAT little housewife, so demure, 
Plying the needle swift and sure, 
In quiet places, 
What charm is in those darksome eyes, 
What magic in your beauty lies, 
And lovely graces! 
No sound to break your gentle dream; 
Those lily hands from seam to seam 
Are ever stirring; 
All hushed — as summer’s noonday hour, 
When sleep the bee, and leaf, and flower - 
Save pussy’s purring. 
OWEETER and sweeter, 
Soft and low, 
Neat little nymph, 
Thy numbers flow, 
Urging thy thimble, 
Thrift’s tidy symbol, 
Busy and nimble, 
To and fro; 
*37 
Prettily plying 
Thread and song, 
Keeping them flying 
Late and long, 
Though the stitch linger, 
Kissing thy finger, 
Quick—as it skips along. 
y. W. Palmer. 
