May 2.] 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
a pleasure and a profit to enter the clean kitchen, where i 
the old infirm couple sat quietly after the fatigues and I 
anxieties of a long laborious life, and to witness their 
contentment and thankfulness under the privations that 
the aged poor most frequently suffer. He loved to talk 
of his former home,—of his garden, and his pleasure in 
making and watching it. Rut even the lowly and nil- ; 
known cottager does not escape the sorrows that all 
flesh is heir to: his simple annals teach us, that “man ' 
is born to trouble as the sparks fly upwards;” that a 
wise and loving Father chastens his children for their 
instruction, wherever their lot is cast; and that no rank 
or circumstance can preserve us from the trials that 
belong to us, as a fallen race. Let us not seek to escape 
them in any country, or in any change of state. People 
are too ready to fancy that this or that situation or event 
would relieve or benefit them; but they are all mistaken. 
There is one situation, indeed, and only one, that in¬ 
sures both peace and safety—it is “ the secret place,” 
“the shadow of the Almighty!” That “refuge” and 
“fortress” guarantees our deliverance from every caul, 
or our quiet support under them. But in every other 
condition we harm no defence—the palace and the cot¬ 
tage alike totter when built on the unstable sand; and 
neither the rich sheltering groves of the one, nor the 
fruit-laden trees of the other, can prop them up. 
Now that the copses are clearing, I am particularly 
charmed with the beauty of the trees that are clothed 
with rich mantlings of ivy, standing conspicuously 
among their leafless companions, and increasing the 
loveliness of the spring scene. Yet I regret so much 
the mischief done to the trees thus encumbered, that I 
much wish every landed proprietor would consider the 
matter, and cause his trees to be stripped of this inju¬ 
rious decoration, for it is the ruin of timber, and, conse¬ 
quently, eventual loss to the landscape, as well as to 
the pocket. It is surprising to see the glee with which 
trees throw out healthy and vigorous shoots almost as 
soon as their stems arc. freed from the crushing en¬ 
cumbrance of tbe graceful climber, and the rapidity with 
which the dejected tree acquires a rich and ornamental 
appearance when it can freely breathe and expand once 
more. Some trees are beyond recovery when help is 
given, and in these cases, the ivy may be allowed to 
remain, especially in situations where picturesque objects 
are desirable, for there are few objects of more beauty 
than these. Many persons encourage the growth of ivy 
around their ornamental trees, and are not aware of the 
bad effects of its beautiful luxuriance. It is so rich and 
lovely, they cannot bear to hear even of its doing harm; 
but in a few years the mischief becomes apparent, when, 
perhaps, too late. Is there not a seeming fairness, too, 
in the outward bearing of ourselves and our fellow men 
that covers much that is corrupt within? Do we not, 
also, often encourage or permit ourselves in that which 
pleases the eye and heart, which is destructive to our 
spiritual growth, and if not “ cut off,” will cause our 
souls to perish ? We may learn a lesson from our trees 
withering amid the semblance of health and verdure, if 
we will listen to their teaching ! Lot us not close our 
ears to the whispering of the woods, as the early gales 
sing among the leafless boughs. Admiration of God's 
works is but halt enjoyment: let us strive to understand 
and profit by them ! 
WILD FLOWERS OF MAY. 
(Continuedfrom page y!).) 
In* the woods the fragrant Woodruff (Asperula odorata) j 
whitens the mossy carpet with its snowy flowers. The 
author of a little volume titled, “ Wild Flowers of the Year,” 
(published by the Religious Tract Society), says “its fresh 
leaves are almost scentless, but we have no native flower 
which so long retains its odour when dried.” Withering says 
of it, “ that its strongly aromatic flowers, when mixed with 
snuff, are also said to give to it the sweet odour of the Ton- 
quin bean, without being, as that seed is, prejudicial to the 
eyesight—while the scent is more lasting.” The scent of the 
leaves while drying very much resembles that of our garden 
Heliotrope or the grass Anlhoxantlium odorfitum (now in 
flower), which gives the delicious odour to new-made hay, and, 
like Woodruff, gives it out very powerfully while drying. Like 
Iiobin-run-the-hedge, and other plants of the natural order 
Rubidcece, the Woodruff has a rough feel arising from the 
presence of hooked bristles on the leaves and other parts, 
which in many cases make the plants stick to the clothes. 
Besides the AVoodrutf, but often in more moist situations, 
the not less fragrant Lily of the Yule ( Convulland rtiajdlis) 
is decked in its modest array, and certainly not less beautiful 
than when seen in the garden-border, or forced into pre¬ 
mature bloom in the hothouse. The Dandelion (Lcbnlodon 
taraxacum) lends its gaudy beauty to the adornment of the 
waysides, and will now afford an abundance of roots for the 
production of Dandelion coffee; nor should it be forgot that 
when the leaves are blanched they make a capital salad. In 
its wayside habitats it is frequently joined with the Coltsfoot 
(Tussilago farfera), which is now, however, almost entirely 
out of flower in the south. The Butter bur ( Petasitcs vul¬ 
garis) appears profusely on the banks of streams, and in 
wet meadows, ruining the undrained pastimes to which it 
gains access, and choking up the drains of such as are 
drained. Tbe Daisy (Beilis perennis), 
“Whose home is everywhere— 
A pilgrim bold in nature’s cjire,” 
is scattered with unsparing hand wherever our eyes can rest, 
and it calls at once to memory the many fine feelings and 
thoughts with which Wordsworth and Burns, and a host of 
other poets have invested the little gem. On the hills and 
heathy places the species of Vaccinium are in flower, and the 
V. Myrtillus or Bill-berry will soon afford the school-boy an 
abundant harvest. The Holly (Ilex aquifolium) is also a 
May blossoming tree; but its flowers are by no means so 
conspicuous as the red berries with which it is clad in winter. 
The fIncas (Periwinkles) are creeping through the bushes 
and long grass of the woods, adorned with their bluish purple 
flowers. The Lungwort (Pnhnonaria officinal is), likewise grows 
beneath “ the green wood's shade,” and on account of its 
spotted leaves has received its name and been considered a cure 
tor pulmonary complaints. In more moist places than it pre¬ 
fers, you will find the universally known and acknowledged 
emblem of friendship, the Forget-me-not ( Myosotis), of which 
there are various species. The Field Scorpion Grass (.1/. 
arvensis) prefers dry places, such as wall-tops, and gravelly 
banks, but most of the species in this family are lovers of 
the cool shade or the streamlet’s marge. One of the most 
beautiful is the Sylvan Forget-me-not ( M. Sylvestris), which 
often forms most lovely masses of blue in the shady wood¬ 
lands ; but perhaps the most beautiful of all is the Mountain 
Forget-me-not (.1/. alpcstris), whose home is on the lofty- 
alpine summits. M. palustris, which is considered to be 
the true emblem of friendship, is by no means a common 
plant, and some of the others are very often mistaken for it, 
even by botanists of acknowledged authority. The common 
Speedwell ( I cronica officinalis) abounds in woods and pas¬ 
tures ; and along with it, as well as by the waysides, will be 
found the Germander Speedwell ( V. Charmedrgs); its near' 
ally the Mountain Speedwell, grows more rarely in the moist 
shady woodlands—these Speedwells, more especially the two 
latter, seem well entitled to a place in the herbaceous border. 
The common Bugle (Ajuga replans) is one of the brightest 
ornaments of the woods, but not one of economical or bo¬ 
tanical interest. The white Dead Nettle (Lamium album) is 
now abundantly in flower in many places, covering rubbish 
banks and waste places; its foetid herbage is left to grow 
luxuriantly by browsing herds, but the plant is of some im¬ 
portance to the Apiarian, as the flowers yield an abundance 
of honey. There are also several other Labiates in blossom, 
not the least beautiful of which is the Ground Ivy (Glcdwma 
hederacea) with its bright blue flowers peeping from beneath 
the hedges ; in rural districts it is a popular cure for affections 
of the lungs. The large-flowered Butterwort (Pinguicula 
grandijlora) at once one of the rarest and loveliest of our 
native plants, has now produced its large rich purple blossoms; 
and the Primrose (Primula vulgaris) ; the Oxlip (P. elatior) ; 
