THE COLTSFOOT 113 
plant-pets so that you may study their habits, and 
perhaps make some discoveries about them. 
Perhaps I can make my meaning clearer by giving 
youanexample. This year I have had three special 
plant-pets—the Coltsfoot, Gorse, and Rest-harrow. 
The Coltsfoot grew naturally in a corner of my 
garden, where I could watch it easily. The Gorse 
and Rest-harrow grew from seeds which I had 
planted in boxes. We will select the Coltsfoot for 
our example ; how did it behave itself? The fol- 
lowing observations transcribed from my Diary will 
give you an answer : 
‘“* March 1.—Noticed heads of Coltsfoot flowers 
breaking in little clumps out of the ground. 
‘“* March 4.—Coltsfoot heads turned sideways and 
slightly downwards. Stalks short and thick. 
“* March 7.—'Two Coltsfoot heads open and. 
held up to the sun. Stalks a little thinner and 
longer. 
‘* March 9.—More flowers, all with heads turned 
upwards. ‘The two heads noted on 7th have stalks 
still thinner and longer. 
‘* March 12.—Dull day; no sunshine. Coltsfoot 
heads nearly closed and slightly drooping. | 
‘“« March 13.—Bright sunshine. Heads erect, and 
visited by small flies. 
“ March 15.—Stalks quite ten inches long, slender. 
Heads drooping. Leaves coming, but quite small. 
‘* March 16 to 25.—Heads still drooping. Petals 
fading. 
“* March 26.—Stalks show signs of stiffening. 
Heads trying to turn upwards. Appear like a shep- 
herd’s crook. 
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