pearl. The composite class of plants to which the daisy belongs is a very numerous one; of it, the common dandelion is another most familiar example, likewise the hawkweed, also the groundsel, familiar to bird-fanciers, which, like the daisy, may often be found in blossom in January. Get a head of groundsel, compare its structure with that of the daisy, and although you may not quite understand the science of the matter, you will at least see the resemblance, the relationship between the two, and thus begin, even in January, lessons in practical botany. Moreover, when you have got home from your winter's walk, and doffed the thick botanical shoes we recommended a few pages back, take up our little volume, and refer to what is said of the natural family of the composites; one of the greatest families is it, indeed, of the vegetable world; for it is said to claim about one-tenth of the known flowering plants for its own. But we have not done with our January Flora ; the gay golden blossoms of the gorse will often attract the eye most pleasantly on the banks, generally indeed few and far between, but now and then in some sheltered sunny nook, in a thickly-clustered mass. The gorse flower is very different from the composite blossoms above named; it belongs to the pea tribes, as the slightest examination will show. There is the form which has given the designation of papilionaceous, or butterfly-like, to these plants, and which is exhibited more fully developed in the common pea. These plants, too, are further distinguished by bearing their seeds in pods, whence they are also named "leguminous" plants. The "order" of the Leguminosa yields to man some of the most valuable productions of the vegetable kingdom, which are used either for food or medicine, or in the arts. FEBRUARY. "Bring flowers!" * "They speak of hope to the fainting heart, They break forth in glory-bring flowers, bright flowers !" MRS. HEMANS. THE shortness of our floral calendar allows us space for preparatory remarks which will guide the botanical explorer when the warmth of spring and the showers of April have "decked the earth with flowers," and given him practical field-work to learn and do. As we have said in the paper for January, in the term "wild flowers" is included what people generally call weeds; for every one, even the lowliest, however apparently insignificant, will be found really and truly a flower of beauty. With these, therefore, as being generally the most accessible, the collector will probably begin his labours. Not that we would confine him to the less ornamental and attractive; but let him not wait the latter qualities in the objects of his care: he should seize on the first blossom, whether it be chickweed, or daisy, or any other—take lens, and dissecting-knife, and needle in hand-and he will quickly find that in the close examination even of a weed, the comparative familiarity which perhaps has induced contempt is soon lost in the new interests awakened. It is of course impossible, in the allotted space for these papers, to include mention of all the wild plants which grow and blossom within the shores of the United Kingdom; sufficient if they fulfil their intention of furnishing general indications of the many flowers which, month after month, bloom unseen where they ought to be seen, and noted and recorded in the minds of both young and old, as characteristic of locality and indicative of season. We have just used the words "characteristic of the locality." They lead to a consideration as to how plants are distributed over the earth-their geography. This, in its wide sense, is a most interesting department of botanical science; but, even in the most confined limits, the young plant collector will quickly become alive to the effect of situation in altering the kinds of vegetation he meets with. The plants of the rich meadow, and of the river side, he will soon see are very different from those of the upland field, or of the moor-land; those of the moist wood from those of the exposed rock or of the sea-shore. Of course, the extent to which these observations will be made, must vary with the district in which the observer resides, or with those which he visits ; but they are to be made most interestingly in all. Again, there are some plants so common that they are found nearly in every situation; others very commonly in similar situations; and others only in particular districts; while some are known to grow only in one or two localities. These are the "rare plants" sought after by enthusiastic botanists. There are few districts in Britain in which some rare plants do not occur; the search for them will always form a pleasing excitement when the collector has become familiarized with the commoner vegetation. Botanists speak of the place of growth of a plant as its "habitat." The habitats of many unusual plants have been known and regularly visited for many years. We will now suppose the observer for the first time preparing for his floral campaign. If he aspire to something of science, he may have attained some knowledge of botanical matters, and procured to himself one of the Floras mentioned in January, and added, perhaps, a lens, or small microscope: but let not those whose means, inclinations, or time, forbid this extent of preparation, be discouraged from collecting; for even in it they will find great bodily good, and no little mental pleasure and profit. Soon will they learn to see plants they never saw before, and to see differences they could never previously detect. They will not call every umbelliferous plant hemlock, and every composite one dandelion; but they will see that there are many varieties possessing a general family likeness, which are nevertheless essentially different. This very seeing is a good exercise for the mind, and gives quickness and accuracy to the eye: it is most beneficial to the young especially, and in after-life makes the distinction between " eyes and no eyes." Perhaps, had such pursuits been more attended to, many travellers would furnish less meagre accounts of foreign lands than they do. Again, the plants collected have to be brought home and preserved: here is another exercise requiring care and neatness. Being dried, they are to be mounted, and, if possible, named. If the collector cannot do this himself, he may, possibly, get some one to do it for him, and then, his dried garden of wildlings, his "hortus. siccus," or "herbarium," will be, even though he is otherwise ignorant, a book of reference and comparison, and study; and not only that, if he has noted places and dates of gathering, it will be a diary of the past, its review by the fireside of winter will carry the mind to the green fields and leafy woods of summer, to pleasant walks with pleasant friendsfor plant-collecting is a sociable employment-and mayhap, in long after years, the sight of the dried wild flower will bring vividly back to the mind the faces and forms of those in whose company it was gathered, but who have long been parted from the gazer in the varied paths of life, or who are sleeping, it may be, beneath the daisy-sod of Britain, or haply under the shade of foreign trees. Few who have botanized in youth cannot moralize in maturer age over the dried forms of their favourites; and few who have once engaged in collecting plants ever lose the recollection of their study, or the interest it inspired. These may lie dormant under the load of business and worldly cares, especially if the lot be cast in a large town; but let the once botanical collector escape but for a day into the fields and woods, and he has an interest and a pleasure in renewing his old associations and acquaintances that others have not. We would say, therefore, observe, collect, and preserve the wild flowers, scientifically if your means and time permit; if not, observe and collect them as beautiful and interesting objects of study, as an exercise for the eye and mind. Preserve them as an |