Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-07-23
Written for the oxford Democrat,

Nrittcu Tor thc ONtnrtl bcfnoCr1t
KNOW THE WILD FLOWERS.
What pity that We are not better
acquainted with the wild flowers tha
blossom so freely sll about US.
speak for Yourself" some one may
tell me. Well, that is just what an
doing, and for large mass OF Other
people who perhsps think they know
most Of them, Just as did, till recently
And vet, IL YOU will walk or ride with
me for an hour, 1 believe | can show
YOU several varieties, which IL will
trouble you 10 name unless you are q
botanist
Recently friend from the city came
70 visit me aud brought with her a copy
II Mrs. Dana's latest edition OF "How
70 Know the Wild Flowers" When
ever we walked or rode, we brought
home collection of flowers. and soon
/ had the ''men folks" and children inter
eSted IN bringing them To Us. was
/ surprised and ashamed 70 find common
\ flowers, growing almost under my feet
and lining the road sides, which had
been familiar to me all my life, and yet
which could not name. Many Of them
I I had learned when | studied botany,
but had forgotten. II takes so much
time and patience 70 analyze a flower In
Woods or even Gray's BOjany. for one
out of practice, that | seldom try IL now.
But this new book was "A real inspiration.
II contains l6l plates OF flowers and near
IN five hundred descriptions, with direc-
tions according 20 color, time of bios
soming. etc, 20 easily find the name,
classification and description OF flower
without the trouble of analyxipg. Then
there are little stories, legends, interest
ing facts and quotations IN prose and
verse. written 50 interestingly that
one Is perfectly fascinated.
shall never forget my friends per
feet delight. whea she found her first
pink lsdy's slipper, one Of our common
orchids. IL WAS IN the edge Of beauti-
tul grove OF pines, surrounded by the
little dainty twin flower.
"Graccgul AMI tall the slender. drcoping stem
Wlth two broad leave. below,
~hap'iy the foWer -O lightly p0i,c'i between,
AMI warm her rosy glow.
Ii seemed 20 be listening 10 the chatter
ing brook close BY falling over the ledge
into great rocky basin below.
But must not take time 10 tell you
of eur delights or the many varieties We
have found. or shall not get To the main
points wished to speak % you about
kuowiug flowers l. much like know
ing people. When you pass along
street, IL every person YOU meet i Sn
acquaiutauce whom you can call by
uame. with whose family, home and
habits vcu are acquainted, how much
pleasanter is your walk, than As though
each person was a stranger or barely
known by sight. IL i Just So with the
flewer>, IL yoG know their names. haunts,
habits, relatives and qualities, good or.
evil.
II fcOuntry girls aud BOYS were taught
more OF flowers, birds and minerals,
how much more interesting would the
farm he 20 ih,m. And what excellent
habits 90 observation and study II would
eugendcr II i surprising 81 how Young
an scc children viii learn these things
and their interest viii grow with their
growth.
The other day my little girl, not quite
four wears old, brought IN a bunch oi
what I had always eAllel the yellow
daisy, bat found an excellent plate ot
IL in the book, and showed il. To her and
read the description aloud. with the
common name 'black-eyed Susan.
She looked inteutly at the flower and
.aii. 1t ought 70 be br0wn-eyed susan,
hadn't il. Namas =" l. not thSt a lesson
In childish observation: The cone GER
tainly is more brown than black.
And 80, 20 get back 20 the point again.
will it not pay u who are parents, not
only for our own pleasure, 20 study the
flowers more. but 20 teach our children
and thus iuculCate the love OF Nature
from their youth: VIII Il not, then, be
easier 10 keep them on the farm:
Mis-. Y. L. DECOSTEE.