Here are some blossoms of the yellow goat's-beard (Tragopogon pratensis), which you all doubtless conclude is only a dandelion. But observe its long, tapering green leaves winding and twisting about its stems, and you will soon discover your mistake. It closes its flowers at mid-day, and, in consequence, is often called Jack-go-tobed-at-noon.

And here also the

'Nightshade's purple flowers,

Hanging so sleepily their turbaned heads,
Rest upon the hedge.'

Let us gather a few sprays, and rest on this stile while we discuss them. First, we have the woody nightshade, or bitter-sweet (Solanum dulcamara), the garden nightshade (Solanum nigrum), and the common enchanter's nightshade (Circea lutetiana), which may all be abundantly found in the hedgeside during this month. The latter is a pretty little flower which we gathered in May, with spikes of delicate lilac, or pink-tinged blossoms, and elegantly-shaped soft green leaves. It grows about a foot high, loves best a shady place, and often grows wild in the neglected recesses of the garden. The garden nightshade is also often found in waste places, and flourishes on the sea-beach. Its flowers are white, its berries black, and, like all the nightshades, poisonous. It is a very common weed in our gardens, and to be found all over the world; and it is somewhat singular that in tropical countries its berries lose their deleterious

qualities.

The woody nightshade gains its name of bitter-sweet from the flavour of the root, which tastes

Shade-loving evergreen, say we not sooth

When thee we liken unto fair truth?

Bitter, full oft, is the draught from thy cup,

But sweet is the taste which it leaves when drunk up.'

Its oval, brilliant scarlet berries, which during winter

H

hang in glistening clusters from the leafless branches, often tempt, by their beauty, young children to partake of their fatal, poisonous juices. Its flowers are composed of a yellow cone and purple petals, and, you will observe, greatly resemble the potato blossom, which in its botanical character is closely allied to the various species of poisonous nightshade; but all narcotic and unwholesome effects are removed by the cooking the potato undergoes when prepared for food:

'The poor man's bread, the rich man's luxury.'

The potato was brought from America by Sir Walter Raleigh, who first planted it in his garden at Youghall, near Cork. The Spaniards called it battata, which we have corrupted into potato.

The deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna) is a very different plant, much less common, but flowering also during this month. It may be found in the hedgeside; but loves best an old ruin or quarry edge, where its branching stems will often grow four or five feet high. It bears handsome purple flowers, drooping and bellshaped, which grow in pairs close to the large, dark green leaves. Its berries, which from green become a beautiful glossy black, and are nearly as large as a cherry, are highly poisonous, and it is said half of one is sufficient to prove fatal. History relates how the army of Sweno the Dane, when he invaded Scotland, fell victims to the faithless Scots, who, during a truce, mixed the berries

of this nightshade in the drink of the Danes, and then murdered them when under the influence of the stupefying sleep it produced. Its botanical name of Atropa

DEADLY NIGHTSHADE-Atropa belladonna.

belladonna is a somewhat incongruous and strange one. That of atropa has doubtless been bestowed on account of its poisonous properties, and is taken from Atropos,

a powerful goddess, one of the Parcæ or Fates, three sisters, whom the ancients supposed to preside over the birth and life of mankind. Atropos was the eldest, and believed to cut the thread of human life with a pair of scissors. The other name of belladonna, or fine lady, is given in consequence of the use made of the plant by Italian ladies to remove pimples from the skin; and many in our own land apply a wash made from it for beautifying their complexions. As a remedy in some cases of disease in the eye, it is, I believe, most valuable.

But now we have rested, let us mount this stile leading into the corn-fields, and look down on their many revealed beauties.

Waving so gracefully to and fro 'neath the summer breeze is the common scarlet poppy (Papaver rhæas), so gay in its brilliant livery, and rich, deep purple eye:

"The poppies red,

On their wistful bed,

Turned up their dark blue eyes for thee.'

This fragile, ill-smelling, finger-staining flower is often called headache; and by this name Clare speaks of it: 6 Corn-poppies, that in crimson dwell,

Called headaches, from their sickly smell.'

We have six species of wild poppy, amongst which is the graceful white poppy (Papaver somniferum), which may also be found in our fields. It is very extensively cultivated, both in European countries and India, for the excellent oil that is extracted from its seeds, and