"For the reason that nature has given such animals the proper coating and linings of mouth and stomach that the thorns do not affect them. There is hardly a plant which is as nutritious as the thistle. In England, the thistle leaves, in early days, were used as salads."
Harry was an ardent admirer of flowers, and was constantly bringing in some specimen for examination. "Here is a very pretty flower which is differently colored from any that I have seen before. It looks like the wood sorrel."
"It is the sorrel, but if you should be in Ireland, the people there would call it the shamrock. St. Patrick taught the people that it typifies the trinity with its three leaves. The plant has some very peculiar qualities. It actually goes to sleep at night. It folds up its leaves. It is so sensitive to light that it has at least four different methods by which it can adjust itself with the greatest nicety to the amount of light which it receives."
Fig. 21. Fruit and Flower of Vanilla.
"I think I have found vanilla; or it is something that smells like it, but I did not know that the vanilla was a climber."
"You have found the wild vanilla, the flowers of which have, as you see, disappeared and the bean is the product."