VII.—DAISIES.
While Uncle George and Frank and Tom were having a game of cricket, Dolly was amusing herself in another way. She had pulled a bunch of daisies and was joining them up into a daisy chain.
Common Daisy.
She finished her daisy chain just as her uncle and the boys finished their game.
“We will take some daisies home,” said Uncle George. He stooped down and dug out a whole daisy plant with his knife, while Dolly gathered a small bunch of the flowers. When they got home Uncle George placed his daisy plant in a saucer of water, and told the boys to bring out their magnifiers and sketch-books.
“First of all,” he said, “I want you to look at the daisy plant. Notice its leaves. Each leaf is broad at the end and narrow where it joins the plant. Notice also that the leaves all form a round green mat on the ground. Now, can you tell me what the leaf resembles in shape.”
1. Daisy Leaf. 2. Primrose Leaf. 3. Cowslip Leaf.
“It is like a spoon,” said Tom. “It is,” said his uncle; “and can you see any reason for it being so shaped?