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This episode is brought to you by Cow Slip and Primrose.

Tonight, we'll read the opening section to Flowers of the Farm, written by Arthur O. Cook and published in 1900.

Coppassing is a traditional method of woodland management, which exploits the capacity of many species of trees to put out new shoots from their stump or roots if cut down.

In a coppest wood, which is called a copse, young tree stems are repeatedly cut down to near ground level, resulting in a stool.

New growth emerges and after a number of years, the compost tree is harvested and the cycle begins anew.

Pollarding is a similar process carried out at a higher level on the tree in order to prevent grazing animals from eating new shoots.

Let's get cozy.

Close your eyes.

Relax your body into the softness of your bed.

Now, take a few deep breaths.

Chapter 1 Introduction

I think that some of you have been with me at Willow Farm before today.

When we were there, we went into the farmer's fields in early spring and saw the men and horses that work with plows and heros.

A little later on, we saw some of the crops sown, such as barley and turnips.

In summer we were in the hay and corn fields, and later still we saw the ricks being made.

Today, we are at Willow Farm again, and I want to show you some of the flowers that grow there.

I do not mean those which Mrs. Hammond, the farmer's wife, grows in her garden pretty as they are.

We will look rather at the wild flowers in the fields, the hedges, and by the roadside in the lane.

No one soes their seed, nor takes care of them in any way, yet they grow and blossom year after year, and nearly all of them are beautiful.

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