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AMONG RHODE ISLAND

WILD FLOWERS

AMONG RHODE ISLANDWILD FLOWERS

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APPLE BLOSSOMS

AMONG RHODE ISLANDWILD FLOWERS

BY

W. WHITMAN BAILEYPROFESSOR OF BOTANY, BROWN UNIVERSITY

SECOND EDITION

PROVIDENCE, RIPRESTON AND ROUNDS

1896

AMONG RHODE ISLAND WILD FLOWERS

COPYRIGHT, 1895,BY W. WHITMAN BAILEY.

Norwood PressJ. S. Cushing & Co. — Berwick & Smith

Norwood Mass. U.S.A.

TO

GEORGE HUNTTHE NESTOR OF RHODE ISLAND BOTANISTS

THE LOVED COMPANION OF MANY

YEARS

This Little Book

IS TENDERLY INSCRIBED

PREFACE.

IN this little book the author has attemptedto give some account of the wild flowers of RhodeIsland. It has not been his purpose to write aflora of the State, but rather, in a familiar way,to call attention to the beauty of our indigenousplants, and to record some of their haunts.

Special localities of rare species are purposelyomitted ; knowledge of these merely leads to theirextinction. It is doubtful whether it is evenproper to mention their names.

Certain portions of the State are dwelt uponmuch more extendedly than others. This isdue in part to the desire of the writer to meetthe demand of summer residents in such places,and in part to his greater familiarity with theseregions.

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There is an extensive tract in the southwestpart of the State and along the Connecticutborder that is practically unknown. Exeter,Foster, Hopkinton, Burrillville, all require closeexamination.

It has been thought advisable to avoid, as faras possible, all technical terms and scientificnames, relegating the last to the Appendix.There, will be found a list of plants mentionedin the text, with the common and botanicnames as given in the last edition of “Gray’sManual.”

For the notes on fungi the author is indebtedto a friend.

PREFACEviii

CONTENTS.

PAGE

PREFACE .............................................................................. vii

INTRODUCTION ....................................................................... 1

I. DISTRIBUTION OF PLANTS IN RHODE ISLAND ............. 10

1. True salt water plants ........................... 10

2. Plants of the estuaries .......................... 11

3. Plants of the salt marshes ................... 11

4. Plants of the seashore .......................... 12

5. Plants of the fresh water ponds ......... 13

6. Plants of the rivers and streams ........ 13

7. Swamp or bog plants ............................. 14

8. Meadow plants ........................................ 15

9. Forest plants ........................................... 15

II. FAVORED SPOTS . ..................................................... 18

1. Worden’s Pond ........................................ 18

2. Wallum Pond ........................................... 22

3. Quinsnickett Hill .................................... 22

4. Diamond Hill ........................................... 25

5. Blackstone Park ..................................... 28

6. Neutaconkanut Hill ............................... 31

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AMONG RHODE ISLAND WILD FLOWERSCONTENTS.

PAGE

II. FAVORED SPOTS — continued.

7. Warwick Plains ....................................... 31

8. Baker’s Creek ......................................... 36

9. Gorton’s Pond ......................................... 38

10. Newport ................................................... 40

11. Little Compton ........................................ 42

12. Block Island ............................................. 44

13. Exeter ....................................................... 49

14. The Seekonk and Blackstone ............. 50

15. The Pawtuxet .......................................... 52

16. North Scituate ........................................ 55

III. EARLY SPRING FLOWERS .......................................... 56

IV. AUTUMN .................................................................. 63

V. THE WEEDS OF THE STATE ...................................... 67

VI. GRASSES AND SEDGES ............................................... 73

VII. OUR FERNS AND MOSSES .......................................... 77

VIII. SEA-WEEDS .............................................................. 84

IX. FUNGI .................................................................... 86

LIST OF RHODE ISLAND TREES .............................................. 91

INDEX OF COMMON NAMES .................................................. 97

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ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE

A P P L E B L O S S O M S .......................................... Frontispiece

B L A C K S T O N E P A R K ................................................................... 29

I N M O S H A S S U C K V A L L E Y ....................................................... 61

T H E B O T A N I S T ............................................................................ 90

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A M O N G R H O D E I S L A N D W I L D F L O W E R S .

INTRODUCTION.

“ I filled my pocket simply because they were bonnie.”— ROBERT DICK.

THE study of a limited area of country pre-sents peculiar attractions. It is possible tocompass it all. Thus, a collector may spend adelightful summer on Block Island, attemptingby earnest and unremitting labor to discoverand record every plant in this insular flora.

The same may be said of Conanicut, Pru-dence, Aquidneck, and other islands of Narra-gansett Bay. Even the islets abound in interest.Encamping upon one of them, the collectorshould lay out a scheme, and allow no plantto escape him.

Approached in the right spirit, even a singleplant will afford matters for admiration or forlengthened study. In the sweet story of Pic-ciola, we recall how a despairing prisoner wasredeemed by a single plant. The small back-

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yard of a city, even, may prove a most delight-ful wilderness. It may require several or manyseasons to discover and record its living inhab-itants. A French writer described a “ touraround his garden,” and the book is immortal.One can always make journeyings in his ownyard which have all the charm of adventureand discovery. There are the plants that areput in, and those that intrude. Who are we,to decide which are worthless ? There is theall-pervasive purslane, easy to eradicate, thoughpossessing immense vitality ; there is shepherd’s-purse, — cosmopolitan wanderer ; and plantain,“the white-man’s foot.” Besides these, thereare knot-weeds, big and little ; hollyhocks, inwhose silken pavilions the bee takes his siesta;

pink and white funnels of bindweed, the all-embracing balsam-apple, catch-fly pinks, four-o’clocks, burdocks, and ground ivy. In theseason, too, the golden-rods and asters light uptheir stars.

These plants are engaged in an unsparingstruggle for existence. Woe to the weakling,for he will be crowded out. Look at the com-bat between that bramble, armed as it is withsharp prickles, and that bindweed that embracesit like some constricting serpent. The fightseems to be about equal, but the bindweedconquers. So, again, the mandrake will pos-sess the land by means of its aggressive root-

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stocks, until its umbrellas are seen everywhere.Sunflowers, also, though annual, take care toscatter their seed — or invite the birds to aidthem in so doing. For every seed these littlefellows appropriate, they scatter forty. Theresult is that in the spring the yard becomes anursery of baby sunflowers. Everywhere theyspread their little hands. By and by they willrival Jack’s beanstalk in height. Our neigh-bor’s woodbine, a welcome interloper, tumblesover the fence, and with its prehensile tendrilslays hold of every point of vantage. It com-pletely screens all unsightly fences, — for thiswas it ordained. Over the fence climbs thatbeautiful legume, the scarlet-runner, too poeticfor a bean.

As intimated, it may require several seasonsto explore, or at least to exhaust, even a smallterritory. Still, there is a definite end in view,and one which is attainable. This is not sowhen it is attempted to embrace the vegetationof a whole country or of the world. Even inthe time of Linnæus it was shown how stupen-dous was such an effort.

In Rhode Island, where modesty is the rule,every one is convinced that any plant foundwithin our limits, and therein native, is taller,more vigorous ; if flowering, more beautiful ; iffruit-producing, richer and rarer, than the samespecies in any neighboring State. The fact ad-

INTRODUCTION. 3


mits of no argument. Thus, State, county, oreven village pride, may afford a certain stimulusto the observers’ efforts.

As for Rhode Island, it may be regarded as achosen land, especially favored by nature. Inold geographies it was well styled, “ the Eden ofAmerica.” Even the markets recognize thesuperiority of its productions.

It will be answered that much of the State issandy and bears a sorry contrast to the richlands of the West. The prospect from the carwindows is not always inviting, and the sterilityof much of the soil must be conceded. Butwhen one comes to consider the native plants,the story is far different. These despised speciesproduce dividends not considered in the marketsof the world. One’s wealth need not consist ofstocks, bullion, or real estate, useful as all theseare. Such he takes not with him when he

“Draws the drapery of his couch about him,”

for that last, long rest ; but it is pleasant tothink that he may carry with him the knowl-edge of the beautiful and true. Why else shouldhe be thrilled by art, music, poetry, or nature ?

There are two definitions of the term Flora.It may mean the plants of a region viewed as awhole. Thus one speaks of the peculiar featuresof the South African flora, meaning thereby, ofthe plants there prevalent. Again, it may mean

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a work wherein the plants of a region are de-scribed, as, for example, in Gray’s Manual ofthe Northern United States, or in the Synop-tical Flora.

Besides these there are local lists of greatvalue, like that issued by the Torrey BotanicalClub of New York, recording the plants in thevicinity of that city ; or Prof. John Robinson’sCatalogue of the Plants of Essex County, Mass.,or Mr. Joseph Jackson’s Worcester CountyCatalogue. Many such lists might be named.If well done, they furnish the basis of athorough knowledge of the plants of a district.There is extreme variety in them as to methodand execution. They are useful in the studyof distribution, or in the compilation of morepretentious works. Sometimes they have acurious historic interest. For instance, there isDr. John Torrey’s Catalogue, published in 1819,of “ The Plants Growing Spontaneously withinThirty Miles of the City of New York.” Itis needless to say it is now queer reading.Within a very few years the writer has gatheredcardinal-flowers in a waste lot on Thayer Streetin Providence. This shows that it is not toolate, even now, to jot down notes of discovery.Take, as an example, the Cat Swamp region inProvidence, still so prolific, but now rapidlyyielding to vandal inroads. It would be a valu-able service to catalogue what may still be found.

INTRODUCTION. 5


The great estuary, Narragansett Bay, extend-ing far up into the State, and full of fertileislands, divides it into two unequal geographi-cal sections, and has an undoubted influenceupon the vegetation. This large body of waterhas the effect of ameliorating our climate. Thecold northern oceanic currents are deflected atCape Cod. Here we are sheltered from theicy eastern breezes, the bane of Boston. Anyone who has tried bathing in the two waters,those of Massachusetts Bay, and our own, cantestify to the difference of temperature. Onlyenthusiastic Bostonians, whose creed compelsthem, ever claim that the temperature of theNahant waters is comfortable. It makes thestranger shiver as though he had attempted,without proper credentials, to enter BeaconStreet society.

The naturalist will tell you that Cape Codis the ultima Thule of many northern marineforms. They cannot live in the warm waterssouth of that promontory. In the same waythe southern creatures are barred by the Cape.

Again, the many islands dotting the bay mustmaterially affect the number and character ofour plants. Unquestionably they influence thegeneral temperature. They stand, too, in thevery way of incursions, whether by southerncurrents, or by the artificial operations of com-merce. Many plants undoubtedly have thus

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been brought to our shores, either as accidentalaccompaniments of ballast, or in the form ofseeds, adhering to bales of cotton or wool, oraccidentally mingled with hay.

There are no more interesting plants thanthose of waste places or shores, such as filled-in districts, like the Cove-basin and the tractaround the Wilkesbarre Coal Yards in Provi-dence. Here one naturally sees strangers, inforeign garb and with strange manners, tropicalstrays and waifs, of which we have many exam-ples. These may maintain themselves for awhile and then disappear, or they may come tostay.

It is always a delightful occupation to pryaround such spots, with the chance of findingsomething new, and, if new, then most precious.Many places about Providence, Newport, Bristol,and Pawtucket will bear further investigationfor these Bohemians. Again, Westerly andWoonsocket, on the border of other States, aresubject to incursions therefrom. These shouldbe noted.

The amateur student of botany can materiallyaid the professional by keeping accurate notesof his finds, and better by retaining good pressedspecimens to authenticate his statements.

Doctor Gray tells us, in his pleasant way, thatplants have taken up modern customs — andtravel by railway. Sometimes their advance is

INTRODUCTION. 7


leisurely — by freight train; again, it is rapid—by the express. In other words, the opera-tions of commerce tend to spread plants fromone region to another. They come as fruits orseeds attached to bales of wool or cotton ; asaccidental accompaniments of hay and otherfodder plants ; in ballast earth transferred inprocess of railway building; and even adherentto the clothing of man. For this purpose manyof them, like beggar-ticks, burdock, cockle-bur,etc., have prehensile spines or hooks, to act asgrapnels.

Some plants are saunterers or loiterers bythe way, preferring to abide in one locality fora long time, ere a new advance. They mayfirst send out skirmishers to prospect and re-port. If things seem favorable the whole armymay move on. Their approach must be noted,but the birds of the air, or the breeze itself,may thwart us, and drop a seed in the night.Again, certain persons — as they have an un-doubted right to do — may confuse one’s studyof the native plants, by introducing foreignones into the woods. Thus about QuinsnickettHill one must not regard every plant seen asindigenous.

Against such practice there is no defence,but it is of less frequent occurrence than onemight expect.

A ballast heap or railway filling is only ex-

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celled by the delightful ash-heaps of our cities.Blessings on the conservative wealthy wholeave these odd corners to offend the publicand educate the botanist !

Here we find the tall prince’s feather cheek-by-jowl with aspiring sunflowers. Here golden-rods are tangled together with bindweeds andmorning glories, hollyhocks pace like solemnsentinels, and portulacas and petunias ; fouro’clocks and evening primroses struggle withpig-weeds and amaranths. Do you disbelieve inthe struggle for existence ? Study Dar-winism one summer on an ash heap !

INTRODUCTION. 9


I.DISTRIBUTION OF PLANTS IN RHODE ISLAND.

THE following scheme will present some ideaof plant distribution in Rhode Island : —

l. True Saltwater Plants; the sea-weeds orAlgæ. — There is perhaps no better place inNorth America for collecting these, than on therocks and in the tide pools at Newport, Narra-gansett Pier, Conanicut, Point Judith, andSakonnet. They are fascinating in themselves,and, moreover, lead the collector to spots ofexquisite beauty.1

It should be added, that persons who take upthis study will find aid in the collections atBrown University, and direction from its work-ing force.

1 For any adequate study of our salt-water algæ oneshould resort to Prof. W. G. Farlow’s “ Marine Algæ ofNew England.” Herein are detailed instructions as to thetime and methods of collection. Every year a lot of“ pretty ” specimens are amassed by visitors at the shore.These often lack scientific value from want of essentialparts. It is not enough to gather and mount all sea-weeds;one must secure the fruit — and the beginner is ignorant ofits location. The late Col. S. T. Olney’s “Algæ Rhodiaceæ” is our best local catalogue, but needs material revision.

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In this connection — as they belong to thesame great class — should be mentioned thefresh-water algæ. These abound in our brooks,inland rivers, lakes, and ponds. Those of theState are now beginning to be studied in a care-ful and systematic way, and already discoveriesreward the investigator.

2 Plants of the Estuaries. — NarragansettBay itself is a great estuary, or arm of the sea,but it is of smaller bodies of water, branchesof the main bay, that we here speak. Examplesof such plants would be the sea-wrack, the eel-grass, — so well known for its wonderful processof fertilization, — and the pond-weeds.

3. Plants of the Salt Marshes. — Salt marshesabound in the State. They are more or lesssubject to the influx of the tide, and hence con-tain brackish water. Among the plants foundin such localities may be mentioned the sea-side crowfoot, the water plantain spearwort, thesand-spurrey, the glorious rose-mallow, variousasters and Gerardias, the small Sabbatia, thearrow-grass, and many elegant grasses, suchas the Spartinas, Phragmites, and Panicums.Here, too, would be found cat-tails, beloved ofthe æsthetic. We have two species, one withbroad leaves, the other with smaller ones. Inthe latter the spikes are also small and delicate.

Not directly in the salt marshes, but in thesame affiliation, one will find the Venus’s look-

PLANT DISTRIBUTION IN RHODE ISLAND. 11


ing-glass and the camphor-weed. This plantis called also the “salt-marsh fleabane.” Itis a composite, like thoroughwort, in which theheads consist entirely of tubular flowers ; theseare of a pinkish color.

4. Plants of the Seashore proper, like the sea-rocket, a cruciferous plant, with pale lavender-colored flowers, followed by curious, jointedpods. The whole plant is fleshy, as shoreplants are apt to be. It is due to their envi-ronment. Another instance would be the curi-ous Arenaria peploides, L., a sort of fleshychickweed. When it is out of flower it mighteasily be mistaken for a live-forever.

Other shore plants are the samphire, the sea-kale, or saltwort, the sea-blite, the spurge, andthe sow-thistle.

Lately there has turned up on our shores aKamchatkan wormwood, a pretty species, Arte-misia Stelleriana, Bess. It has been found atNewport, Narragansett Pier, and Sakonnet. Ithas silvery leaves and yellow flowers. One islucky if, in wandering along the shores, he doesnot feel the sharp prickles of the bur-grass,meanest of all its race.

The pimpernel, or “ poor-man’s weather-glass,”may be included. Every one knows the prettylittle brick-red — or occasionally blue — flowersthis plant. It abounds on the cliffs at New-port. As it has the habit of closing with the

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obscuration of the sun, Tennyson sings of it, “The pimpernel dozed on the lea.” It is aplant of almost cosmopolitan distribution.

5. Plants of the Fresh-water Ponds, suchas the pond-lily, the spatter-dock, the pickerelweed, with its showy spikes of blue flowers,and the arrow-head. Then there are the waterplantain and numerous bladderworts, yellow orpurple, the water primrose, the water lobelia,the pretty buck-bean, the golden club, the loose-strife, and the purple swamp loose-strife. Again,we might mention the water-shield, with itselliptical, peltate leaves and jelly-encased stems.This plant has a wide distribution over Asia,Africa, America, and Australasia.

6. Plants of Rivers and Streams. — In thissection will be found many pond-weeds, thewater-weed, and the arrow-arum. The lastmakes a fine show on some of our inlandstreams, like the Woonasquatucket. Thearrow-shaped leaves are always handsome, andthe flower is a long and narrow calla-like affair,the spathe having prettily crumpled edges. Thewater-weed is about the only weed whichAmerica has transferred as a nuisance to Europe.In England, where it was introduced as a curi-osity, it has spread so as to impede navigation.

The flowers of many water plants are apt tobe overlooked by beginners, and so they do notalways detect the little floating-heart whose



leaves look like those of a minute pond-lily. Ithas white flowers, and is really a water gentian.

7. Swamp or Bog Plants, like the two speciesof sundew. These little plants are now wellknown as insectivorous — and they are alwayscurious and interesting. They are cousins ofthe Venus’s flytrap of North Carolina, a stillmore efficient fly-catcher. It would not be sur-prising if, near our eastern boundary, say inLittle Compton or Tiverton, the red-floweredspecies, common in New Jersey, should yet befound. We have in the State so much that sug-gests the southern or pine-barren flora, that,remembering how plants preserve their affilia-tions and friendships, we are justified in certainexpectations.

Of course we have the pitcher-plant in manyplaces. In foliage and flower it is one of ourhandsomest plants. Like the sundew, but in adifferent way, it is insectivorous.

Again, everybody knows the dainty Arethusabulbosa, that choice little orchid. It is now fre-quently sold on the city streets, and hence islikely to become rare. The fragrant Pogonia ismuch like it in appearance, but more delicate.It blooms somewhat later, as is also the case withanother lovely orchid, the Calopogon. Thesethree plants well illustrate the beauty, as wellas the oddity, of the vast orchid family.

In the swamps grow the various cranberries,

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the leather-leaf, various yellow flaxes, the twospecies of iris or flag-lily, and hundreds of inter-esting plants. Of these, many prefer a quakingbog, where one must proceed with caution lesthe disappear.

8. Meadow Plants, such as meadow-beauty,hardhack, the dwarf laurel, or sheep laurel, thecolic-root, the blue-eyed grass, the yellow-eyedgrass, and many more. Here should be men-tioned the true lilies, of which we have a glo-rious show along some of our railways. Thereare three species, the erect red, or Philadelphialily, the nodding yellow, or Canadian lily, andthe Turk’s-cap. They bloom, too, in this order,with the periods of each somewhat overlapping.

9. The Forest Plants, which may be naturallyclassified into herbs, shrubs, and trees. It wouldbe tedious to enumerate them. In the list onewould find the white or swamp azalea, thepink azalea, the glorious rose-bay, the mountainlaurel, the sweet pepper bush, with its purewhite and fragrant blossoms, the floweringdogwood, shad-bush, anemones, columbine, saxi-frage, violets, etc.

Hepatica, or liverwort, fairest of all our springflowers, the Mayflower alone excepted, is ratherlocal with us, but abundant where it occurs.The same may be said of bloodroot and dog-tooth-violet. The yellow lady-slipper is local,while the verticillate Pogonia is rare indeed.



Rue-anemone and perfoliate bell-wort have arestricted range, and the painted-trillium is in-frequent, while the nodding one is common.

The sylva of the State is exceedingly rich,but the consideration of trees would, in thisbrief survey, lead us far afield. A list of them,however, will be given in the appendix.

Geological formation and environment largelydetermine plant distribution. Under environ-ment we would bring certain subtle influencesdifficult to determine. But there is no effectwithout a cause. In a limestone region onelooks for certain ferns; abroad there is a violetwhich is said to require zinc. We sometimesthink plants evince a depraved taste for old tincans, stove-pipes, domestic utensils, and hard-coal ashes. We have seen the cardinal-flowerin cultivation, leave the garden bed and makebroad its phylacteries in the gravelled path.Some plants appear to grow famously on nextto nothing, as the junipers that cling to bowl-ders and cliffs in the Hudson Highlands. Oftenthere is as little to glean about them as aroundthe cabin of a Scotch crofter.

Can any one tell why the superb New Eng-land aster disdains to grow within five or sixmiles of Providence, but glorifies the OceanDrive at Newport or the country roads in Cum-berland ? Why does Hepatica also fight shyof the city ? Why should only one species of bell-

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wort grow near town, while both are common atDiamond Hill quarry ? Again, why do fringed-gentians fail almost altogether in certain years ?

It would be a good notion to take an enlargedmap of the State, colored for rock formations,and lay out thereon the grouping of the vegeta-tion. Indeed, a pocket map of the county ortown is always an excellent accompaniment ofan expedition. Rhode Island may be easily putin the vest pocket of either botanist or politician.Many useful data may be noted upon it, perhapsfor one’s own guidance, perhaps for the betterknowledge of the public.



II.

FAVORED SPOTS.

1. Worden’s Pond.

“ Through tangled juniper, beds of reeds,Through many a fen where the serpent feeds,And man never trod before.”

— MOORE

IT is a peculiarity of the flora of Rhode Islandthat we have an intrusion into it, notably inSouth Kingston, of a characteristic Southern orpine-barren flora. Plants occur which seemquite out of their range, which are not foundagain, indeed, until one comes to New Jersey,or at least the south shore of Long Island.How did they get here ? This is an interestingproblem.

The glacial theory supposes that at the timewhen ice covered New England and the MiddleStates, a peculiar boreal flora, finding the cli-mate for the time congenial, descended with theice. When the warm cycle returned and the icewas forced north, the plants, too, took up theirretreat. Here and there, however, they werestranded on mountains or in high localities

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which remained permanently arctic, and therewe find them to this day. Their nearest con-geners may be in Labrador or Greenland. Mt.Washington shows a number of such plants, andso do the slopes of Mt. Mansfield. Sometimesa peculiar insect fauna accompanies them.

Now, there may have been, under similar con-ditions — or, rather, reverse circumstances —incursions from the South. These plants inturn were driven out by increasing cold ; butin spots still found shelter and protection, andhave survived. In some such way only canwe account for their scattered distribution —skirmishers as they are sometimes, far ahead oftheir proper army.

From this point of view, as well as from theintrinsic interest of the spot itself, no tract inthe State is more interesting to visit than thegreat swamp of South Kingston and the “hillcountry” south of it. In this region is situatedWorden’s Pond, our Rhode Island botanicalMecca. This shallow lake, botanically exploredsome fifty years ago by Dr. George Thurber,Col. Stephen T. Olney, and by the writer’sfather, Prof. Jacob Whitman Bailey, is readilyapproached by carriage road from Peacedale,Wakefield, or Kingston. It is only a fair walk,too, from Kingston Junction, a walk in whichone may find the two splendid fringed orangeand white orchids. He will also pass through

FAVORED SPOTS.


noble groves of rose bay, or rhododendron, andthe prickly holly. He will see, too, severalother hollies. The Rhododendron is often twentyfeet high. When this stately shrub is in flowerit is a sight for gods and men. It absolutelyarches over one’s head, a spot

“ Where foiled Apollo glides,And bashful Daphne hidesSafe in the shelter of her laurel tree.”

The great swamp is said to be penetrable by acanoe in many directions. No doubt some newdiscoveries would reward the first explorer.My father is said to have exclaimed when hefound the paint-root by Worden’s Pond, “ Iwould have as soon expected the palmetto ! ”It will be recalled by some readers that thepaint-root is the plant quoted by Darwin asinfluencing the color of the swine at the South.Black pigs eat it with impunity, and survive ;white pigs die ; hence the prevalence of darkswine in that region.

The elegant Sabbatia grows abundantly atWorden’s Pond, fringing the banks with itsdelicate pink stars.

“ A thousand saw I at a glance,Tossing their heads in airy dance.”

Other plants found here are less showy, but ofequal interest to the botanist, as the peltate

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marsh-pennywort, a number of the minute blad-derworts, the golden-club, the big yellow-eyedgrass, and many curious sedges. Near thepond, too, grows that rare fern Woodwardiaangustifolia. In September it may be seenabundantly fruiting. In the Kingston regionoccurs that fine St. John’s-wort, Hypericumadpressum, and Aster concolor. It will beseen at once how many of these are pine-barren plants — and indeed, as far north as Paw-tucket, where the yellow-topped aster prevails,we still find this type of vegetation. Take, forinstance, the heath-like Hudsonia, which coversacres in Exeter, and the less common hoaryHudsonia, which prevails on the eastern side ofthe Bay. We would expect these in New Jer-sey; here they appear extra-regional. As forcat-tails, in the bog to the north of the swampthere are enough to beautify all the parlors inNew England. Curiously dismal places arethese cypress bogs ! The trees seem to be bornold. They are grizzled and bearded from infancywith the long lichen. He would be a venturousman who would undertake a short cut from theroad. The bogs are impenetrable and profound.

It will not do to betray the localities of veryrare plants; it would be treachery to the guild.Once, in writing of a plant for the SwissCross, we merely mentioned the character ofthe soil in its neighborhood, and spoke, as we

FAVORED SPOTS.


thought, most guardedly. A genial friend —led by Mephisto — followed that attenuate clue,found the plant, made our acquaintance inform, and laughed at our discomfiture. Hence-forth the sphinx is not more incommunicativethan we.

2. Wallum Pond.“ Bright gem, instinct with music.”

The great diversity of the Rhode Island flora hasbeen remarked upon. At Wallum Pond, inthe northern part of the State, on the border ofMassachusetts, is found a general hill flora,suggesting the borders of the White Hills andWachusett. Such plants as the Clintonia andthe painted Trillium here occur. For that mat-ter, within our recollection, “ the shy Linnæa ”grew within our present city limits, and theClintonia can still be found in East Provi-dence. At Wallum the trees and shrubs alsoshow a northern aspect. This charming lakeis now easy of approach — and less attractivetherefor — by means of the new Pascoag railway.

3. Quinsnickett Hill.

“ Hills peep o’er hills.” — POPE.

Of the botanical localities near Providence,none is better known than Quinsnickett Hill in

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Lincoln. It has always been an objective pointwith collectors and lovers of the picturesque.It is near the famous Butterfly Factory, not sonamed because insects are there manufactured,but from the strange picture of a butterflyformed by two contiguous stones in the wall.There is here, or used to be, a quaint old bell,said to be from some Spanish convent. . . .One even now expects to hear the sweet notesof the Angelus.

Back of the mill grows a profusion of arather brilliant western weed — a compositeknown as sneeze-weed. It was introduced insome way, perhaps attached to wool, but it is,or was, quite at home. At a distance onewould take it for a garden Coreopsis ; it ispretty enough for cultivation.

Quinsnickett would be for most persons along walk from the city, but can now be readilyreached by steam-cars to Lonsdale, or by elec-trics from Pawtucket. It is about two milesin a westerly direction from Lonsdale. Thefirst mile is uninteresting, but after one strikesinto the Lonsdale pike, marked by a splendidelm, the scenery becomes charming. On theside of the road is a pretty valley, in whichflows the Moshassuck, here uncontaminated bythe abominations that near the city render itpernicious. There is now and then a fall overa picturesque dam ; then a little pool or lake,

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reflecting the bright colors of leaf or flower.Along the road, if it be autumn, we begin tofind the gorgeous New England aster. Here,too, are seen unusually fine specimens of thebuttonwood tree or plane tree, the largest any-where in our vicinity. Just above the factorythe road separates, one branch continuing ontowards Lime Rock, the other ascending thehill.

If one wishes to visit the favored ravine ofQuinsnickett, he must turn off from this roadinto the woods, just above the bridge. He willpursue his path by a little stream, till it leadshim to some rugged cliff. He makes his waybetween the rocks, and of a sudden there burstsupon him a scene of entrancing beauty : a lakelies like a gem among the hills, the woodedslope descending to the very brink. From thecliffs he may see gold-fish darting through theclear water. It was stocked many years ago bythe owners, who took great pride, as well theymight, in the natural charms of the spot. Evennow one may find strange flowers, not indigenousto our region, growing here amidst the nativeflora, like the large-flowered Trillium and therose-acacia. In the spring the borders of thestream which descends from the lake are gaywith blood-roots, yellow violets, cohosh, andTrilliums. Ferns of many species, among themthe delicate maiden-hair are common. At all

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seasons the landscape is ravishing, but nevermore so than when autumn has tinted the leaveswith crimson, gold, or claret. The placereminds one of the pools and lakes so commonin the White Mountains. It is not difficult tofancy oneself transferred to a locality remotefrom settlements. Yet, by climbing the hillsto the north, the visitor can see smiling vil-lages, and the evidences of thrift and civiliza-tion.

4. Diamond Hill.

“Diamond me no diamonds.” — TENNYSON

Another trip that we would suggest to theplant lover is the walk from Diamond Hill toManville. Leaving the train at Diamond HillStation, we stroll up the old tramway to theabandoned quarry. Here, in little damp depres-sions, can be found the sundew, while on therocks above grows the lovely pale Corydalis,and in the woods near by the herbaceous honey-suckle. In the autumn, one here obtains splen-did asters and golden-rods, a perfect wealth ofcolor. The sumachs are also in full glory, andwe notice afar the treacherous beauty of thepoison dogwood. Just above the dam, whichtime begins to make picturesque, we strikeinto a thick jungle, where the frost grapeshows its pendant clusters of fruit. The

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berries have what Thoreau would call a “ tang,”very agreeable to the wayfarer. A half-hiddenpathway leads through the bushes, in the openspaces of which we come upon glorious bunchesof the ever lovely fringed gentian. Thereis a little spring halfway up the hill. A con-spicuous feature in the scene is a wall ofgranite, lichen encrusted, and in spring gaywith columbines. The ridge is quite low,perpendicular, and perhaps thirty feet in height.It is surmounted by a grove of oaks and otherdeciduous trees, among which the flowering dog-wood is prominent. Near the spring, in rich,alluvial soil, we have found the tallest specimenwe ever saw of the royal fern ; it reached farabove our heads, and was a thing of beauty.

The pathway conducts us back to the quarry,out upon a commanding position, from which wehave a superb view of Diamond Hill plain andthe peaceful region beyond. It is a character-istic New England prospect — the hill affordingmore than usual boldness to the foreground.

We now pass on for half a mile or more,through thick woods made up of mountainchestnut-oak, with splendid acorns ; of black, red,and scarlet oaks, hickories, cornels, andchestnuts. Now and then there is a gladewhere we pause to rest. There are occasionalhouses off from the path, but at long intervalsand of a rather forsaken character, but from the

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people we have often met with kindly directionand cheer. Leaving this wooded district wecome to a series of rolling hills and prettymeadows.

In one of these there is a spring, over whicha large witch-hazel hangs out, in autumn, itsweird, yellow blossoms. It is our habit to lunchat this spot. The impulse is upon us to tell ofthese joyous wayside repasts ; the pleasant chats; the quips ; the jokes ; the laughter andsong. But we must hasten on. It does not dofor the preacher, especially the lay brother, todiverge from the text, lest he fall into heterodoxthickets of green-brier or schismatic intricaciesof bramble.

We come at length to the heights aboveSneach Pond, and look down with delight uponits placid waters. It is a rich region for collect-ing. Nowhere do pitcher-plants grow better.Near at hand, too, are fine localities for moon-wort, pale Corydalis, rue-anemone, and perfoliatebellwort. Azaleas are beautiful in the woods,and columbines dance over the hills. Nowhereis the flowering dogwood more abundant. Itsglorious white clusters give the effect of ablooming orchard.

The trip virtually ends with CumberlandHill, where again one obtains a wide view ofthe Blackstone Valley. The return to the citycan be made by train from Manville, or by walk-

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ing down to Ashton or Albion by the railway,and then taking cars. Every step of the way isinteresting.

5. Blackstone Park.

“ Oh for a seat in some poetic nookJust hid with trees and sparkling with a brook! ”

A beautiful grotto by the Seekonk has longbeen known as Blackstone Park. It belongs tothe city, and from its intrinsic merits is welladapted to its purpose. In its day, and thatnot so very long ago, the little valley was alovely spot. It is still sacred with preciousmemories. One who knows all the intricaciesof the little brook, its whims and caprices, isacquainted with a spirit as bright as an Undineor Princess Ilse. Why cannot we have a pre-siding genius of our haunts as well as the Ger-mans ? There is something about the Teutoniclegends that lingers in memory like a perfume.In absence of any local traditions of our own, weoften transplant the tales of the Harz or theBlack Forest to our shores.

True wood lovers, as a rule, never offend byloud outcries and unseemly mirth. “ ’Tis merry,’tis merry in good greenwood,” sings that jollyoutlaw, Robin Hood; but Robin was too muchof a poet to make a noise, except in battle. Onefeels in this lovely ravine as if he were in a

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temple where all around is holy. Let us castoff our shoes.

There may be prettier streams than our littlebrook used to be ; perhaps Mauritius showsnobler ferns ; but the stream and its plants, tome, is classic ; its valley is a Vale of Tempe.Here is a fine beech grove, and splendid chest-nuts and maples. Here the spice-bush earlyputs forth its sweet-scented flowers. On thecrown of the hill the laurel is glorious. Hereare beds of ginseng, big Jack-in-the-pulpit, shad-bush, and clethra. It has always been a favoritehunting ground.

A long list might be given of the herbaceousplants of this valley or grotto. In the earlyspring we find the anemone, and later thestar-anemone, the cucumber-root, and variousspecies of violets. In summer the thorough-worts grow to a fabulous size in the swampyground, and the balsam hangs its jewels overthe stream. In the autumn the copses breakforth into myriad asters.

“Stars they are, and of a wondrous glory.”

Golden-rods, too, especially of the pretty, inter-rupted sort (Solidago cæsia, L.), are abundanthere. Under the beech trees one can find thecurious parasitic beech-drops. The tall horse-tail grows here. The place is a natural homeof ferns and mosses.

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Not only does the botanist love to linger here onsummer days, the cool air and pleasant shadealluring him, but the entomologist here tarriesfor his quieter observations. As he sits beneatha tree, gorgeous butterflies float by him. Heoften secures some of the most elegant of themoths. Artists long ago discovered the beautyof the spot, and we have ere now seen themsketching the exquisite landscape. Within ourown recollection, the portion of the valley westof Butler Avenue was still untamed. Magnifi-cent trees arched over the brook, and there werelittle glades where one could totally forget theexistence of houses. Now we possess nothingbut an outline sketch, rude and unfinished, ofwhat was once so lovely ; this and a memory.Of the two, perhaps, the recollection is the moregraphic — for the mind can restore form andcolor ; can people the forests with their nativeinhabitants, and bring back the melody of theairy singers.

Wood lovers who dwell in cities have muchto bear and forbear. There was a time when wewere moved to indignant remonstrance at anact of vandalism. We could have fought fora tree as for our hearthstone. Now, in viewof the inevitable encroachment of streets andhouses, we are silent while the heart is aching.It is hard to see what Nature made so beautifuldebased and ruined.

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6. Neutaconkanut Hill.

West of our city — or rather of its suburb,Olneyville — lies the abrupt ridge known bythe Indian name of Neutaconkanut. Fewcities can boast a more commanding outlook.One is sometimes led to marvel why it has notlong since been covered with beautiful man-sions. It is now readily approached by theelectric cars. Upon climbing it, one is con-fronted with an unsurpassed view of the cityand upper bay.

The vegetation on and about the hill is rich.There are fine native trees and shrubs, the usualinteresting herbage of a rocky region, and manylovely ferns. In the swamps and swales belowthe collector will find many choice specimens ;and, extending his walk to the Cranston PrintWorks, will, in May or June, find all that hecan do to gather in the flowers. Here, azaleasand lupines abound,— and as to violets, theyrobe the earth in azure.

7. Plants of Warwick.“ Come unto these yellow sands.”

What are generally considered barren regionsoften present quite an interesting flora. Thisis notably true of the so-called desert regions of

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the far West. But even here in Rhode Islandwe have districts that always call to mind the“ blasted heath ” in Macbeth. Between Button-woods and Apponaug is such a tract of land, —sandy, dry, and in many respects forbidding. Thetrailing blackberries, or “ dewberries,” growhere in profusion, large, luscious, and handsome.Fringing the woods are junipers or red cedars,often bearing their pretty berries. Scatteredover the plain are abundant groups of wildindigo, in full flower. Its yellow must occupyin our landscape about the position of the gorsein Europe, or the “ woad-wax ” in Essex County,Mass. The wild indigo is the plant that weoften see attached to the heads of horses justin from the country. There is a prevalentnotion that it keeps off flies.

Small specimens of evening primrose are inbloom over the plains. These, also, have yel-low flowers. Indeed, yellow appears to beNature’s favorite color on these wastes, andthroughout the season there is always someone prevailing yellow plant. The successionwould run somewhat thus : the wild indigo,the St. John’s-wort, the sensitive plants, theyellow aster, the golden-rods.

Our attention is now attracted to some smallpink or purple flowers, those of the milkwort(Polygala polygama, Walt.). The plants havecertain other underground flowers also, more

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fertile than the conspicuous ones, a habit heldin common with some of the violets, certaingrasses, etc. The golden-topped aster will justnow be opening, and the pretty sensitive plantsare extremely common. The foliage is as deli-cate and beautiful as that of a fern, and isslowly responsive to a touch or pressure. Thesmaller species is the more sensitive of the two.This leads us to remark that when one’s atten-tion is directed to the phenomenon of motionin plants, he will find it commoner than he sup-poses. Many of the Pulse Family change theposition of their leaflets at night, as do sorrels,etc. Indeed, one who is familiar with the di-urnal aspect of a garden will be surprised tovisit the same at night and observe the alteredcondition of the foliage. Some leaves willdroop, others fold in an erect position; somewill point forward, others backward, and willlook relaxed and sleepy. Indeed, their con-dition is known as sleep.

The common sumach may be seen here inflower, its great greenish-yellow paniclesthronged with multitudinous insects, as minutediptera butterflies, bees, and wasps. One seesgrowing everywhere in the barrens, the tallwhite bush clovers. They are accompanied bynarrow-leaved aster, very conspicuous in Sep-tember from its lovely lavender-colored heads.The white-topped aster also occurs here, but

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blooms much earlier. The beach-plum does notdisdain these arid regions. Its fruit makes aluscious preserve.

We should not omit the wild carrot from thelist of Warwick plants. It is throughout theState a lovely nuisance. It will be recognizedat once by its broad umbels of pure whiteflowers, often with a single floret of a deepmaroon color in the middle. These clusters asthey ripen become depressed, until in the frui-tion condition there results a very pretty bird’snest. Very like fine lace are the flowers ofthe carrot. Is its root good to eat ? Well, asa rule, avoid for such experiments all wildparsley plants. The parsnip itself is often dan-gerous. Moreover, all the genera have so great afamily resemblance, that they may deceivethe very elect. It would be a serious mistaketo eat water hemlock under the impressionthat it was a garden vegetable.

We find on the Buttonwoods plains thesmallest of the milk-weeds (Asclepias ver-ticillata, L.). It is usually a foot or less inheight, with narrow, whorled leaves, and anumbel of small flowers, succeeded by longpods. These contain, by and by, the well-known winged seeds of all milk-weeds.

The earls of our Rhode Island Warwick, ifin our possible peerage there are ever such,will, we think, assume the cone-flower for their

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floral emblem. It is certainly a knightly, if notregal, ornament. It abounds, too, throughoutthe Warwick region. Perhaps the less pedanticknow it better by its common name of “ cone-flower.” It should never be called, as it oftenis, the “ ox-eye daisy ”; that name applies to thewhite-weed alone. Yellow daisy is a pretty fairname for it as popular titles go. But nomen-clature aside, what a magnificent creation isthis weed ! The centre is a chocolate-coloredcone, around which radiate the long strap-shaped, orange-colored marginal flowers. Occa-sionally they are large enough to be mistakenfor sunflowers, and in structure are, if any-thing, finer. To us they always suggest some-thing oriental, but, as a matter of fact, they areessentially Western.

One of the most splendid golden-rods inthe State grows near Old Buttonwoods on theopen plain, but there it is very common. Thelocality is very restricted. The heads are largerand fuller than in most of our species, and aredisposed in a broad, flat corymb of intense yel-low. It is a late-flowering kind.

In certain places the meadows are paintedred with meadow-beauty or deer-grass. Thislittle plant has an urn-shaped calyx, bronzyred. The stamens have long, yellow, odd-look-ing anther, hanging forward and opening bychinks at the apex. By pressure the pollen is

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projected from these pores. The genus Rhexiais the sole representative of the vast tropicalfamily Melastomaceæ, many species of which arecharacterized by large and gorgeous flowers.

The ragged orchis occurs in similar places,and in one spot the smaller loose-strife (Lyth-rum alatum, Pursh) has been found. It is herefar out of its range, which, according to thebooks, is Western. Rhode Island is apt toexhibit these anomalies.

8. Baker’s Creek.

“ The many-knotted water-flagsThat whistle stiff and dry about the marge.”

— TENNYSON.

Between Aylsworth’s and Old Buttonwoods,but nearer the former place, a little stream entersCowesett Bay. It is known as Baker’s Creek,although to one familiar with the Southern useof the term “ creek,” it is here misapplied. Itis hardly more than a rivulet or “ run.” Thetide flows into it for a long distance, hence thelower part has a tortuous course through saltmarshes. It has cut a deep, meandering chan-nel for itself through the mud and much of theswamp. The salt grasses and sedges, viewedfrom a distance, present a beautiful expanse ofvelvety green and delicate olive shades. Themeadows on either side of the stream below

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are quite broad. On the east side, the woodsdirectly border them.

The trees are mostly oaks, chestnuts, sassa-fras, and sugar or “ minny ” berry ( Celtisoccidentalis ). There are occasional red maplesand clumps of sumach. The sassafras is veryabundant and grows beyond its usual size, per-haps because undisturbed by root-diggers. Theundergrowth consists of sweet pepper-bush,white azalea, rose, and blackberry tangles, withimpenetrable masses of green-brier, hazel, andalders. In the spring, the slopes back of thebrook are covered with violets and lupines, orfringed with Smilacina.

Passing up the little stream, when one finallygets beyond the limits of tide-water, he beginsto find a great variety of grasses, sedges, andother herbaceous plants. Indeed, there is apeat-bog full of cranberry vines, always a goodplace to seek for orchids, sundews, pitcher-plants, and grass-of-Parnassus. All these, ofcourse, according to the season.

The western slope of the valley is less woodedthan the eastern, and is of milder character.Here and there a fine tree stands isolated, en-ticing one by its grateful shade to a half hour’srepose. But the wanderer must know of thepoison-ivy which, in this whole region, is ubiqui-tous. The best remedy, if affected, is chlori-nated soda, applied as a wash.

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Baker’s Creek is a locality that can never beoverestimated. It always offers a field for newexploration and adventure.

9. Gorton’s Pond.

“ The lake where drooped the willow.”— G. P. MORRIS

Near Apponaug is Gorton’s Pond, which, inEngland, would be a lake and have its minstrel.In our country, such sheets of water are dwarfedby our frequent immense lakes, and hence arewithout note or fame,

The approach to this point is by dusty roadsand long stretches of sandy plain. All themore is it enjoyed when attained. It is fringedin part by willows, under which one can sit,or upon which hang his harp. Tall, blue pick-erel weeds, cousin of water hyacinth, now culti-vated, stand with their feet in the water, and,just out of reach, the sweet pond-lilies tempt oneto a swim. Pond-lilies on sale in the citiesare lovely, but to see them in their glory, onemust visit their native haunts.

The water of this pond seems especially pureand clean. It gives little indication of anypond-weeds, or other floating plants. On thesandy shores grow the golden Gratiolas, and thepipe-wort, with its queer white and mealy look-

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ing heads. The button-ball is common, andthronged with butterflies,

The water is often too high for one to skirt theentire pond, but he can strike into the woodsand scale the steep bank. Here the trees aremostly oaks, chestnuts, and the like. At thenorthwestern end of the pond is a peat-bog fullof interesting plants.

But the real objective point to the plant loveris the southwestern end where the Sabbatiagrows. Of all the July flowers this is the mostexquisite. Sometimes the corolla is white, butoftener a beautiful pink, with a yellow ring nearthe centre. It is about two inches across. Theobserver who is alert to the utilities of nature,or to adaptive forms, will perceive that thestamens are not simultaneously functional.The arrangement is for cross-fertilization.

In this connection it may be said, that in thesame swamp grows the purple loose-strife. Inorder to secure the much-desired end of across between distinct individuals of the samespecies, this plant presents three forms offlowers, all of which react upon each other ;this by varying the relative lengths of stylesand stamens.

The loose-strife, by the way, is a very hand-some plant, not very common in our State, butabundant along the Hudson River. Sometimeswe find it in old gardens.

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10. The Wild Flowers of Newport.

“ My tardy steps the waves sometimes o’er-reach,Sometimes I pause to let them overflow.”

— THOREAU

While Newport presents no striking noveltyin the way of wild flowers, its flora is interest-ing. Queer things may sometimes be pickedup along the old wharves. Here, for instance,grows the wart-cress or swine-cress. Onewould hardly at first sight take it for one ofthe mustard family. It is nothing that wouldattract the casual observer.

In various parts of the city, as on the way tothe beach, one often finds a quite uncommonintroduced weed, the hairy willow-herb, a verypretty species. It is soft-hairy and with rose-purple flowers.

Back of the line of bathing-houses on Easton’sbeach there is, as every one knows, a salt marshfringed with cat-tails. On the sandy drivesbetween this and the sea we find many plants ;a pretty vetch, the Venus’s looking-glass, superbpurple gerardias, the smaller evening primrose,and always the dainty pimpernel. The lattergrows, too, everywhere along the cliffs. In themeadows that slope up from the sea, the daisiesand clover run riot in June, and the bob-o’-linksfill the air with music. Here, just above thetide line, in September, are seen great generous

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tufts of marine golden-rod, one of the very hand-somest species. It is everywhere on the oceandrive, accompanied in places by the gloriousNew England aster, and by other smaller andcommon species.

From Purgatory, where the wild roses growhalfway down the gorge, and the sea singslullabies to the fledgling sparrows, the touristpasses along the cliffs to the second beach, andthence to the Berkeley rocks. These ranges ;said to have been much loved by the goodbishop, are indeed attractive in many ways.The geologist here finds curious revelations, theartist superb outlooks upon the ocean, and thebotanist a number of interesting plants. Theranges run in parallel lines, with deep gorges,or narrow valleys between. Early in the sea-son, the gray rocks are festooned with colum-bines. In their crevices, too, grow the prettyherb-robert. The great cow-parsnip presents itsbroad umbels of white flowers and immenseleaves, and bindweeds and wild roses are every-where. In a marsh near at hand, one sees atthe proper season the lovely pink flowers of therose hibiscus.

On Bailey’s beach the garden “ money ” isquite established. The European loose-strifealso grows along the roadsides.

What a delight it is to wander near theseshores, soothed always by the monotone of the

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sea ! One experiences something between sad-ness and exhilaration. It is always so withinthe sound of the ocean.

One is impressed anywhere upon the islandof Newport with the infrequency of native trees.It is traditional that there were once many —but there are few places now where there is agrove. Trees, however, when protected inyouth from the winds, appear to do well, andthere are many fine ones about the houses.

11. Wild Flowers of Little Compton

“ If you would seek a beautiful peninsula,Look around you! ”

The flora of Sakonnet and vicinity is rich andvaried. Here are found the usual beach-plants,such as the marine golden-rod, the kale, and thesamphire. Here, also in the swamps around“ Marsh-island,” grows the rose-hibiscus. Onthe sandy bluffs and the meadow above, thepimpernel is abundant. There are frequentdense copses of bayberry, sumach, and othershrubs, and wild roses are everywhere. Then,as one rides eastward, he passes for milesthrough superb forests of deciduous trees —oaks, chestnuts, birches, beeches, and the like.The prickly holly is very common, and growsto a good-sized tree. We have seen it best in

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the grove dedicated to Awershonks. Here, bya charming brook, that winds through thewoods, is a large bowlder on which is inscribedthe name of the Indian queen. There is nomore beautiful spot in the State. One mayspend a whole day in those woods — and seeno human being. The cardinal-flowers rangethemselves in long lines by the stream. Indeed,Sakonnet is the chosen home of the cardinals.Everywhere, along roadsides, they are seen rankand luxuriant.

Near the “ centre ” we have picked up on theroadsides the “ false dragon-head,” not very oftenseen hereabouts outside of gardens. We havealso seen in Sakonnet that pretty Asian worm-wood, now progressing around the world, theArtemisia Stelleriana, Bess. It has silvery leaves.

Climbing high over trees and shrubbery,is the “ climbing hemp-weed ” with opposite,heart shaped, petioled leaves, and flesh-coloredflowers. It is a composite, and hence some-thing of a surprise to one who knows onlytheir usual habit. The swine-cress is foundhere even more commonly than in Newport.In August the sweet pepper bush scents thevery air.

The fresh or brackish ponds about Sakonnetpossess a very rich flora, embracing pond-lilies,pickerel-weeds, the eel-grass, the umbellatepenny-wort, swamp buttercups, swamp loose-

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strife. The marsh islands yield the false Solo-mon’s seal. All rocky cliffs, or detached ridges,— and there are many such, — show abundantgrowth of the polypody fern.

Tiverton and Little Compton both demandclose and patient exploration. Casual excur-sions have yielded excellent results, and somerare plants. Two or three summers should begiven to the work.

12. Wild Flowers of Block Island.“ Oh, it’s a snug little island !A right little, tight little island ! ”

— DIBDIN.

It is always a delightful task to botanize anisland : one does not, as on a continent, feelappalled by the vast extent of the field. Tocompass it seems a mere matter of unremit-ting labor.

Block Island, lying between Newport andLong Island, quite out at sea, is a great ter-minal moraine. Upon it there is no rock insitu ; that is to say, no cliff or ledge. Thewhole island is composed of a multitudinousmass of bowlders, pebbles, sand, and clay. Ofthe bowlders, many are erratic from a longdistance. They are of various formation andsize. Along the beach, black, magnetic sandis common ; viewed from a height, the island

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looks like a petrified sea. It presents, too, amost surprising undulating surface, and everyvalley, or even small depression, holds a pondor bog. Indeed, no feature of the island is morepronounced than these bog- or pot-holes, alwaysrank with vegetation. From the south shorevery wonderful cliffs arise to a great height,but these are not rock, but clay. Here onecan view a natural section denuded of super-incumbent earth, for the action of the weatherhas exposed the whole formation.

The clay of this bluff is of a pale slate color.Over this is a loose deposit of bowlders andpebbles ; over these again, loam. The cliffs, ifthey can be so called, have weathered into fan-ciful shapes; minarets, towers, pinnacles, arepiled at random—

“ Huge as the tower that builders vain, Presumptuous piled on Shinar’s plain.”

Often a huge bowlder has lost its bedding, andbeen hurled into the abyss. Again, one will benoticed poised too perilously near the brink ; itis a mere question of time when it falls. Onthe most prominent bluff of all stands the south-east lighthouse, one of the most important onour coast. The sea slowly but surely encroachesupon the land.

No shore can be more changeable than this.On one day the beach is firm, hard sand ; the

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next, a mass of rattling pebbles. One can barelyrealize that it is the same place.

The numerous ponds and bog-holes presentperennial fascination. They are full of thelargest and finest pond-lilies, among whichthere is an occasional pink one. The prevail-ing shrub in such places is the button-bush. Insmaller quantities grow the Carolina rose andsweet-pepper bush. Willows are by no meanscommon, and, strange to say, there are noalders. Trees of any sort are extremely scarce,though it would appear from excavations thatthey once prevailed, and were of good size.Indeed, tradition says as much. A few smalltupeloes, a group of viburnums, and clumps ofbayberry (not nearly so common as on theadjacent mainland) are the nearest approach toarborescent growth. There is no sign anywhereof a pine, juniper, or cypress, except where suchhave been introduced. The common sweet fernis not seen at all.

On the whole, the flora is, considering thesituation, rich. In July and August, 1892, twohundred and ninety-four (294) species of plantswere identified, leaving the plants of spring andautumn yet to be determined. Moreover, thenorthern end of the island has not been as yetthoroughly explored.

The region might well be mapped out intodistricts, as of the bogs, the many fresh ponds,

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the Great Salt Pond, the meadows, the cliffs,and the shore. One might include anotherprovince, the Algæ, which, however, from thechangeable nature of the shore, are not so abun-dant as in many places along our coasts. Still,fine specimens of sea-wrack and devil’s-apronsmay be found, and the more delicate forms areoften washed up by the sea.

Near the beach, of course, the pimpernel isfound. Here, too, are the sea-rocket, the curi-ous sand-wort (Arenaria peploides), sow-thistle,kale, and maritime golden-rod. Seven speciesof golden-rod, in all, have been seen on theisland, of which the lance-leaved is the mostfrequent. Indeed, it is the commonest weed,covering whole pastures and fringing the road-sides.

There is the usual host of introduced weeds,of which the wild carrot is preeminently first.The white-weed, or ox-eye daisy, is a good second.There are four species of thistle, of which theCanadian is well to the front.

Two plants new to Rhode Island have beenfound in this remote place, — a pond-weed, thePotomogeton pulcher, and a huckleberry, theGaylussacia dumosa, var. hirtella. There areseven ferns at least, among them the rarechain-fern. Strangely enough, there is no truebrake. Another curious thing is that not asingle liliaceous plant has so far been dis-

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covered. One might naturally expect the falseSolomon’s seals at least.

Indeed, it is strange to note the absence ofsome of the very commonest plants of theneighboring coast. There are no lupines orsensitive-plants, no hibiscus or sabbatia; no truegeranium. The Virginian creeper may be calledrare, but poison-ivy is far too abundant. Poisondogwood or swamp sumach has not been seen atall, though conditions seem so favorable for it.Among the clovers is the now common Trifoliumhybidum, the pretty pink and white species seenof late throughout New England.

No member of the saxifrage family has thusfar been found. One would expect at least thegrass-of-Parnassus. Among Compositæ are thecamphor-weed and chicory. As a rule, the lastis rather local in Rhode Island, and does notmake itself at home as around Cambridge andBoston. With its large, deep blue heads, it is amost beautiful weed.

The Great Salt Pond, at the north end of theisland, is a most attractive collecting-ground.After some weeks of exploration one alwaysgravitates towards this beautiful sheet of water.Here there is always a delightful breeze andexcellent botanizing.

How came some of the plants on this littleisland ? Are they in some cases the descend-ants of old continental forms, existing while the

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land was continuous with the continent ? Ordid birds, winds, tide-currents, or the operationsof man, introduce them ? Of course seeds fol-low commerce ; but how about the endemicspecies ? The problem has yet to be studied.

13. Exeter.

Exeter is a town of varied and beautiful sce-nery. It is dotted with ponds and traversed bylarge and rapid brooks. There are hills andvales and meadow lands.

A botanical friend of ours used to speak ofgoing “ down south.” For a long time we sup-posed that he was off for a trip to Florida ; butRhode Island has a Dixie of its own. To thataustral land was he going. Indeed, it is pos-sible, even in this State, to live a good deal likea hermit, — “ remote and unfriended.”

Pine Hill, Exeter, is one of the regions re-mote from railways and electrics. Here one mayseek solitude and secure it. Primitive woodsare here, — under which, perhaps, the Narragan-sett once roamed. The timber is heavy and theunderbrush dense. Upland, the dry plains arecovered with the heath-like Hudsonia and thebear-berry. The woods are rich and prolificin wild flowers. Here is found superb spikesof purple fringed orchis.

FAVORED SPOTS.


A good way to approach Pine Hill is fromWashington. The road, leads mainly througha level country, in the woods of which aboundthe trailing arbutus and the lady-slipper.This whole region requires careful exploration.Especially should the region about EscoheagHill and the Connecticut border be searched.New plants are apt to be there discovered.

14. The Seekonk and Blackstone.

Perhaps we are prejudiced in thinking ourSeekonk “ better than all the rivers of Israel.”If so, it is not from ignorance; for we have seenvarious rivers in divers climes, and pitched ourtents, so to speak, by the St. John, the Am-onoosuc, the Hudson, the Sacramento, theTruckee, and the Humboldt. We have seen thebeautiful valley of the Connecticut and thewillowy banks of the Delaware, and, as theirantipodes, the tortuous Chargres, gay with birdsand flowers. When we describe the Seekonk,then, as being lovely, we know whereof wespeak. Along it there is a succession of charm-ing views. A hillside, dotted with oaks, chest-nuts, and hickories, will slope back graduallyfrom an amphitheatre of green salt marsh. Theboles of the trees are gray, the foliage light anddelicate with the varied greens of spring. Dark

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evergreens are interspersed, and frequent massesof snow-white dogwood enliven the scene.

As every one knows, the Blackstone, belowPawtucket, changes name, and in view of thesalt water becomes the Seekonk. The so-calledriver road winds down from Red Bridge to thebank of the river, which, when in repair, itthreads as far as Blackstone Park or beyond.Indeed, the old road extended nearly to thegrounds of the Butler Hospital. There itscourse is stopped by a sort of estuary, borderedby salt marshes, which on summer days werecovered with satiny sheen. Through the tallweeds and grasses meanders a little stream,which, further inland, forms the chief attractionof the Grotto. This is naturally the most beau-tiful spot in the city limits, and, fortunately, isprivate property. In it grow the yellow violets,nodding Trilliums, dwarf ginseng, Solomon’sseals, Indian cucumber-root, Jacks-in-the-pulpit,and ferns galore.

From the river road mysterious pathways leadup the hill, and vanish in the woods. They areoverhung with silvery-stemmed birches, whosefoliage flickers above and makes the “ chequeredshade ” of the poets. Certain views remind onestrongly of Doré’s pictures, of those especiallydreamy scenes from the “ Idylls of the King,”When the hickories are glowing with autumnalgold, and the birches, too, are yellow, and be-

FAVORED SPOTS.


yond them is seen the peaceful, hazy sky ofOctober, he would not feel surprised if some“ gentle knight came pricking ” down the hill.However, Roger Williams is the only real linkthat links these shores with even the later medi-æval time.

There was a time within our memory whenboth shores were beautiful. High banks wereclothed with feathery pine ; the mountain laurelhere luxuriated ; fields of lupine made the hill-sides blue, and pink azalea nodded over the path-way. Here, in spring, come troops of childrenfor the Mayflowers. Even now some tufts oflaurel survive, and saxifrage struggles intobloom. Violets still enliven the pathway, andin autumn the hillsides troop with azure violets.By the river bank grow the maritime golden-rod,the beach pea, and the marsh lavender.

15. The Pawtuxet.

Surely no fairer river flows through our NewEngland valleys. It is a stream like a poet’sfancy, wandering here and there in scenes ofbeauty. We love to follow its ins and outs,even though its surprising meanderings causeus to double on our way. At times we cometo a broad, grassy meadow, white with inno-cents, which have drifted like snow into its

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undulations ; then we climb a bank, over whichthe columbines tremble. Here we discover theSolomon’s seal, the wild sarsaparilla, and thefalse lily-of-the-valley. Saxifrages and violetsabound.

The Pawtuxet is the home of the pink azalea.One sees whole hillsides covered with its rosyblossoms. They peep out from copses andgroves. In flower masses this plant is onlyequalled by the mountain laurel.

While Boston and Cambridge have theirCharles, we can well be proud of our Paw-tuxet. Wandering along its banks, we alwaysfall a-thinking of King Arthur or of RobinHood. The good old English ballads, knownand loved from childhood, arise once more, andwe walk along to a verse of Sir Patrick Spensor Sir Cauline. Indeed, we often expect someknightly adventure with paynim or red-crossknight. Pawtuxet possesses some of the qual-ities of Lethe ; beside it one may forget hiscares. No one, surely, will deny that it islovely, from its source to its mouth. To see itin its maiden beauty and innocence, one mustgo up into Scituate, and go in September. Theyear is then ripening. Every hedge and copseand meadow is aglow with blossom. Golden-rods display themselves along the roadsides, nowin plumes, now in feathery masses. Asters,that is, stars, shine out everywhere. The box

FAVORED SPOTS.


gentian, with its rich, metallic blue, and thefringed gentian, delicate and pure, entice onefrom the carriage. Here, too, are the rose-purple bells of Gerardia, the sweet lady’s-tresses,and the white turtle-head and blue monkey-flower.

Lonely roads wind in and out of the forest,now journeying into unexpected valleys, nowclimbing sudden ascents, from the ridges ofwhich one gazes on a long horizon line ofneglected duties.

What extraordinary aspects the clouds takein this blue heaven of September ! One couldalmost imagine some spirit exercising his capriceupon them, as they are now massed in billowymasses, or scattered in little tufts of down, orranged in mountain peaks.

It may be that our woods are not old, but inplaces the forest, such. as it is, stretches off tothe remotest distance unbroken by town or ham-let. At another point, the observer catches aglimpse of peaceful villages, and perhaps hearstogether what the old poet thought so happya combination, — the sound of brook and Sab-bath bell. There is always something inspir-ing about a summit from which one gazes intoa valley. It is something the feeling withwhich youth looks out upon untried manhood,beyond those hills ! That is the ever-recurringquestion.

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16. North Scituate.

A very interesting region to the botanist isthat just about the village of North Scituate.Moswansicut Lake is itself a gem. There aresome very wild nooks in the vicinity. In oneplace is found the climbing or Hartford fern ;in another, the orange-fringed and the white-fringed orchis. The purple orchis is not un-common, and cardinal-flowers abound. Themeadows are radiant with the corn-flowers inthe season ; by the walk are ranks of hardhackand meadow-sweet ; lovely yellow and purpleGerardias are frequent, and there is button-bush, clethra, and clematis. In Forster someof our early explorers found quite a number ofrare things. I never visited it but once, whenI passed along the State border, but in that onetrip found some very elegant specimens. Theneighboring Connecticut town of Sterling con-tains much unbroken forest, so we can wellexpect incursions over our line.

FAVORED SPOTS.


III.

EARLY SPRING FLOWERS.

WHO is there who after the long winter doesnot love to wander in the woods ? The verysounds of reawakening life are joyous ; the“ peep” of the hyla, the cheery notes of thebluebird — and afar off the boastful crow ofchanticleer. Fresh odors are in the air ; eventhe earth smells good. One longs to sit upon abank, and, while sunning himself, to hold sweetconverse with the nymphs and dryads. Thefirst insects lazily try their wings, and a butter-fly passes like a shadow.

Of flowers proper there are, as yet, none, un-less, perhaps, we are fortunate enough to findthe trailing arbutus, New England’s specialfavorite. It peeps from beneath the brownleaves of the oak, or the needles of the pine.Hepatica, too, the blue-eyed, the laughing, mayglance at us from some sequestered nook. It isthe happiest of all our flowers ; smilingalways.

Maybe we may find the little Virginia saxi-frage, having a rosette of green leaves, from

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which arises a hairy stem, bearing a cluster ofwhite flowers. In garden paths we will see thewhitlow-grass, one of the cress family, with flat,elliptical pods. It blooms — and even goes toseed — in March. It is a tiny European weed,here quite naturalized.

Instead of true flowers we find many oddforms of bloom, unornamented by floral enve-lopes, and arranged in tassels or spikes. Theyhave the essentials, however, the stamens andpistils. Perhaps these will be in differentflowers, or even on different trees. A flowermay have colored envelopes, or it may not ;they are not necessary at all tunes to itsfunction. Sometimes they serve to attractinsects, and, as a rule, they are protectingparts, more or less showy, and soon falling orwithering away after the fertilization of theovary. In such plants as the willows, alders,hazels, and birches, the insects or the windscarry the pollen to its destination. We find allgradations, from flowers that have both floralenvelopes to those that have only one, orneither.

If we stroll along the brook or river side inearly April, we will find drooping over the waterthe tassels of the alder. They hang three or fourin a cluster, — the very perfection of grace —being all of unequal lengths. If we touch them,they shower us with gold. The long catkins

EARLY SPRING FLOWERS 57


bear the stamens ; but near them are a groupof upright, spike-like clusters, rather ruddy inappearance. These are the pistillate flowers, orthose that are to bear the seed. We will oftennotice their dried husks long after the perfec-tion of the fruit, and, indeed, till the advent ofthe new leaves and flowers. Catkins usuallyfall off in one piece after flowering. All chil-dren know and love these russet “

tags ” — thesure indications of the returning spring. Theyare formed the previous summer, and remainexposed all winter. If taken into the house,they can be coaxed into blossom long beforethe usual time. It is always pleasant to thusanticipate nature ; the catkins are so sugges-tive of gurgling streams and the green woodsof summer !

Near the alders, and often actually growingwith them, we will find the silky catkins of thewillows. Children call them indiscriminately“ pussies,” but they are by no means all of akind. They are a puzzle even to the botanist.The catkins do not droop as do those of thealder, but with them they form an elegant bou-quet, the brown and gold of the tassels har-monizing charmingly with the silvery gleam ofthe “ pussies.” The latter, besides the pure,pearly white, often have shades of purple,salmon-color, and neutral tint. They are verybeautiful when the yellow stamens, tipped

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with ruby, first protrude from amidst the silkyhairs.

A great many trees and shrubs, especiallythose that “ tempt the winds of March,” blos-som in catkins. Besides the willows and alders,the birches and poplars have tassels. The longgolden ones of the white birch are especiallylovely — the “ tresses of a dryad.” The sweet-fern, too, tassels out early. The balm-of-Gileadwill bloom in the house if one gathers the large,sweet-smelling buds, and puts the stems intepid water.

It is with tassels that Nature opens the year.She loves to border her streams with them ; tohang them from lofty trees ; to place themtrembling on the wayside shrub. They are herideal of loveliness. In looking at alder orbirch in full tassel, we cannot wonder that theGreeks endowed their trees with human attri-butes. To us, even, there is something personal.It is in their favor, too, that children love them.

Real blossoms are almost ready to appear;indeed, we find the skunk-cabbage in full per-fection. They project their heads from theground like half-buried capuchins, or weirdcobolds of German story. The most eccentricfancy could hardly call their odor pleasant.The spathes themselves have a wild sort ofbeauty. They are prettily blotched with red

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and yellow. It requires infinite courage forthem thus to spring up amidst snow and ice.

There is no floral demarcation between thelater months of spring, nor is the distinctionever arbitrary. Some of the flowers of Aprilcontinue into May, while others bloom within afew weeks and go to seed. The wood-anemone is an early April flower. The blush-ing buds may be found peering from amidstthe bronzy involucral leaves. These later as-sume a vivid green color.

Violets come about the same time, blue,white, and more locally, yellow. Our Stateboasts many species of this lovely genus. Thechoicest of all is the “ bird-foot,” growing insandy soil, as on railway banks, with lightblue flowers, the petals beardless, and the leavesdeeply divided ; hence the name. A varietysometimes occurs, where two of the petals aredarker and almost velvety. It is as handsomeas a pansy.

We have three white violets, mainly distin-guished by their leaves ; they are all pretty.The earliest violet of all is the upland arrow-leaved violet, but this is soon followed by theleafy-stemmed dog-violet and the multifariousvarieties of the common swamp blue.

Together with the arrow-leaved violet may befound the cinque-foil or five-finger, with prettyyellow, strawberry-like blossoms. The inno-

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AMO

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in moshassuck valley

cents, too, now gather in little groups, moreand more closely together, till the meadowsare whitened with them. The salver-formcorolla is often blue or lavender at the edges,and has a yellowish eye. These charming littleplants are a perennial joy.

In damp places one will discover, if his eyesare sharp, the “ little speedwell’s darling blue.”Underneath the shrubbery, bordering the swamp,the wood-betony is common. It has two varie-ties as to color — the deep dark reddish and theyellow. They are specifically the same. Theleaves of this plant are as delicate nearly asthose of a fern.

The great heath family is represented in earlyspring by many vase-formed or urn-shapedflowers. Of these we may mention the leather-leaf, in the swamps, the blue and whortle-berries, and cranberries. The upland cranberryhas very pretty pink flowers. It covers thelower part of the State.

Rhodora is very local with us. There usedto be a locality within the limits of the city ofProvidence; perhaps more than one. Now theseeker has to go much further for it. This isthe plant of which Emerson sings that —

“ Beauty is its own excuse for being.”

Everybody knows the pretty service-berry orshad-bush with its pure white flowers rather

EARLY SPRING FLOWERS 61


preceding the leaves ; the graceful columbinewith its honey-bearing horns ; the choke-berry ;the Solomon’s seal and the bell-worts. Notevery one knows so well the dainty Arethusa —that precious orchid. For that matter, all or-chids seem precious and superior.

A thing to be remembered is one’s first sightof a meadow carpeted with painted cup andgolden groundsel. It is oriental in its mag-nificence.

So we might proceed to chronicle the variousspring flowers except that, like Hosea Biglow,we “ hate the cat’log style.” A new list ofnames is wearisome ; a technical descriptionformidable, and in these random notes wedesire rather to point out the pleasant paths,than to walk far thereon.

To learn how abundant are our vernal treas-ures one should endeavor to chronicle and pre-serve what he finds. In the early months theytumble upon us in tumultuous throngs. It isalmost impossible to keep up with them, butwho that has ever collected in April or Maywill forget his first tentative gleanings, and thejoy of that out-of-door life ?

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IV.

AUTUMN.

OUR people are blessed in that they can soeasily escape from city or town, from gas andsewage smells, to the pure air of the country.

In twenty minutes from the city one reachesthe fragrance of sweet fern and bayberry ; hechanges the clang of coal carts and the insist-ent electric bell to the cry of the bluejay or thecaw of the crow. Some lingering warbler, too,may still carol his song. These late songs are,in their effect, stillness. They are even sooth-ing. Then there is the drowsy whir of thecicada, and the crisp rattle of the grasshopper.If one sits down near a group of asters, he islulled by the murmur of multitudinous bees.

The trees have assumed their rich autumnalcoloring. The sumach is especially brilliant.The long, pinnate leaves are dyed of vividcrimson, shading off into a copper tint, oreven green. The leaflets look like droopingbanners, such as, in cathedrals, hang over themonuments of sleeping heroes. The hickorytrees wear a very warm, delicious yellow.

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One feels bathed in the hue as he standsbeneath a tree. And then, how sweet theyare if we crush the leaves in our hands !What a rich, nutty odor exhales from them !Did the dryad of the ash ever do wrong inthose mythic times of old ? She is alwaysmourning ; in the spring with her sombrebuds, in the autumn with darkened foliage.The cornels, too, have a deep, glossless red ;but in the case of the large-flowered cornel,or dogwood, the bright scarlet berries relievethe tint of the foliage. The plant is then aselegant as when in flower.

Some of the oaks show glorious wine colors.Wine of Burgundy is theirs, sparkling, rubycolored. One speeds across a meadow to learn,what it is that makes such a show. Coming tothe bough, we find the colors are not so veryvivid after all ; the transmitted sunlight givesthem their glory. But look at their shapes ;Nature has plied her scissors to make the mostfantastic patterns.

As to the maples, who can sing their praise ?I seek not the gold that shinesIn the depths of Western mines,

For the sugar maples holdIn their hands a purer gold ;

In coin I wade knee-deep, —All mine, if I care to keep,

And a shower of ducats fallAt my very lightest call.

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Who says that the wealth I own Is surpassed by a glittering stone ?

He feels not the mellow glowOf these trembling leaves, I know,

Nor can he, by wildest guessConceive what I possess !

It is utterly impossible to foresee whatvagary of painting the sugar maples may ex-hibit. Sometimes the body of the leaf is greenand the border red ; again, there is a yellowborder and crimson ground ; or we may havethe whole leaf of one uniform shade, or mot-tled with several hues. These trees are theglory of our forest, and fitly chosen as theState tree. When a recent shower has var-nished the leaves, they are translucent. Artcannot imitate them, or reproduce, or, for thatmatter, even preserve them for any lengthenedtime. There is the difference between deathand life.

The huckleberry bushes, that are later toafford the brighter colors of the decliningyear, are now reddening. Of flowers there arestill many: asters, golden-rods, lady’s-tresses,gentians, polygala, belated cardinals, whitelettuces, and hawkweeds. Often one is de-lighted to find spring flowers reappearing.Violets often do so. Sometimes we find thebuck-bean in full glory; also strawberry flow-ers. One of the latest things to linger is the

AUTUMN. 65


butter-and-eggs. It may be found often inNovember. In the hedgerow is an occasionalspike of meadow-sweet. Peppergrass, chick-weed, bouncing-bet, and self-heal still holdtheir own. The fall dandelion lights its starsin the meadows. Last of all, the witch-hazelhangs out in the copses its bizarre flowers,yellow, spider-like.

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V.

WEEDS OF THE STATE.

There is no intrinsic difference between aweed and any other plant : —“ A weed is nought but a flower in disguise,

Which is seen through at once if love give a man eyes.”

What, then, it may be asked, constitutes aweed ?

It has been well defined as a plant whichpersists in growing where it is not wanted. Itspersistence is one of its inherent and essentialqualities.

It will thus be seen that the weediness of aplant depends very much on the observer’s pointof view. What to one person may be worthyof all admiration and care, may be to anothera pestilent nuisance, for which the hoe and thefire are the only remedies.

Still, there are a vast number of plants uponwhich every one agrees to bestow the opprobri-ous epithet “ weed.” No one for a moment hesi-tates about a pig-weed, the amaranths, purslane,beggar-ticks, or mouse-ear chickweed. As an

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admirer of the beautiful, he might be led astrayby the charms of the white-weed, the cone-flower, chicory, and butter-and-eggs.

The term “ weed ” has for an agriculturist aperfectly definite meaning. It means that thespecial plant to which the name may be appliedsprings up and thrives to the exclusion of betterthings. Like sin, it must be perpetually com-bated.

It is a curious fact that most of our weedshave a European origin. Indeed, many of themgrow here more vigorously than in the OldWorld, their native home. Like the white race,they have come to possess and multiply. Theweaker native herbage is often crowded out bythem.

Some weeds are troublesome simply becauseof their unsightliness. Such like to intrudeupon the streets, as does the cockle-bur inProvidence, or the great cotton-thistle, in it-self a superb plant. Burdock, plantains, andbeggar-ticks, again, are instances of such intru-sive weeds. They give an unthrifty look toany street or yard.

Two of the most prevalent weeds of our Stateare also two of our most beautiful wildflowers. These are the carrot and the white-weed, or ox-eye daisy. They cover wholemeadows, and frequently the islands of the bay— the one with its exquisite lace-like umbels,

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the other with its pure “ marguerites.” Fortu-nately, while careful husbandry will reducethem, there are always enough left to gratifythe plant-lover. So is it also with that superbcomposite — the cone-flower. It is a veritableweed, but how could we dispense with its glori-ous blossoms ?

In some places the Canada-thistle is a terriblenuisance. There is not a word to be said in itsdefence. We have long feared, too, that theviper’s-bugloss or blue-weed might spread fromEast Providence and other localities, but thereis no general complaint of it.

Weeds are active enemies, not to be despisedso much as hated. They are cut down or up-rooted wherever found. So great a pest arethey that man has taken them for a type of rank,rapid, and useless growth. Yet, when, curiosityleads us to observe them, we find beauty evenin the meanest.

“ The meanest flower that blows can giveThoughts that do often lie too deep for tears.”

We might, indeed, learn a useful lesson fromtheir aggressiveness ; their determination toovercome all obstacles. The delicacy of taste,too, that leads not a few to seek the richest soilsor the sunniest exposures, is worthy of ourpraise. Poor they may be, but they like to dineat the rich man’s table.

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Again, how social they are in their habits,forever seeking companionship,— though it bein battle ! They take such enjoyment, too, attimes, frolicking over the meadows, coquettingwith their own images in the brook, or climbing“ where the air is delicate,” upon the eaves ofour houses.

Many of them, were they only less common,would be highly prized. Indeed, it is at timesdifficult to draw the line between them and thearistocracy of the garden. Think what thedandelion would be were we not accustomedto its golden disk and feathery globes ! Look,too, at the luxuriant growth of the cotton-thistle,with its silvery, crinkled leaves and regal tuftsof crimson. Truly it says, “ no one touches mewith impunity.”

The common burdock, too, is hardly to bedespised, notwithstanding its rank appearance.What else could so gracefully occupy the nooksand corners of an old yard ? The artists havefound it out, and love to represent the generouscurves of its leaves. The corn-cockle and thefleabanes are beautiful ; the latter look likeetherealized asters. Their only fault — and thatis sufficient to condemn them — is that they areintruders.

Our waste places would be deserts indeeddid not kind nature interpose to clothe themwith these humble plants. We say humble,

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but not a few of them are of proud affiliation,and are vagrants merely from choice.

It is a useful rule never to pass a weed. Ifit is a stranger, make its acquaintance ; if it is afriend, then welcome it. Be certain that itsvirtues are not all recorded. If its beauty isnot superficial, it is sure to reveal itself to alens. If the flowers are not showy, the seedsor fruits are often curious, or the leaves of won-drous pattern. Representing, too, most diversefamilies of plants, the study of these forms re-freshes one’s general knowledge.

What is troublesome in one place may not beat all so in another. One family of plants willillustrate this. It is the Parsley Family. Inthis State we find its prominent genus is thecarrot. Its hooked or bristly fruits cause it tobe universally disseminated on the mainlandand the islands. Now, if we go inland, — sayto Princeton, Mass., — we find it replaced by therelated caraway. Again, in Lebanon Springs,N. Y., neither of these are common, but pars-nip is everywhere.

It is often difficult to account for the wide orlimited distribution of a plant. We naturallyexpect those provided with pappus, or coma, tobe widely spread. But then there is the white-weed, that has no pappus, more common eventhan the thistle, which is so provided. Vigor-ous constitution and adaptability go a long ways.

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Plants provided with running root-stocks, too,are well equipped for an advance. In manyways man, animals, and birds are made to helpin colonization. A weed never loses an oppor-tunity.

A list of our weeds would include a greatnumber of families and genera. This is notthe place to enumerate them, or to discusstheir eradication. We would refer the readerto “ American Weeds and Useful Plants,” byWilliam Darlington; to an article on the “ Per-tinacity and Predominance of Weeds,” by AsaGray, in Volume II. of his Scientific Papers ;and to several articles by Professor Byron D.Halsted, Professor William H. Brewer, and F.Lamson Scribner, now issued in pamphlet form;also to the volumes of “ Garden and Forest ”and the “ American Agriculturist.”

In considering weeds one is often impressedwith their inconsistencies and perverse unex-pectedness. Why should a plant, for instance,that naturally likes good, rich loam, persist intaking to the gravel path ? Why, when allchances seem favorable for independent life,should others enter into vindictive competitionfor an over-stocked field ? Such are some ofthe interesting questions that weeds present.A flower garden is lovely ; but for vital, every-day, continual interest a weed-grown yard isfar-and-away more fascinating.

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VI.

GRASSES AND SEDGES.

“ The murmur that springsFrom the growing of grass.”

— POE.

THE earliest as well as the latest sign of veg-etable life is, perhaps, afforded by the grasses.Their green blades form the sward which we allso much admire. How much we miss it in thefar West and South !

These grasses often have flowers as beautiful,when known, as their more pretentious neigh-bors. All are aware that the tasselled head andsilky plumes of the Indian corn or maize arelovely, and gaze with delight upon the sea ofrye or barley rippled by gentle breezes, — orthrown into mimic billows by the more wrath-ful. Take a hand-lens, and note how exquisiteare their individual parts.

Both the Grass and the Sedge Family are solarge, and the species so varied, that their studybecomes a specialty. Some men devote theirwhole lives to arranging, systematizing, anddescribing them. The sedge family comes firstin order. It includes besides, true sedges, the

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galingales, the cotton-grasses, the bulrushes,and many less familiar plants. All theseresemble grasses in some particulars, and areoften popularly confounded with them. Theydiffer, however, in essentials. The greater partof them have solid stems, in the true sedgesoften triangular in section, while the leavesform a closed sheath about the stem. Theflowers are in spikes, possess no calyx or corolla,and have three stamens. The stem leaves arethree-ranked. The first, in true sedges inclosedin a more or less close fitting bag, may be tri-angular or otherwise.

Sedges may be regarded as weeds in everysense of the term. The famous nut-grass of theSouth — from some sub-tropical climate, now rap-idly spreading — is one of them. It is the Cyp-erus rotundus of science. It has small potato-like tubers, which greatly aid its undesirabledistribution.

Unlike grasses, sedges are quite devoid ofnutritive properties, are coarse or wiry, andavoided by grazing animals. As a rule theyprefer marshy ground. With the exception oftheir occasional use in basket-making, or forchair-bottoms, or bedding for cattle, they havescarcely any economic value. The papyrus ofthe Nile, from which paper and boats were made,is a famous exception to their generaluselessness.

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Let us now consider the grasses. Put themside by side with the sedges, and compare them.It will be seen that they, unlike the sedges,have hollow stems ( as a rule ), swollen and closedat the joints. They have two-ranked leaves, hav-ing many fine, parallel veins, and split sheaths.Just where the leaf joins the stem, or, rather,at the top of the sheath, a little transparentappendage, called the ligule, often stands. Theflowers are in spikelets, very variously arranged,from a loose panicle, like red-top, or pampas-grass, to the dense, cannon-sponge-like spike ofTimothy. Some are armed with long bristles,straight or twisted. The stamens vary from oneto three ; the styles are usually two — veryrarely three — and are prettily feathered.

In common with sedges, grasses have fibrousroots. The description of the flowers would betoo technical for this place. One can refer tothe excellent volumes issued by the late Dr.Vasey from the Agricultural Department, andto Gray’s Manual, for their study. These bookscontain illustrations.

There is no family more dreaded by the begin-ner — and many whose chance duty it is toteach botany avoid them altogether. It is agood test for one’s love of science if he per-sistently engages grasses.

The family contains three thousand or morespecies, widely distributed over the earth. They

75GRASSES AND SEDGES.


approach the poles, and are found high up onmountains. In the tropics some become arbore-ous — we can easily gain an idea of theirappearance from our own stately reed-grass.

It is superfluous, perhaps, to speak of thevalue of the grass family to man. It is enoughto say that it yields all our cereal grains, mostof the forage plants, the inestimable sugar-cane,sorghum, and bamboo with its myriad uses. Incountries where the latter grows, it would seemas if the life of the people were bound up withit. Houses, boats, water-pipes, mats, utensils,weapons, are all made from it. It is a plant ofuniversal application.

No injurious properties are absolutely knownto inhere in the family, though darnel has anevil reputation.

Of our common grasses, many are beautiful.There is the wild rice, as seen on the upper covelands in Providence. To see it at its best onemust paddle a canoe on some high northernriver. The flowers are large for a grass, andbeautifully marked with bright bands of red.The panics are especially lovely, both in thefields, or in the vase at home. Old witch-grassoften seems to cover a field with purple vapor ;the drop-seed, in an early autumn morning, withdew upon it, looks like a diamond-studded veil.

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VII.

OUR FERNS.

“ Royal ferns adorn each watery nook.”

THESE bewitching plants have very varioushabits. Some like to wave their broad plumesin the swamps, where, under the Midas-touch ofautumn, they are transmuted to purest gold.Some dip their point-lace in the brooks, or fringethe roaring cataract ; while still others wanderinto the woods and meadows, or nestle underwalls.

We love best the graceful species that growby the woodland streams — or in pastures, thehay-fern, with its exquisite outline and pleas-ing fragrance, the lady-fern, with its broad andshowy fronds, and, apart from these, on rockyhillsides, the rigid and glossy Christmas-fern.The last is sometimes called the evergreen fern— and, indeed, is verdant in midwinter; but asother ferns have the same habit, the name is notsufficiently distinctive. One will know it by itsthick texture, its simply pinnate fronds, andleaflets with a little ear or auricle at the base,

77


on the upper side. It is much used by florists.There is a variety of it much more deeply cut.

In autumn many ferns become tinted withrich shades of yellow or umber, while othersbleach pure white. Nothing can be fairer thanthese etherealized forms. What can be said ofthe maiden-hair, that fern-poem ? A popularimpression is that it is uncommon. It is by nomeans so in Rhode Island, though not oftenseen near the city. We have but one speciesof maiden-hair, at once known by its polishedebony stems and light, graceful spray. Otherferns have the dark polished stems — as, forinstance, several spleenworts; but they are notmaiden-hairs.

One of our most beautiful ferns is the Vir-ginia moonwort. In May or early June, as oneis searching for wild flowers in some rich, darkwood, he will stumble quite unexpectedly uponthis lovely fern, so un-fernlike in appearance. Itmakes an elegant pressed specimen.

Including varieties, one might say that inround numbers we have forty different ferns inthe State. Of these, some are extremely com-mon, and others rare. A list is here appended.

Polypodium vulgare, L. ; common polypody.Adiantum pedatum, L. ; maiden-hair.Pteris aquilina, L. ; brake or bracken.Pellæa gracilis, Hook ; cliff-brake.Woodwardia Virginica, Smith ; chain-fern.

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Woodwardia angustifolia, Smith ; chain-fern.Asplenium Trichomanes, L.Asplenium ebeneum, Ait. ; ebony-fern.Asplenium thelypteroides, Michx.Asplenium Felix-fœmina, Bernh. ; lady-fern.Camptosorus rhizophyllus, Link. ; walking-fern.Phegopteris polypodioides, Fée ; beech-fern.Phegopteris hexagonoptera, Fée ; beech-fern.Phegopteris Dryopteris, Fée ; ternate beech-fern.Aspidium Thelypteris, Swartz ; shield-fern.Aspidium Novaboracense, Swartz.Aspidium spinulosum, Swartz.Aspidium spinulosum, var. intermedium, D. C.Eaton.Aspidium spinulosum, var. dilatatum, Hook.Aspidium Boottii, Tuckerman.Aspidium cristatum, Swartz.Aspidium marginale, Swartz.Aspidium acrostichoides ; Christmas-fern.Cystopteris bulbifera, Bernh. ; bladder-fern.Cystopteris fragilis, Bernh. ; bladder-fern.Onoclea sensibilis, L. ; sensitive-fern.Onoclea Struthiopteris, Hoffman ; ostrich-fern.Woodsia Ilvensis, R. Brown.Woodsia obtusa, Torr.Dicksonia pilosiuscula, Willd.Lygodium palmatum, Swartz ; climbing fern.Osmunda regalis, L. ; flowering fern.Osmunda Claytoniana, L. ; interrupted osmunda.Osmunda cinnamomea, L. ; cinnamon-fern.Botrychium ternatum, Swartz ; moonwort.Botrychium, ternatum var. lunarioides.Botrychium, ternatum var. obliquum.Botrychium, ternatum var. dissectum.Botrychium Virginianum, Swartz.Ophioglossum vulgatum, L.

OUR FERNS. 79


MOSSES.“ Damp mosses, cool and sweet,

Allured our waiting feet.”— MRS. AKERS ALLEN.

There is in nature nothing brighter than themosses and lichens. Whether from their in-trinsic verdure, we cannot say. We accept inthankful spirit these green oases of the winterdesert. There is something especially alluringabout them; the velvety sheen entices one aswell as the fresh clean, earthy odor. A birchtree may stand on a carpet that a king mightenvy. Some trees, decrepit with age, wrap theirfeet about with costly rugs of moss. Theyadmire oriental ease, these old-time fellows, andwhat could be softer, cooler, more luxurious,than these billowy cushions ?

As we walk through the woods, brown withthe wrecks of former seasons, where the hazelcatkins and tassels of alder alone give promiseof returning life, it is with an exulting feelingthat we come to a bed of moss. Here, in minia-ture, stand the trees of the forest, — pines andferns, and the grace of deciduous woods, are allimitated. Nor are the mosses content to copythe natural forms about them. We find intheir capsules, most astonishing likenesses tohelmets, lances, and other mediæval weapons orarmor. The colors are extremely varied, pass-

80

ing through all gradations of green, to a sortof white, as in Leucobryum or some of the peat-mosses (Sphayna).

Our moss flora will bear further study. TheRhode Island list is certainly not complete.The bark of living and dead trees, walls androcks, sand and earth, — yes, even running water,— yield their particular species. The study re-quires a compound microscope as well as adissector. Good directions for collecting andidentification were given in the “ Observer,”1894, by Mrs. Elizabeth G. Britton of New York.One needs, besides, Lesquereux and James’s “Mosses of North America.”

Where the mosses abandon the scale of colors,the lichens take it up. Although usually of agray appearance, or of a greenish yellow, thereare some that are a vivid yellow or even orangecolor. One will sometimes note a stone wallthat looks like a sort of palette upon whichNature tries her brushes. Upon it will be seena strange confusion of lines, resolving them-selves into a wild harmony. The pigments arenot yet ready for the painting of a cardinal-flower. It is with a few faint, tremuloustouches of color that the artist first begins.She works up through anemones, violets, andcolumbines, to the full splendor of the summer,or the glory of the autumn. Often she writesin hieroglyphics upon the bark of the trees,

OUR FERNS. 81


stories more ancient and more mysterious thanthose of Nineveh. It is perhaps well enoughto know that Nebuchadnezzar declared war insuch and such a long-forgotten year, but whatwould we not give to decipher the legends ofan earlier period, engraved in these perennialcharacters ! For lichens antedated the adventof man or animal, and were gray upon therocks when time itself was young. They pre-ceded even the coal-making ferns. Both mossesand lichens, as well as the beautiful weeds ofthe sea, can retrace their history almost to thedawn of time.

Even now they will endure when all elseperishes. Upon the deserts of New Mexico orthe Sahara they are found ; in the desolateisland of Kerguelen in the far south, or as farnorth as the stars and stripes have gone. Evenat the top of Mt. Blanc, or higher yet, upon theHimalaya, they dwell upon the borders of thesnow. Everywhere they are the last vegetationmet with.

We are apt to despise these humble begin-nings of life, but they have their uses in thescheme. Take a fresh surface of rock as itcomes from the quarry, and leave it exposed afew years to the weather. Upon it we willbegin to see spots of lichen like fossil tear-drops.The little plants will begin to disintegrate themineral, some soil will be found, and thenmosses will spring up.

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Lichens, being epiphytic, only require a foot-hold ; their sustenance is derived from the air.By their decay more plants are accumulated,and those of higher orders can now find a home.They aid in the dissolution of rocks. The vari-ous mineral salts are swept by rains into thealluvial bottoms, and thus the land, impover-ished by continual production, is re-enriched bythe drainage from the hills.

They are silent laborers, these hosts in greenand gray, but they well perform their task.Was it not Old Mortality, that, with a sublimelove of the unknown dead, used, with his chiselto renew the churchyard inscriptions ? Thelichens are envious of our human records ; theywill in time obliterate the proudest epitaph.There is something tender and pathetic in theway they do it. The legend that inscribes ourbrief life-history, be it true or false, they tonedown with loving lines. They cluster aroundthe names of our dear ones as fondly as ourmemories.

OUR FERNS. 83


VIII.

SEA-WEEDS

“ With its waving blade of green,The sea-flag streams through the silent water,

And the crimson leaf of the dulse is seenTo blush like a banner bathed in slaughter.”

No division of the vegetable kingdom hasattracted more deserved attention than the sea-weeds. Throughout the world they have foundtheir earnest admirers. It is not alone for theirintrinsic beauty that they are loved. Their col-lection involves the visiting of romantic cliffs,of shores strewn with the flotsam and jetsam ofocean, of caves and hollows, and even of thedeep sea itself. The pursuit is always fascinat-ing — and sometimes even perilous. A spice ofdanger does not deter the heroic algologist.“ Like one who gathers samphire, fearful trade,”he hangs suspended from the crags, or venturesat low tide upon the slippery rocks, over whichthe spray is dashing. He may delay too longupon the beach, and, in his scramble from theadvancing tide, find no Edie Ochiltree to assisthim.

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There need not, however, be danger in thestudy. Many ladies have been successful gath-erers of algæ, and in the albums of many a“ summer girl ” may be seen choice specimens,self-collected. The plants need not be studiedat all, if one simply prefers to collect them;but it is always pleasanter to know somethingof the habits, uses, and even names, of the ob-jects which one treasures. Rhode Island ladiesshould excel in this charming study, for in thewaters of our bay may be found a great varietyof species. A sail to any of the shore resorts,and especially to Newport, Conanicut, Narra-gansett Pier, or Sakonnet, will repay any loverof sea-mosses. They are especially prevalentafter a gale, when the angry sea throws up uponthe beach many a ribbon or tress of fairy beauty,which in calm weather might be sought in vain.No great preparation is necessary, nor any ex-tended outfit. Full directions are given in Pro-fessor W. G. Farlow’s “ Marine Algæ of NewEngland.” This, also, is the best book by whichto study them.

SEA-WEEDS 85


IX.

FUNGI.BY A FRIEND.

“ Vagrant plants of parasitic breed.” — HOOD.

UNDER the head of fungi are included allthose plants which do not possess chlorophyll(the green coloring-matter of plants), and inwhich no such parts as stems and leaves can bedistinguished. They are not able to live uponair and water, like the plants which possessgreen coloring-matter, but take their nourish-ment from animals and plants, whether alive ordead, and in process of decay. In some casesthe host plant does not appear to be especiallyinjured by the presence of the fungus. Inlichens, which are fungi parasitic on certainalgæ imbedded in them, the alga, which acts asthe host, carries on its processes of growth andreproduction in normal fashion, notwithstandingthe fact that it supplies nourishment to the par-asitic fungus.

The toadstools are a very large and importantgroup of fungi, including all the fleshy fungiwith a stalk and an umbrella-shaped top. They

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are sure of attracting attention, on account oftheir beauty of form and color and their greatabundance. They are especially to be met within moist woods, though some prefer the openfields. Many of them are good eating, whilemany others are very poisonous. In popularlanguage, the former are called “ mushrooms,”and the latter “ toadstools.” Botanically speak-ing, they are all toadstools, whether poisonousor edible.

Only a few of the edible kinds can be men-tioned here. The field mushroom which growsin meadows is the commonest. It is much cul-tivated for the market. The horse mushroom,which is often mistaken for it, is somewhatlarger and grows in similar situations.

The horse-tail mushroom, which is also verycommon, is easily recognized by its cap, whichis not expanded like that of the field mush-room, but remains closed, and when seen fromthe side has an oval outline ; it is covered withwhite, shaggy scales. When the fungus beginsto decay, it turns to an inky fluid.

The parasol mushroom is much taller thanthe field mushroom, being raised on a long,rather slender stalk. The cap is peculiar inhaving a raised projection in the centre ; it iscovered with rather large scales. Just belowthe cap is a loose ring which may be slid upand down upon the stalk.

FUNGI. 87


Very different in appearance is the chau-terelle, which is of a beautiful egg-yellow color.The gills or plates on the under side of theflattened cap are much shorter and more bluntthan in the other species which have beenmentioned.

The beefsteak fungus differs from the formsjust referred to in growing on the trunks oftrees, from which it projects like a bracket. Italso differs in bearing on the under side of thecap a large number of very small tubes. Whencooked it looks very much like a beefsteak;whence its name.

Leaving the toadstools, we come to the puff-balls, nearly all of which are edible, and to theMorel, which is one of the best of edible fungi,and is not easily mistaken for poisonous species.It occurs in May and June.

To distinguish edible from poisonous toad-stools is often very difficult, even for an expert.Various rules for this purpose are given in dif-ferent books on the subject, but the novice whoattempts to follow them is very apt to go astrayfrom carelessness or lack of experience.

Colored plates, which often seem, to promisean easy solution of the difficulty, are in manycases untrustworthy and misleading. The selec-tion of edible fungi requires great care andaccurate knowledge gained directly from speci-mens, and should not be attempted by inex-perienced persons.

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Another very interesting group of fungi isthat of the rusts. Many of these have the pecul-iarity of spending their lives partly on one plant,and partly on another, and often widely differentone. Thus the common rust of wheat appearsin the summer and fall upon the wheat andother members of the grass family, but whenthe spores germinate in the spring they do soonly on the leaves of the barberry. Aftercompleting a part of its life cycle on the bar-berry, it passes the next stage on the wheat,and in the following spring the process is againrepeated. Long before this fact was discoveredby botanists, the farmers noticed that their wheatwas especially affected with rust in the neighbor-hood of barberry bushes, and as early as 1755the barberry law of Massachusetts was passed,compelling owners of land to extirpate theplant.

The smuts, of which the corn-smut is anexample, are peculiar in attacking only theflowers of the host plant, to which they dogreat damage. The whole fungus becomeseventually a mass of spores.

The ergot of rye forms dark purple spindle-shaped masses about an inch in length in thespikes of ripening rye. It falls off, and in thefollowing spring gives rise to the spores whichagain infect the rye-plant. Where grain con-taining ergot is ground up into flour, the latter

89FUNGI.


is often very poisonous. A near relative of theergot, the black knot, does considerable damageto cherry trees.

To the lowest groups of fungi belong thepotato-rot, which damages potatoes ; the fish-moulds, which attack fish, and at times greatlyinjure the salmon industry ; the true moulds, socommon on jellies, etc. ; and the yeasts, whosegrowing commercial importance has led to theinstitution of splendidly equipped laboratoriesdevoted to their study alone.

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THE BOTANIST

LIST OF RHODE ISLAND TREES.

A hard and fast line cannot be drawn between shrubsand trees. Hence this list is somewhat arbitrary. Theintention is to include plants of undoubted arboreouscharacter. A few of those mentioned are tentativelyadmitted, and it may be some few are excluded thatshould find mention.

The Tulip Tree ( Liriodendron Tulipifera, L.). One of themost stately and beautiful of our native trees, knownat once by its peculiar four-lobed, glossy leaves, andlarge orange and green, magnolia-like flowers.

American Linden, Basswood (Tilia Americana, L.). Alarger and finer tree than the much-cultivated TiliaEuropea. Its leaves are far bigger and cleaner.

Staghorn Sumach ( Rhus Typhina, L.). Rather a tallshrub than a tree. Known by the feeling of thebranchlets as of a deer’s horn when in the velvet.It forms copses.

Common or Smooth Sumach ( Rhus glabra, L.). In habitlike the last, but often quite tree-like. Well knownfor its pinnate foliage, which in autumn becomesa brilliant red; also for its pompon-like, acid berries.

Copal or Dwarf Sumach ( Rhus copallina, L.). The glossypinnate leaves have a winged rhachis.

Poison Sumach, Poison Dogwood ( Rhus venenata, D.C.).Common in swamps. A little tree with smoothgray bark, long, glossy, pinnate leaves, with entiremargins, and yellowish-gray berries. Always to beavoided.

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Striped Maple ( Acer Pennsylvanicum, L.). In the north-ern part of the State. It has large, handsomeleaves, and a pendant raceme of greenish flowers.

Mountain Maple ( Acer spicatum, Lam.). In localitieswith the last. A true mountain species. Flowerclusters erect.

Sugar Maple, Rock Maple ( Acer saccharinum, Wang.).Also the variety nigrum. Familiar as the source ofmaple sugar, and for the glory of its autumnal color-ing. A valuable shade tree. Flower clusters deli-cate and pendant.

Red or Swamp Maple ( Acer rubrum, L.). At its best avery fine tree. Highly ornamental in the earlyspring for its red clustered flowers, and in autumnfor its ruddy foliage.

Silver-leaf Maple ( Acer dasycarpum, Ehrb.). Frequentlyseen in cultivation. One of the very earliest har-bingers of spring. Often blossoming in late Feb-

ruary or early March. Flower clusters less ruddythan the last. Leaves deeply and sharply cleft andwhite beneath. Exfoliating bark.

Box Elder, Ash-leaved Maple ( Negundo aceroides, Moench.).I have never seen it in this State when I was sure itwas indigenous.

Common Locust ( Robinia Pseudacacia, L.). Originallyintroduced, but forming groves and thickets every-where. A tall and showy tree, with pinnate leavesand white, drooping clusters of pea-like flowers.

Clammy Locust ( Robinia viscosa, Vent.). Sparsely es-caped around old gardens.

Bristly Locust or Rose Acacia ( Robinia hispida, L.). Avery pretty little tree, with delicate pink pea-flowers.In the woods about Quinsnickett Hill and else-where.

Wild Yellow or Red Plum ( Prunus Americana, Mar-shall ).

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Beach Plum ( Prunus maritima, Wang.). Abundantlyflowering before the advent of the leaves. Showy.Fruit delicious as a preserve,

Wild Red Cherry ( Prunus Pennsylvanica, L.).Choke Cherry ( Prunus Virginiana, L.).Wild Black Cherry ( Prunes serotina, Ehrb.).Mountain Ash ( Pyres Americana, L.). In northern part

of State.Shadbush, Service-berry ( Amelanchier Canadensis, L.).

There are three well-marked varieties of this prettytree. The white flowers are showy, and the fruitpalatable.

Witch-hazel ( Hamamelis Virginiana, L.). Very commonalong water-courses.

Flowering Dogwood or Cornel ( Cornus florida,L.). Oneof the most beautiful of our trees. The true flowersare small and greenish, but are surrounded by fourwhite bracts or bud-scales, usually mistaken forpetals. Berries red and showy. Rocky hillsides inwoods.

Sour Gum Tree, Tupelo ( Nyssa multiflora, Wang.). Con-spicuous for its divaricate branching and glossyleaves. These take on vivid autumnal tints.

Prickly or American Holly ( Ilex opaca, Ait.). Almostas handsome as the European, and like it used atChristmas. Especially common in South Kingstonand Little Compton.

Black Alder, Winter Berry ( Ilex verticillata, Gray). Hasdeciduous leaves; hence the abundant scarlet ber-ries are conspicuous in early winter.

Holly ( Ilex lævigata Gray).Smooth Holly ( Ilex glabra, Gray).White Ash ( Fraxinus Americana, L.).Red Ash (Fraxinus pubescens, Lam.).Black Ash ( Fraxinus sambucifolia, Lam.).Green Ash ( Fraxinus viridis, Michx.).

LIST OF RHODE ISLAND TREES. 93


Sassafras ( Sassafras officinale, Nees.). When allowedit will become a good-sized tree. We have somegiant examples in the State.

Spice Bush, Fever Bush (Lindera Benzoin, Meissner).Has minute yellow flowers preceding the leaves inspring. Stems and leaves aromatic,

Slippery Elm (Ulmus fulva, Michx.).American Elm (Ulmus Americana, L.).Minny Berry, Sugar Berry, Hack Berry (Celtis occidentalis,

L.).Plane Tree, Buttonwood, Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis,

L.). “Our largest tree, often 90 to 130 feet high,and 6 to 14 feet in diameter.”

Butternut (Juglans cinerea, L.).Black Walnut (Juglans nigra, L.,). Personally I

have never seen it an assured native. Apponaugand elsewhere.

Shagbark, Shellbark Hickory (Carya alba, Nutt.). Knownto everybody for its delicious nuts.

Mocker Nut, White-heart Hickory (Carya tomentosa,Nutt. ).

Big Shellbark (Carya sulcata, Nutt.).Pig-nut or Brown Hickory (Carya porcina, Nutt.).Bitter-nut or Swamp Hickory (Carya amara, Nutt.).White Oak ( Quercus alba). A superb tree, of which we

have many fine examples.Post Oak, Iron Oak (Quercus stellata, Wang.),Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor, Willd.).Chestnut Oak (Quercus Prinus, L.). Its variety is the

mountain chestnut oak, common on Diamond Hilland elsewhere.

Scrub Oak (Quercus ilicifolia, Wang.). Superabundantin wide districts.

Scarlet Oak (Quercus coccinea, Wang.). The varietytinctoria, Gray, is the Quercitron, yellow-barked orblack oak. Gray oak is the variety ambigua, Gray.

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Swamp, Spanish, or Pin Oak (Quercus palustris, Du Roi).Chestnut ( Castanea sativa, Mill., Var. Americana, Michx.).

At its best one of our largest trees, of imposing aspectat all seasons.

Beech (Fagus ferruginea, Ait.). Too beautiful and wellknown to need special mention. Its smooth, mot-tled bark is tempting as a place of record.

Hazel-nut, Filbert (Corylus Americana, Nutt.). A shrubrather common.

Beaked Hazel (Corylus rostrata, Ait.).Hop Hornbeam, Ironwood (Ostrya Virginiana, Willd.).

Conspicuous for its hop-like flowers; also for the strongand sinewy-looking stems.

Horn-beam, Ironwood, Blue or Water Beech (CarpinusCaroliniana, Walter).

Cherry Birch, Sweet or Black Birch (Betula lenta, L.).Yellow Birch (Betula lutea, Michx.).American White Birch, Gray Birch (Betula populifolia,

Ait.). Frequent.River or Red Birch (Betula nigra, L.).Speckled Alder (Alnus incana, Willd.).Smooth Alder (Alms serrulata, Willd.).Aspen (Populus tremuloides, Michx.).Large-toothed Aspen (Populus grandidentata, Michx.).Cottonwood (Populus monilifera, Ait.).White Poplar (Populus alba, L.). Cultivated, but found

in a measure spontaneous about old places.Black Willow (Salix nigra, Marshall).Shining Willow (Salix lucida, Muhl.).Glaucous Willow (Salix discolor, Muhl.).Silky Willow (Salix sericea, Marshall).Heart-leaved Willow (Salix cordata, Muhl.).

These are our commonest willows, and some of theseare rather shrubs than trees. Various cultivated willows,including the weeping willow (Salix Babylonica, Town.),are common.

95LIST OF RHODE ISLAND TREES.


White Pine (Pinus Strobus, L.). Our noblest species.Five leaves in the fascicle. A very valuable timber.Tree 75 or 160 feet in height.

Pitch Pine (Pinus rigida Miller). Very common,especially near the coast. Leaves in threes. Thirtyto eighty feet high.

Red Pine (Pinus resinosa, Ait.). “ A tall tree with red-dish, smooth bark and hard wood, not very resin-ous.” Cones terminal. Leaves in twos or threes.Black Spruce (Picea nigra, Link.).Hemlock (Tsuga Canadensis, Carr). Fine groves of

this beautiful conifer occur. Small, scattered leaves,glossy above, whitened beneath, small cones pendu-lous.

White Cedar, Cypress (Chamæcyparis sphæroidea, Spach.).Abundant in swamps all over the State. Oftenmistaken for arbor vitæ.

Common Juniper (Juniperus communis L.).Red Cedar, Savin ( Juniperus Virginiana, L.).Creeping Juniper (Juniperus Salina, L.). Forming exten-

sive and dense circular patches in sandy places andborders of swamps.

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INDEX OF PLANTS.

Alder .............................. Alnus sp. ......... 37, 46, 57, 58, 59Amaranth ...................... Amarantus ........................... 9, 67Anemone ....................... Anemone nemorosa ........... 15, 29Arbutus .......................... Epigæa repens ............. 15, 50, 56Arethusa ........................ Arethusa bulbosa .............. 14, 62Arrow-arum .................. Peltandra undulata ................ 13Arrow-grass ................... Triglochin maritima ............... 11Arrow-head ................... Sagittaria variabilis ............... 13Arrow-leaved violet ...... Viola sagittata ......................... 60Ash ................................. Fraxinus sp. ............................. 64Aster .............................. Aster sp.

2, 16, 21, 25, 32, 33, 41, 53, 63, 65Azalea ............................. Rhododendron sp.

15, 27, 25, 31, 37, 52, 53Balm of Gilead .............. Populus balsamifera var. candicans,

59Balsam ........................... Impatiens fulva ....................... 29Balsam-apple ................. Echinocystis lobata .................. 2Bayberry ........................ Myrica cerifera .................. 46, 63Beach Pea ...................... Lathyrus maritimus ............... 52Beach Plum ................... Prunus maritima ..................... 34Bearberry ...................... Arctostaphylos uva-ursi ....... 49Beech ............................. Fagus ferruginea ..................... 29Beech drops ................... Epiphegus Virginiana ........... 29Beech fern ..................... Phegopteris sp. ........................ 79Beggarsticks .................. Bidens frondosa ............ 8, 67, 68Bellwort ......................... Uvularia perfoliata . 16, 17, 27, 62Big yellow-eyed grass ... Xyris Caroliniana ................... 21Birch .............................. Betula sp. ..................... 51, 57, 59Bindweed ....................... Convolvulus sepium ....... 2, 9, 41

97


Birdfoot violet ................ Viola pedata ............................ 60Blackberry ..................... Rubus villosus ........................ 37Black oak ....................... Quercus ilicifolia .................... 26Bladder-fern .................. Cystopteris fragilis ................. 79Bladderwort ................... Utricularia vulgaris..... 13, 21, 24Bloodroot ....................... Sanguinaria Canadensis ....... 15Blueberry ....................... Vaccinium sp. .......................... 61Blue-eyed grass ............. Sisyrinchium angustifolium . 15Blue weed ...................... Echium vulgare ...................... 69Bouncing Bet ................. Saponaria officinalis ............. 66Box gentian ................... Gentiana Andrewsii ............... 54Brake ............................. Pteris aquilina ................... 47, 78Bramble ......................... Rubus villosus .......................... 2Buck-bean ..................... Menyanthes trifoliata ...... 13, 63Burdock ......................... Lappa officinalis ...... 2, 8, 68, 70Bur-grass ....................... Cenchrus tribuloides .............. 12Bush clover .................... Lespedeza hirta ....................... 33Butter and Eggs ............ Linaria vulgaris ................ 66, 68Button bush .................... Cephalanthus occidentalis ... 39, 45Calopogon ...................... Calopogon pulchellus ............ 14Camphor weed .............. Pluchea camphorata ......... 12, 48Canada lily ..................... Lilium Canadense ................... 15Canada thistle ............... Cnicus arvensis ....................... 69Caraway ......................... Carum Carvi ............................ 71Cardinal-flower ............. Lobelia cardinalis ... 5, 43, 55, 65Carolina rose ................. Rosa Carolina ......................... 46Carrot ............................. Daucus carota ................... 34, 68Catchfly pinks ............... Silene antirrhina ...................... 2Cat tail ............................ Typha latifolia ............ 11, 21, 40Chain fern ..................... Woodwardia sp. ................ 47, 79Chestnut ........................ Castanea saliva var. Americana,

26, 29, 37, 39, 50Chestnut oak ................... Quercus Prinus var. monticola .. 26Chicory ........................... Cichorium Intybus ............ 48, 68Chickweed ..................... Stellaria media ........................ 66Choke-berry .................. Pyrus arbutifolia .................... 62Christmas fern .............. Aspidium acrostichoides . 73, 79Cinnamon fern ............. Osmunda cinnamomea ........... 79

98

Cinquefoil ...................... Potentilla Canadensis ............ 60Clematis ......................... Clematis Virginiana ............... 55Clethra ........................... Clethra alnifolia ..................... 55Cliff-brake ..................... Pellæa gracilis ......................... 78Climbing fern ................ Camptosorus rhizophyllus. ... 79Climbing hempweed ..... Mikania scandens ................... 43Clover ............................. Trifolium pratense ........... 40, 48Cockle bur ..................... Xanthium spinosum ........... 8, 68Cohosh ........................... Caulophyllum thalictroides .. 24Colic-root ....................... Aletris farinosa ....................... 15Columbine ..................... Aquilegia Canadensis,

15, 25, 27, 41, 62Cone flower ................... Rudbeckia hirta .......... 34, 68, 69Corn cockle .................... Lychnis Githago ..................... 70Cornel ............................ Cornus sp. .......................... 26, 64Corn flower ................... Centaurea cyanus ................... 55Corydalis ........................ Corydalis glauca ............... 25, 77Cotton-thistle .................. Onopordon Acanthium .... 68, 70Cow-parsnip .................. Heracleum lanatum ................ 41Cranberry ....................... Vaccinium macrocarpon ..14, 37,61Cucumber root .............. Medeola Virginica ............ 29, 51Cypress .......................... Chamæcyparis sphæroidea ... 46Daisy .............................. Chrysanthemum leucanthemum,

40, 68Dandelion ....................... Taraxacum officinale ............. 70Deer grass ...................... Rhexia Virginica ..................... 35Devil’s apron .................. Laminaria sp. .......................... 47Dewberry ....................... Rubus Canadensis .................. 32Dogtooth violet .............. Erythronium Americanum .... 15Dog violet ....................... Viola Canina var. Muhlenbergii, 66Dogwood ........................ Cornus florida ...... 15, 25, 27, 51Drop seed ....................... Sporobolus serotinus ............. 83Dwarf ginseng ............... Aralia trifolia .......................... 51Dwarf laurel .................. Kalmia angustifolia ................ 15Ebony fern ..................... Asplenium ebeneum ............... .79Eel grass ........................ Vallisneria spiralis .......... 11, 43European loosestrife .... Lysimachia vulgaris ............... 41Evening primrose. ........ Œnothera biennis ................ 9,32

INDEX OF PLANTS 99


Fall Dandelion ............... Leontodon autumnale ............ 66False dragon head ......... Physostegia Virginiana .......... 43False Solomon’s seal ..... Maianthemum Canadense,

44, 48, 53Five finger ..................... Potentilla Canadensis ............ 60Flax ................................. Linum usitatissimum ............. 15Fleabane ........................ Erigeron Philadelphicus ....... 70Flowering dogwood ....... Cornus florida ............ 15, 25, 27Flowering fern .............. Osmunda regalis ..................... 79Four o’clock ................... Mirabilis Jalapa ....................... 2Fringed gentian ............. Gentiana crinita ......... 17, 26, 54Gentian .......................... Gentiana crinita ..................... 65Geranium ...................... Geranium maculatum ............. 48Gerardia ......................... Gerardia purpurea ........... 54, 55Ginseng .......................... Aralia trifolia .......................... 29Golden club .................... Orontium aquaticum .............. 13Golden groundsel .......... Senecio aureus ........................ 62Golden-rod ..................... Solidago sp.

2, 9, 25, 29, 32, 41, 47, 52, 53, 65Golden-topped aster ..... Chrysopsis falcata .................. 33Grass-of-Parnassus ...... Parnassia Caroliniana ..... 37, 48Gratiola .......................... Gratiola Virginiana ............... 38Greenbrier ..................... Smilax rotundifolia ................ 37Ground ivy ..................... Nepeta Glechoma ...................... 2Hairy willow herb ......... Epilobium hirsutum ............... 40Hardback ....................... Spiræa tomentosa ............. 15, 55Hartford fern ................. Lygodium palmatum .............. 55Hawkweed ..................... Hieracium Gronovii ............... 65Hayfern .......................... Dicksonia pilosiuscula ........... 73Hazel .............................. Corylus Americana ........... 37, 57Heathlike Hudsonia ...... Hudsonia ericoides ........... 21, 49Hepatica ......................... Hepatica triloba .......... 15, 16, 56Herbaceous honeysuckle Triosteum perfoliatum ............. 25Herb Robert ................... Geranium Robertianum ......... 41Hibiscus .......................... Hibiscus Moscheutos ........ 41, 48Hickory .......................... Carya alba ............. 26, 50, 51, 63Hoary Hudsonia ............ Hudsonia tomentosa ............... 21Hollyhocks ..................... Althea rosea ........................... 2, 9

100

Horsetail ........................ Equisetum hyemale ................. 29Huckleberry .................. Gaylussacia resinosa ........ 47, 65Indian cucumber root ... Medeola Virginica ............ 29, 51Innocents ....................... Houstonia cærulea ............ 52, 61Interrupted fern ............ Osmunda Claytoniana ........... 79Iris .................................. Iris versicolor .......................... 15Jack-in-the-pulpit ......... Arisæma triphyllum ......... 29, 51Juniper ........................... Juniperus communis .. 16, 37, 46Kale ................................ Salsola Kali ............................. 47Knotweed ...................... Polygonum sp. ........................... 2Lady fern ....................... Asplenium Filix-fæmina .. 73, 79Lady’s-slipper ................. Cypripedium acaule ............... 50Lady’s tresses ................ Spiranthes cernua ............ 55, 65Laurel ............................. Kalmia latifolia ..... 15, 29, 52, 53Leather leaf ................... Cassandra calyculata ....... 15, 61Lettuce ........................... Lactuca Canadensis ................ 65Lily .................................. Lilium sp. ................................. 15Live-forever ................... Sedum Telephium ................... 12Liverwort ....................... Hepatica triloba ...................... 15Loosestrife ..................... Lysimachia .............. 3, 36, 41, 43Lupine ............................ Lupinus perennis . 31, 37, 48, 52Maiden-hair ................... Adiantum pedatum ..... 24. 74, 78Mandrake ...................... Podophyllum peltatum ............ 2Maple ............................. Acer sp. ............................... 29, 64Marine golden-rod ........ Solidago sempervirens .. 41, 47, 52Marsh lavender .............. Statice Limonium var. Caroliniana,

52Mayflower ...................... Epigæa repens ................... 15, 52Meadow beauty ............. Rhexia Virginica ............... 15, 35Meadow sweet .............. Spiræa salicifolia ............. 55, 66Milkwort ........................ Polygala polygama ................. 32Money ............................ Lysimachia nummularia ........ 41Monkey flower .............. Mimulus ringens ..................... 54Moonwort ....................... Botrychium Virginianum, 27, 74, 79Mountain laurel ............ Kalmia latifolia ....................... 53Mouse-ear chickweed ... Cerastium viscosum ................ 67Narrow-leaved aster ..... Aster linariifolius ................... 33New England aster ....... Aster Novæ-Angliæ ................. 16

INDEX OF PLANTS 101


Oak ................................. Quercus sp. . 26, 37, 39, 50, 56, 64Orange fringed orchis .. Habenaria ciliaris ............. 19, 55Ostrich fern ................... Onoclea struthiopteris ........... 79Ox-eye daisy .................. Chrysanthemum leucanthemum,

47, 68Paint root ....................... Lachnanthes tinctoria ............ 20Painted cup .................... Castilleia coccinea .................. 62Peltate marsh pennywort . Hydrocotyle umbellata .......... 21Peppergrass ................... Lepidium Virginicum ............. 66Petunia ........................... Petunia sp. ................................. 9Philadelphia lily ............. Lilium Philadelphicum.......... 15Pickerel weed ................ Pontederia cordata ..... 13, 38, 43Pigweed .......................... Amarantus retroflexus ....... 9, 67Pimpernel ...................... Anagallis Arvensis ........... 12, 40Pine ................................ Pinus sp. ...................... 46, 52, 56Pink azalea .................... Rhododendron nudiflorum ... 15Pipewort ......................... Eriocaulon septangulare ....... 38Pitcher plant .................. Sarracenia purpurea, 13, 27, 37, 43Plantain .......................... Plantago major .................... 2, 68Pogonia .......................... Pogonia ophioglossoides . 14, 15Poison dogwood ............ Rhus venenata ................... 25, 48Poison ivy ....................... Rhus toxicodendron ......... 37, 48Polygala .......................... Polygala polygama ................. 65Polypody fern ................ Polypodium vulgare ......... 44, 78Pond-lily ......................... Nymphæa alba ...... 13, 38, 43, 46Pond-weed ..................... Potamogeton sp. ....... 1, 11, 13,47Portulaca ........................ Portulaca oleracea .................... 9Prickly holly ................... Ilex opaca ................................. 20Primrose ........................ Oenothera biennis .................... 9Prince’s feather ............. Polygonum orientale ................ 9Purple fringed orchis .... Habenaria Psycodes .......... 49, 55Purple gerardia ............. Gerardia purpurea ................. 40Purple loosestrife .......... Lythrum salicaria ............. 13, 39Purslane ......................... Portulaca oleracea .................. 67Red cedar ....................... Juniperus Virginiana ............ 32Red oak .......................... Quercus rubra ......................... 26Rhododendron .............. Rhododendron maximum ...... 20Rhodora ......................... Rhododendron Rhodora ........ 61

102

Rose ................................ Rosa sp. .............................. 37, 41Rose acacia .................... Robinia hispida ...................... 24Rose bay ......................... Rhododendron maximum .. 15, 20Rose hibiscus ................. Hibiscus Moscheutos .............. 41Rose mallow .................. Hibiscus Moscheutos .............. 41Royal fern ...................... Osmunda regalis ..................... 20Rue anemone ................ Anemonella thalictroides . 16, 27Sabbatia ......................... Sabbatia chloroides .... 20, 39, 47Saint Johnswort ............ Hypericum perforation .... 21, 32Saint Johnswort ............ Hypericum adpressum ........... 32Saltmarsh fleabane ....... Pluchea camphorata ............... 12Saltwort ......................... Salsola Kali ............................. 12Samphire ....................... Salicornia mucronata ............. 12Sand-spurrey ................. Buda rubra .............................. 11Sandwort ....................... Arenaria peploides ................. 47Sarsaparilla .................... Aralia nudicaulis ................... 53Sassafras ........................ Sassafras officinale ................ 37Saxifrage ........................ Saxifraga Virginiensis,

15, 50, 52, 53Scarlet oak ..................... Quercus coccinea .................... 26Scarlet runner .............. Phaseolus multiflorus .............. 3Sea-blite ......................... Suæda linearis ........................ 12Sea-kale ......................... Salsola Kali ....................... 12, 47Sea-rocket ..................... Cakile Americana .................... 12Seaside crowfoot ........... Ranunculus Cymbalaria ........ 11Sea-wrack ...................... Fucus sp. ............................ 11, 47Self-heal ......................... Brunella vulgaris ................... 66Sensitive fern ................ Onoclea sensibilis ................... 79Sensitive plant ............... Cassia Chamæcrista ......... 32, 48Service berry ................. Amelanchier Canadensis ....... 61Shadbush ....................... Amelanchier Canadensis . 15, 61Sheep laurel .................. Kalmia angustifolia ................ 15Shepherd’s purse .......... Capsella bursa -pastoris .......... 2Shield fern ..................... Aspidium Thelypteris ............ 79Skunk’ cabbage ............. Symplocarpus fœtidus ........... 59Smaller evening primrose . Œnothera fruticosa ............... 40Smilacina ....................... Maianthemum Canadense ..... 37Solomon’s Seal .............. Polygonatum biflorum 51, 53, 62

INDEX OF PLANTS 103


Sorrel ............................ Rumex Acetosella .................. 33Sow thistle .................... Sonchus oleraceus ......... 12, 47Spatterdock .................. Nuphar advena ..................... 13Speedwell ..................... Veronica officinalis ............. 61Spicebush ..................... Lindera Benzoin ................... 29Spurge ........................... Euphorbia polygonifolia .... 12Star anemone .............. Trientalis Americana ........... 29Strawberry ................... Fragaria Virginiana ............ 65Sugar berry .................. Celtis occidentalis ................ 37Sugar maple ................. Acer saccharinum ................. 65Sumach ......................... Rhus sp. ..................... 25, 33, 63Sundew ......................... Drosera rotundifolia ... 14, 37Sunflower ..................... Helianthus annuus ............ 3, 9Swamp azalea .............. Rhododendron viscosum .... 15Swamp blue violet ...... Viola palmata ........................ 60Swamp buttercup ....... Ranunculus ambigens ......... 43Swamp loosestrife ...... Decodon verticillatus ... 13, 43Swamp sumach ........... Rhus venenata ....................... 48Sweet fern .................... Myrica asplenifolia ....... 46, 63Sweet pepperbush ...... Clethra alnifolia 15, 37, 43, 46Swine cress .................. Senebiera Coronopus .... 40, 43Ternate beech fern ....... Phegopteris Dryopteris .......... 79Thistle ............................ Cnicus sp. ................................ 47Thoroughwort ............... Eupatorium perfoliatum ....... 29Trillium .......................... Trillium cernuum ................... 51Tupelo ............................ Nyssa sylvatica ........................ 46Turk’s cap lily ................. Lilium superbum .................... 15Turtle head .................... Chelone glabra ........................ 54Umbellate pennywort ... Hydrocotyle umbellata ........... 43Venus’s looking- glass .. Specularia perfoliata ....... 11, 40Vetch .............................. Vicia cracca ............................. 40Viburnum ...................... Viburnum sp. ........................... 46Violet .............................. Viola sp.,

15, 24, 31, 33, 37, 52, 53, 60, 65Viper’s bugloss ............... Echium vulgare ...................... 69Virginia creeper ............ Ampelopsis quinquefolia ....... 48Virginia moonwort ........ Botrychium Virginianum 27, 74Walking fern ................. Camptosorus rhizophyllus .... 66

104

Wart cress ...................... Senebiera Coronopus ............. 40Water lobelia ................. Lobelia Dortmanna ................. 13Water plantain .............. Ranunculus ambigens ............ 13Water plantain spearwort Ranunculus ambigens ............ 11Water primrose ............. Hottenio inflata ...................... 13White azalea .................. Rhododendron viscosum ....... 15White-fringed orchis ..... Habenaria blephariglottis 19, 55White violet ................... Viola blanda ............................ 60White-weed ................... Chrysanthemum leucanthemum,

47, 68Whitlow grass ............... Draba verna ............................. 57Whortleberry ................. Gaylussacia sp. ....................... 61Wild carrot ..................... Daucus carota ................... 34, 47Wild indigo ..................... Baptisia tinctoria ................... 32Wild rice ......................... Zizania aquatica ..................... 83Willow ............................ Salix sp. ........... 38, 46, 57, 58, 59Willowherb .................... Epilobium spicatum ............... 40Witch hazel .................... Hamamelis Virginica ........ 27, 62Witch grass .................... Eragrostis pectinacea ............. 83Wood betony .................. Pedicularis Canadensis ......... 60Yellow aster ................... Chrysopsis falcata .................. 32Yellow daisy ................... Rudbeckia hirta ...................... 35Yellow-eyed grass ......... Hypoxys erecta ........................ 15Yellow lady’s-slipper. .... Cypripedium pubescens ......... 15Yellow violet .................. Viola pubescens ................ 24, 51

INDEX OF PLANTS 105

TTTTTopogopogopogopogopographical Atlasraphical Atlasraphical Atlasraphical Atlasraphical AtlasOF THE

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCEPLANTATIONS

By the United States Geological Survey, inco-operation with the State

Hav ing secured the r ema in ing cop i e s o f th i s At l a s ,we o f f e r them a t the fo l low ing r educed p r i ce s :

I nI nI nI nI n S h e e t sS h e e t sS h e e t sS h e e t sS h e e t s ..... ..... ..... $ $ $ $ $ 11111 ..... O OO OO OO OO O

I nI nI nI nI n P o r t f o l i oP o r t f o l i oP o r t f o l i oP o r t f o l i oP o r t f o l i o ..... ..... $ $ $ $ $ 22222 ..... O OO OO OO OO O

B o u n dB o u n dB o u n dB o u n dB o u n d i ni ni ni ni n c l o t hc l o t hc l o t hc l o t hc l o t h ..... $ $ $ $ $ 22222 ..... 55555 OOOOO

A few bound in half Morocco remain and can be furnished for $3.5o.

The plates of this Atlas were engraved upon copper inthe highest style of cartographic engraving by the UnitedStates Government and furnished to the State. From theseplates transfers were made to stone and the maps printed infour colors, viz.: The names, roads, railroads and other cul-ture features in black . Rivers, ponds, swamps, and otherwater features in blue. Contour lines and figures denotingelevation are in brown. State, county, and town boundariesare in pink, over the more exact boundaries in black or blue.

Besides showing all bodies of water and water courses,common roads or highways and railroads, it has one featuredistinct from and superior to any map of the State hithertopublished, viz. : Contour l ines, drawn for each 20 feet ofelevation above mean sea level. Figures are placed uponthe heavier contour l ines, which denote elevations of 100feet, 200 feet, etc., above mean sea level, also upon hills andbodies of water to denote their elevation. A contour lineindicat ing 20 feet depth of water be low mean sea level isdrawn along the coast. In a few cases figures are given toindicate depth of water of less than 20 feet.

This Atlas includes 12 maps and 10 pages index and sta-tist ics, in al l 22 sheets, 21 x 16 . . The scale of survey is

, or one mile to an inch.12

16 2 5 0 0


The Magazine of New EnglandHistory

For 1891, 1892, 1893

Having purchased the few remaining completesets of the Magazine of New England History,originally published at $6.OO, we offer the threevolumes in parts as issued for $2.5O per set, orbound in one volume, cloth, for $3.5O.

These volumes contain nearly eight hundredpages of information relating of New Englandlocal, church, and family history, including rec-ords , genealogies, journals, letters, and manyinteresting notes and queries.

What CheerOR

Roger Williams in BanishmentA POEM

By JOB DURFEE

Revised and edited by THOMAS DURFEE

Cloth, Leather Label, 12mo, 225 pages. Price $I.25 net


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