240 THE PI.ANT WORLD 



saying the fact that it is a beautiful flower ; but it is a cultivated plant, a 

 native of England, and consequently this country can lay no special claim 

 to it. The trailing arbutus or Mayflower has a strong hold on the hearts 

 of the people and good arguments are advanced by those who would like 

 to have it designated as the national flow^er. In a note prefacing his 

 poem, "The Mayflowers," Whittier says: "The trailing arbutus or 

 Mayflower grows abundantly in the vicinity of Plymouth, and was the 

 first flower to greet the Pilgrims after their fearful winter. ' ' The arbutus 

 therefore is not only lovely and widespread, but historic, all of which are 

 strong points ; but there is the objection that it is in bloom only a .short 

 time and possibly refuses to stand transplanting, so it can not be cultivated. 



The anemone has its friends, but no very vigorous campaign has been 

 conducted in its behalf. There are several species which are natives of 

 this countr>', and they bloom at different times during spring and summer. 

 The sunflower is a plant of striking appearance and there are twenty-two 

 species in this country, but while a fairly sound argument can be made 

 favoring it as a national emblem, an insurmountable objection is found 

 in the fact that Central and South American countries have a prior claim 

 to it in this respect. Like the lotus of the East, it is equally a sacred 

 and artistic emblem, figuring in the symbolism of Mexico and Peru. 



In Colonial days the tobacco flower was frequently used as a national 

 emblem, but it is doubtful if the idea of adopting it as such now would 

 meet with general approval, for some of the ladies would probably object. 

 The flower of the tobacco plant is modest and pleasing to the eye, and 

 the plant itself is one of the greatest wealth producers. It is native only 

 to our soil and many of our cherished traditions cling around it. Only 

 a few days ago an article was published in one of the leading metropoli- 

 tan papers in which the writer argued in favor of the Indian paint-brush 

 as the national flower. This is a plant which thrives in marshy soil, 

 averaging about one foot in height, and has bright green leaves and 



flowers of intense red or scarlet. 



******** 



But is it desirable to designate any one flower as an emblem of the 

 whole nation? To be sure England has her rose, Ireland the shamrock, 

 Scotland the thistle, Wales the leek, France the fleur de lis, Canada the 

 maple leaf, Switzerland the edelweiss. New South Wales the waratah or 

 native tulip. Nova Scotia the trailing arbutus, and other nations the 

 chrysanthemum, wistaria, and lotus, but the motto of the United States is 

 E Pliiribus Unum, one formed of many, and it would seem to be more 

 appropriate, therefore, that if we are to have a national floral emblem it 

 should be in the form of a bouquet or wreath. 



Many of the States of the Union have already adopted State flowers, 

 and a bouquet formed of these would make an ideal national emblem. By 



