2 THE PLANT WORLD. 



Countless blossoms of the odorous wild Roses fill the gulches and 

 ravines; plants that are only a few inches high may be found sport- 

 ing several flowers, while the hedge-forming bushes are covered with 

 buds and blossoms, in all the possible shades of red, audits variegation 

 with white. Here also are found old friends in the blue Spiderwort, 

 appearing in its true form like a veritable immense spider; 

 the yellow Four-o'clock ; and Larkspurs, long sprays of the blue and 

 white, like those of the old-fashioned gardens, but much inore beauti- 

 ful. High on the banks are white clouds of scented petals from the 

 wild Plum and Cherry, the Thimbleberry and the Raspberry. Climb- 

 ing among these trees and shrubs are seen interlacing the Clematis 

 and wild Hops in blossoming garlands of white and green, forming 

 trellises, arbors and bowers innumerable, hanging strands and fes. 

 toons from one side of the path to the other, swaying amid the breeze 

 and keeping time to the cadence of the mountain streams. 



The Cacti have been in bloom for some time, and we must not pass 

 them by; in fact it would be impossible, as they are everywhere and 

 are apt to make themselves felt severely if not noticed. It is indeed 

 fortunate if on our strolls we return without one or more of their 

 sharp spines having penetrated our shoes and entered the flesh, there 

 to prove themselves long sought for, hard to find and decidedly pain- 

 ful. The Cacti are at their best upon the prairie, especially after a 

 dry, hot spring; it seems incredible how little moisture they require. 

 A plant has been known to have been kept in a tin box all fall and 

 winter with hardly a drop of water; in fact it had been forgotten, yet 

 it flourished and bloomed during the summer months. The Prickly 

 Pear cactus is found on the prairie, on the hillsides, in the gulches, 

 high upon the cliffs, hanging on by its long tough roots; its large 

 fleshy joints and brilliant blossoms hanging down along the sides of 

 the precipice. The joints are thickly studded with sharp needle-like 

 spines of white ; these are of a poisonous nature and are capable of 

 causing considerable pain and irritation, if after having entered the 

 flesh, they are accidentally broken off and allowed to remain there. 

 Among these guarding swords nestle the buds and blossoms and later 

 the fruit, the prickly pear proper, dark red in color and somewhat re- 

 sembling a plum in shape. To the southward, where it grows con- 

 siderably larger, it is found to be quite a tempting edible. Both the 

 bud and fruit are generously endowed with close-set clusters of fine 

 hair-like spines; these are even more painful than the larger ones, be- 

 ing mostly so very small as to remain unnoticed, but certain to be 

 felt and hard to extract. The blossoms are large and of three shades 

 of color; there is a dull yellow, and a rich golden-hued, but the most 

 beautiful of all is the golden-petaled with a brilliant crimson centre, 



