J T 



BLUE DANDELIONS 



By Norman JefferiEs 



"D OTANICAL scientists and amateur lovers of wild flow- 

 ^^ ers will thrill in unison at the announcement in an autho- 

 ritative journal heralding the discovery of an entirely new 

 variety of a species whose type representative is, perhaps, 

 more familiar to even casual observers than any other of our 

 common flowers of roadsides and fields. 



Proclaiming in a recent issue the discovery after a nine 

 years' search of what is proudly described by its fortunate 

 finder as "the fabulous blue dandelion" the editor of the At- 

 lantic MontJdy in personal response to inquiries not only offers 

 practical substantiation but assumes individual responsibility 

 for the authenticity of the new variety. 



Those who study and collect our native and introduced 

 species of wild flowers will understand the motive of the writ- 

 er in seeking to secure from the Atlantic editor details in 

 verification of the most remarkable botanical find of the cen- 

 tury. Properly jubilant over the discovery of a new variety 

 hitherto overlooked by scientific and amateur students, the 

 editor promptly furnished what he regarded as proof positive, 

 or, as he puts it, "the credence of his own senses." To which 

 he add "he has seen dandelion before — a good many of them 

 — and that this is a blue one he can swear most positively." 

 Which coming from the editor of that sacrosant repository of 

 all learning, the Atlantic Monthly, should convince and doubt- 

 ful inquirer. 



