114 TRANSACTIONS OP THE ILLINOIS 



1st. A National Flower should be a native of the United 

 States. 



2nd. A National Flower should be one common to all the 

 States. 



3rd. It should be one that is useful in a bouquet, and one 

 that is, also, useful as a decorative plant or flower, or one to 

 commemorate some historical event and, also, one that the most 

 humble citizen can procure without great trouble or expense. 

 It should not be chosen simply from sentiment, but if we do, 

 let us leave the choosing to love-sick John as he goes to see his 

 best girl Mary on Sunday evening, and we may rest assured that 

 he will choose understanding^, for he would undoubtedly choose 

 tulips, or as he would pronounce it hvo lips. 



The Trailing Arbutus or Mayflower has many advocates. It 

 is, as we understand, a native of the most sterile mountain 

 states, and we, as citizens of the Western States, are not very 

 familiar with it. 



The Golden Kod, a native of the central portion of the United 

 States, is often voted for and seems to be quite popular. It is 

 of graceful feathery form, and very effective for decorative pur- 

 poses. 



The Yucea is a native of the western plains, will grow in any 

 part of the United States, and its large spikes of white flowers 

 are, indeed, beautiful. 



The Sunflower has also been suggested, and as a National 

 Flower, it would have its advantages. It is a native of every 

 State in the Union, therefore every citizen could easily procure 

 them. There are many varieties under cultivation; " they range 

 from the size of a small double Dahlia to fifteen inches in diame- 

 ter." This plant has no historical reminiscences clinging to it, 

 nevertheless it is held in veneration by the pioneers of the far 

 western, treeless plains, for the amount of fuel it furnishes them 

 during the cold winter blizzards so common there. There is 

 also a new variety which was used very extensively as a decorative 

 plant at fashionable entertainments in New York and Philadel- 

 phia the past season. 



The Apple Blossom is, also, often mentioned, and it is well 

 worthy of much thought; also the Corntassel or flower, for it is 

 commemorative of the fact that the United States is able to feed 

 the world. 



The leaves and flowers of the Oak, as tree or shrub, a native 

 of all the States, should be thought of, for who does not have 

 •a thrill of patriotism rush through them at the mention of the 

 famous Charter Oak. We must not forget to mention that the 

 leaves, too, are fine for decorative purposes. And, now, that we 

 are beginning to inform ourselves on this matter of a National 

 Flower, and think of casting our vote for any particular one, we 

 find there is a great number which are very suitable and worthy 



