300 THE PIvANT WORI^D 



DRUG AND MEDICINAL PI,ANT INVESTIGATIONS. 



About forty-five representative drug plants are arranged in a natural 

 sequence, beginning with, the lowest orders and running through the flow- 

 ering plants to the highest types. The order is that of Engler and Prantl. 

 Not only the common and botanical names but also the physiological 

 properties are indicated on the labels. 



Among the specimens shown are some of the common weeds which 

 have a medicinal value, as burdock, couch grass, and yellow dock. 

 Other kinds are cultivated in Europe and imported in large quantities 

 into the United States, as digitalis and belladonna. Some are wild native 

 plants which are collected in various parts of the United States, as golden 

 seal and cascara sagrada. 



POISONOUS PLANT INVESTIGATIONS. 



This exhibit includes plants known to have a poisonous action on live 

 stock and on human beings, the labels indicating the noxious characters 

 of the plant. Common poisonous weeds, some ornamental plants, and 

 the principal stock-poisoning plants of the cattle ranges are represented. 

 Among the number may be found one of the most feared loco weeds of 

 the western stock ranges ; a kind of larkspur which causes great losses of 

 cattle and sheep ; the cocklebur, said to be the cause of death in the case 

 of cattle and hogs ; the laurel of the eastern mountains, known to be fatal 

 to stock, and the cherry, the wilted foliage of which causes death. 



SCHOOL GARDENS. 



The school -garden exhibit, which is located in the northeast corner 

 of the grounds occupied by the Bureau of Plant Industry, has for its 

 object the carrying on of children's gardens, which it is hoped will help 

 forward the movement looking toward the teaching of agriculture in 

 schools. 



Thirty model gardens are cared for by some of the children from the 

 schools of St. Louis, under the direction of an experienced teacher, and 

 daily exhibitions throughout the Exposition will be given. 



Teachers interested in nature study can learn practical methods here 

 which they can introduce into their own schools, thus helping to make 

 primary education more practical and helpful. 



Observation plats comprising the principal agricultural crops are 

 planted on the grounds. Wild plants, showing their appropriateness for 

 ornamenting school grounds, are used for decorative purposes. 



GRASS GARDEN. 



The grass garden is located at the southeast corner of the exhibit, ex- 

 tending from Maine around Florida on the central map. Adjacent to the 

 New England States on the map is shown a sand dune upon which have 

 been set out several plants which are characteristic of areas of drifting 

 sand. South of this, along the eastern border of the exhibit, are shown 

 a number of coarse fodder plants, such as kafir corn, sorghum, milo maize, 

 etc. Lying between this row of coarse fodders and the map are a number 

 of our native wild grasses, those chosen for exhibition being among the 

 more valuable of these grasses. Opposite the angle between Florida and 

 Georgia is a circle in which the lawn grasses are exhibited. Below this 



