THE fl/l^ERICP BDTpiST. 



Vol. VII. BINGHAMTON, N. Y., NOVEMBER. 1904. No. 5, 



WHAT WINTER SHOWS. ' , '' 



BY DR. WILLIAM WHITMAN BAILEY. ,. 



^PHOSE familiar with our woods are well aware that 

 L there is no season of the year entirely devoid of 

 flowers. Not that this blooming necessarily occurs every 

 successive season. What is claimed as the result of long 

 experience, is, that in cycles, say of five or ten years, the 

 acute observer will see and record some flowers in every 

 month. 



For instance, we have collected dandelions at least 

 once, on Boston Common, on Christmas Day, Everyone 

 knows, too, that on April 19th, 1775, the day of Lexing- 

 ton and Concord, apple orchards were in bloom ; that is, 

 the blossoms, and no doubt the orioles, were there weeks 

 ahead of time! 



The dandelion is a very hardy plant and has been 

 found well up toward the pole. In late November, too, it 

 is not unusual to find Houstonia cserulea, Viola lanceolata 

 and ovata, and Leontodon autumnale. The latter begins 

 to bloom in New England in June. 



Everyone knows that chickw^eed, a most frail, flaccid 

 and delicate looking plant, will, when the snow is off the 

 ground, blossom all winter. It is said that in its hibernal 

 state, it is self pollinated, as there are no insects about to 

 assist it. In summer, it is adapted to cross-pollination — 

 and its flowers modified accordingly. Its seeds w^ill ger- 

 minate at a very low temperature. 



It is not at all uncommon in November or even Decem- 

 ber, to find the trailing arbutus {Epigaea repens,) as well 

 as hepatica, both essentially vernal flow^ers. As we have 

 noted, violets have a way of appearing late. With ad- 

 ventive plants we expect these tricks. Even two centuries 



