THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. 49 



yellow and the long, linear, sprawling petals produce a 

 spider-like effect. These are contorted in a singular man- 

 ner. The pods or capsules are woody, two-celled, with 

 one shiny seed in each cell. These seeds, at full maturity, 

 are ejected from the pods with explosive violence and with 

 a sound as of a miniature artillery. If one takes home a 

 fruiting branch and forgets it, he may be alarmed some 

 night by a bombardment of his window-panes and mir- 

 rors. The sound is really startling. 



It gives one a strange sensation to find a plant natu- 

 rallj^ blooming at this late season. It seems a reversal of 

 the natural order. If, in one instance, nature has been 

 able to produce an exception, how easy it might be for her 

 to continue erratic! In that case we w^ould have our 

 strawberries at Christmas and chestnuts on the fourth of 

 July ! 



Witch hazel is well known for two reasons, which shall 

 be stated in the order of their importance. First, it pro- 

 duces the various extracts of Hamamelis. Secondl3% it is 

 used by the credulous treasure and water-seeker, as a 

 divining-rod. 



It is a curious fact that while apple twigs are used 

 abroad for their talismanic effects, our Dousterswivels 

 should apply this plant. It may be that the true hazel or 

 filbert is also employed in Europe and a confusion of 

 names has resulted. Be that as it may, we fancy one is as 

 useless as the other, though it is only fair to say that we 

 have known educated people who firmly believe in the 

 efiicacy of the rod. But where are we to draw the line for 

 people's superstitions? It has been stated that learned 

 societies have at times consented to the investigation of 

 phenomena of the divining-rod. A wand that would in- 

 crease our bank account would put an end to a deal of our 

 unbelief! 



Why the shrub is called witch hazel we do not know, 

 but the word is supposed to mean weak, from the droop- 

 ing habit of the plant. Possibly its use in incantations 

 may account for it. Drake, in his Culprit Fay, speaks of 



