THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. 57 



should be no delay when the time came. It needs but a cer- 

 tain number of sunbeams to set them free. 



In the procession of the flowers each has its appointed 

 place. The date upon which it blooms may vary, but it is 

 pretty constant as regards its place with regard to the others. 

 We may predict with some confidence the time when any spec- 

 ies will be at the height of its flowering season, but the first 

 of their race, the heralds of the coming army, spring up be- 

 fore we are aware of it. Some sheltered nook which gives a 

 slight advantage in the way of moisture and sunshine may 

 contain a little colony in full bloom some time before their less 

 favored kin appear. It is the search for these firstlings that 

 gives so much zest to our spring rambles. 



Among spring flowers, there are always a few that lead 

 the rest in popularity. The Dutchman's breeches is one of 

 these. The flowers are rather choice as to location and are 

 valued accordingly, but they are constantly becoming rarer 

 under the treatment they are subjected to each spring. Their 

 favorite dwelling place is on the ledges of shaded rocks, or in 

 rich woodland soil. One cannot fail to note how decorative 

 the handsome foliage and slender recemes of waxy white blos- 

 soms appear against a background of gray rock. The plant is 

 a relative of the cultivated bleeding heart and closely resembles 

 it except that the two petals are prolonged into spurs at base. 

 Each receme of flowers looks not unlike several pairs of tiny 

 breeches hung on a line and thus the plant gets its common 

 name. Were the brownies as well known when plant names 

 were given as they are now, it is likely that the flowers would 

 have received another name. The breeches look as if they 

 might easily fit those rotund little sprites. 



The bloodroot flourishes in thickets along streams but in 

 many places is rare or entirely absent. It is always an object 

 of interest to the young people who dig up the thick rootstocks 

 and break them to see them bleed. It is apparently goo^ red 



