•^ NOTE and COMMENT |^« 



Laurel Philoi^ogy. — In ancient days, the Greeks made 

 use of wreaths to reward heroes, poets and victors in the 

 Pvthian games. These wreaths were usually made from the 

 laurel tree of Southern Europe, known Ijotanically as Laiirus 

 nohilis. In the course of time, such wreaths came to be used 

 to distinguish the successful in any endeavor, whence the ex- 

 pression "to win one's laurels". In a similar way the word 

 laureate indicated one who had won the co\-eted wreath or 

 crown. Apparently laurel was also in favor for indicating 

 academic honors and when loaded with its berries (Latin, 

 baccac,) is reputed to have given significance to the world bec- 

 calaureate if it did not. in fact, directly suggest it. The word 

 bachelor seems to have been derived from the same general 

 source — though it is hard to see how a bachelor is entitled to 

 any sort of laurels. Many who are familiar with the laurel 

 in literature, are (juite unaware that it is the very same plant 

 that yields the bay leaves, so frequently used in cooking. In 

 the (31d World, the firm, evergreen leaves of this plant, inter- 

 twined with holly, were used for Christmas decorations from 

 ancient times. In America the bay is a very commcMi plant, 

 though few who see it recognize it as the laurel so highly re- 

 garded by the ancients. As a tub plant it is ever present in 

 hotel lobbies, restaurants and courtyards, though in such 

 places it is so clipped and trimmed, that tlie phrase "under the 

 green bay tree" would apply only t(^ the tul) in which it grows. 



Uses of Be.\ck Locust. — The common black locust 

 {Rohinia psciidacacia) is rarely sawed into lum])er, l)ut its 

 durability, when exposed to the weather, makes it a most de- 



