THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 141 



mas Day, after there had been sleighing, and a number of 

 these Httle stars wished me happy New Year on January first. 

 The flowers were perfect in January, tiny, red anthers and 

 all. When the winter-bloom's golden stamens had all blown 

 aw^ay, I was delighted to see a quantity of the chickweed in 

 bloom beneath a shrub on the lawn, so late or so early as 

 February first. 



What a dear little flower to bloom all the winter round 

 in Massachusetts ! Perhaps, it helped to supply with food the 

 few song birds that were brave enough to live with us all 

 winter, as Mrs. Dana says the seed of Stellaria media is food 

 for song birds. Had I observed this flower in November I 

 should say it must bloom every month in the year. So does 

 one get from this so called insignificant weed more real bravery 

 than is found in its more showy friends, the goldenrods. 



Another Poisonous Plant. — A species of milkweed 

 from our Southwest very similar in appearance to the w^iorled 

 milkweed {Asdepias verticilata) of the Eastern States is re- 

 ported to be poisonous to cattle, horses and sheep. The new 

 species or form is called Asdepias galioidcs. It is said to be 

 distasteful to live stock, but when animals are confined in 

 pastures where other food is scarce, they may eat it and thus 

 become poisoned. The plant grows so thriftily in some re- 

 gions that it is very difficult to eradicate it. Most cultivators 

 are familiar with the tenacity with which nearly all milkweeds 

 hold to a locality when once they are established. The exis- 

 tence of the poisonous species in cultivated grounds and pas- 

 tures, however, is a constant menace and no effort should be 

 spared in an attempt to eradicate it. 



