400 FLORA HISTORICA. 



at the end of each spray of the plant. It is also 

 called Aaron's rod. The Hortus Kewensis enu- 

 merates thirty different species of this plant, one 

 of which is indigenous to England, one a na- 

 tive of Wales, and one has been found on the 

 Pyrenees, the remainder all belong to North 

 America. 



The Canadian Golden-rod, Soliclago Canadensis, 

 was first introduced to our gardens in the year 

 1 648 ; but as this species seldom exceeds more 

 than two feet in height, it is not so much sought 

 after as the taller kinds, which give a rustic 

 gaiety to the shrubbery during the autumnal 

 months, and is therefore well adapted as an or- 

 nament to cottage gardens and rural grounds, 

 where its spikes of multitudinous yellow flowers 

 produce an agreeable effect interspersed with 

 dark evergreens, or forming a back-ground to 

 banks of China xysters ; it also contrasts well with 

 the lilac colour of the Michaelmas Daisy. 



These plants are increased by parting their 

 roots, which should be done in the autumn, as 

 soon as their flowers are past, or early in the 

 spring, before they begin to send up shoots. It 

 is one of the plants we recommend to ornament 

 the banks of lake's and rivulets, where its pHant 

 golden rods appear to great advantage when re- 

 flected in the water. 



