390 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



A species of nasturtium, habitually of a bright scarlet-red, has 

 given in the cold frame late flowers of a bright yellow, a red band 

 near the center of the petals remaining the only vestige of the nor- 

 mal color. In both cases the change of color began on the edges 

 of the petals. The flower of the myosotis, normally bright blue, has 

 become almost clear rose, without the slightest trace of blue; and 

 a pure blue phlox has shown a tendency toward greenish-yellow. — 

 Translated for the Popular Science Monthly from La Nature. 



FOLKLORE OF THE ALLEGHANIES. 



By FKANCES ALBERT DOUGHTY. 



THE West Virginia mountaineer lives very close to l^Tature, and 

 viewed from many standpoints the relation is characterized by 

 pleasing amenities: juicy berries refresh him along the road; nuts 

 drop into his path; " sang " (ginseng), which makes one of his sources 

 of revenue, reveals itself to his eye as he follows the cows to pasture ; 

 a cool brook springs up to quench his thirst when weary of follow- 

 ing the plow; pine knots are always within reach to make light as 

 well as warmth; mud and stones easily combine in his hand to 

 shape a daub chimney; and a trough dug out of an old tree furnishes 

 a receptacle that is as good for dough at one end as for a baby at 

 the other. 



Often, however, this close relation to Nature assumes a war 

 attitude, fierce and uncompromising. If hungry wolves no longer 

 howl furiously at the back fence after nightfall, or gnaw at the log 

 pens which secure the stock, and if panthers are seldom bold enough 

 to spring at a horse's flanks as a man rides along in the daytime, 

 bears are still numerous enough to devour a large number of sheep 

 every year in spite of precautions, and they have a pronounced taste 

 for sweet young corn. The living wrested from the soil in the short 

 and changeable summer months must cover the winter's need as 

 well; it is generally so scant and uncertain that the mountaineer 

 feels a chronic discouragement toward agriculture as a pursuit and 

 resource. He must depend on it, and yet as far back as he or his 

 father can remember there has always been some reason why " a 

 good crop " could not be made that year. The West Virginian lives in 

 a large and thinly settled game preserve, but the fleet deer usually 

 contrives to escape the hunter's chill wait in the autumnal dawn, the 

 coy wild turkey is overshy of his lure, and the wary trout requircis 

 a very patient rod. In the long winter deep snows cover the fences, 

 groui)S or " bunches " of cows and sheep often perish in the drifts, 



