^S WILD, OR XATIVE FLOWERS. 



intensely bitter, and are much used by the old settlers as tonic remedies 

 against weakness in children when brought low by fever and ague : 

 more especially is it used as a wash for sore ulcerated mouths, as thrush 

 in young infants. The Indian women use it for their little ones in case 

 of sore mouth and sore gums in teething. I once saw the small 

 evergreen leaves of the Gold Thread applied to a very different purpose 

 — that of trimming evening dresses of clear white muslin, and as the 

 heat of the room had little effect on them they looked fresh and 

 singularly ornamental on the young ladies that had so tastefully arranged 

 the leaves on their simple white dresses. 



I have noticed the term " Gold-thread " applied lately to one of 

 the species of Dodder, that singular parasite, but it was by a 

 person apparently unacquainted with our elegant little forest evergreen 

 Coptis trifolia. 



Bunch Berry^- Squaw Berry — Coniiis Canadensis (Lin.) 



This elegant and attractive little plant is met with most commonly 

 in beds, beneath the shade of evergreens, Hemlocks and Spruces, it 

 multiplies by its creeping root-stork as well as by the drupe-like berry. 

 Its popular name in the back-woods, is the Squaw-berry, and also 

 Bunch-berry. It is a truly lovely little plant — a perfect forest gem. 



In height our tiny Dogwood rarely exceeds four or six inches ; the 

 stem is leafy, the upper leaves form a whorl round the flowers, which are 

 enclosed by the white corolla-like involucre, which is more conspicuous 

 than the tiny terminal umbel of little flowers with their dark anthers. 

 The flowers are succeeded by small round berries which become 

 brilliantly scarlet by the end of the summer, appearing like a bright red 

 coral ring surrounded by the whorl of dark green, somewhat pointed, 

 veiny leaves. 



From its love of shady damp soil, this little plant would grow 

 under cultivation, if suitable localities were selected in shrubberies, 

 among evergreens and in rock-work not much exposed to the sun. 

 This low Cornel is very ornamental, both in flower and fruit. The 

 berries are sweet but insipid. The Indian women and children eat 

 them and say, "good to eat for Indian." The taste of tlie Indian is so 

 simple and uncultivated that they will eat any fruit or vegetable that is 

 innoxious, apparently indifferent to its flavour. 



The poor s([uaw gathers her handful of berries, and goes her way 

 contented with her forest fare, from which the more luxurious children 

 of civilization would turn away with contempt, or admire their beauty 

 possibly, and then cast them away as worthless. ]''ew indeed think of 



