WILD, OR XAT/VE FLOWERS. 103 



familiar name as the former ; the Indians say "Ves, both Deer-Grass ; 

 Deer like that too." It was to increase the growth of this grass that the 

 Indians, at intervals of time, set fire to the Rice Lake Plains on the 

 high plateau of land to the eastward, where there was a great feeding 

 ground for the Deer and their fawns. For many years this tract of land 

 was covered with Oak-brush, with only a few old trees that had escaped 

 being injured by the fire. Now, indeed, we have noble Oaks of many 

 species, fine branching, well developed trees of White, Black, Red, 

 Scarlet, and Over-cup Oaks, that adorn the Plains and form avenues of 

 the concession and side-lines, most ornamental and grateful to the eye 

 of the traveller. It must have been nearly a century ago since these 

 Plains were last burnt over — not within the memory of the oldest settler 

 in the Township of Hamilton. Yet deep down, some six or seven feet 

 below the surface, the charred remains of Oaks are found to prove 

 the truth of the Indian name, " The Lake of the Burning Plains." Indian 

 names have always some foundation ; adopted from peculiar circum- 

 stances, they have acquired a sort of historical value among the people. 



The name of " Rice Lake " is derived from the fields of Wild Rice 

 Zizania aqiiatica, (L.) which abound in the shallower waters of this fine 

 inland sheet of water, and give the appearance of low verdant islands 

 clothing its waters. When the Rice is ripened, and the leaves faded, a 

 golden tint comes over the aquatic field, and the low Rice islands as 

 they catch the rays of the sun take the form of sands glowing with 

 yellow light. Where the water is low, these Rice beds increase so as 

 nearly to fill the shallow lakes and impede the progress of boats, 

 changing the channel and altering the aspect of the waters. 



In the month of June the tender green spikes of the leaves begin 

 to appear; in July the Rice begins to push up its stiff, upright stalk; 

 sheathed within its folds are the delicate, fragile flowers ; from the 

 slender glumes, the beautiful straw-coioured and purple anthers hang 

 down, fluttering in the breeze which stirs the grassy leaves that float 

 loosely upon the surface of the water, rising and falling with every 

 movement. The plant grows in lakes, ponds, and other waters, where 

 the current is not very strong, to the depth of from three to eight feet or 

 even deeper. The grassy or ribband-like flexible leaves are very long. I 

 remember a gentleman who was rowing me across the lake drew up one 

 at a chance on his oar and measured it, the length being eleven feet ; 

 but with the culm and flower it would have measured twelve or thirteen 

 feet in length. 



The month of September or later, in October, is the Indian's Rice 

 harvest. The grain, which is long and narrow and of an olive green or 



