APRIL AND MAY, 



29 



Gaulthtria 



procumbens. 



but, strange as it may seem, the plant has become 

 useful in a far better way : it is quite efficacious in 

 driving away neuralgic rheumatism, and doctors pre- 

 scribe an extract of the root for that purpose. 



„. Although the wintergreen flowers as 



Wintergreen, or ^ ^ 



Checkerberry. late as July, its dark green, roundish 

 leaves and bright scarlet berries are 

 familiar objects in the woods in spring 

 when there is little that is green scattered over the 

 woodland floor to hide 

 the pretty shiny plant 

 from view. The ber- 

 ries grow so plenti- 

 ful in southeastern 

 Massachusetts that 

 they are picked and 

 brought to Boston, 

 where they may be 



for sale in 



of the fruit 

 The berries 

 remain on the ever- 

 green plants all win- 

 ter ; in spring they are found in plenty on the 

 foothills of the White Mountains. The flower is 

 tiny and waxlike, and tastes as strongly aromatic as 

 the berry does. 



found 

 many 

 stores. 



Wintergreen, or Checkerberry. 



