213 



enjoyed that cliildish delight of j)lucking " l)uttei'cups and 

 daisies" — who is there who has not made nosega3's, and necklaces 

 from these simi>le modest llowei's 'i And who is there who having 

 taken a part in those pastimes of early youth — an open air re- 

 creation taken in the hrst flash of mild weather after the eai'ly 

 spring, away from tlie smoke and din of town, — can ever forget 

 their innocent happiness. 



Aster : The Michaelmas Daisy genus, containing a large 

 number of species most of which are North American plants. 

 Many are highly appreciated for growing in outside Ijeds and 

 ])orders in temperate countries. Those annuals known as French, 

 German, or China Asters, have originated from CaJlisfpjihvft 

 ehinfiisis, Neis. At many of the horticultural exhibitions held in 

 England these latter formed a few jenvn since, and perhaps do 

 now in 1893, a very important exhil)it in the floral sections. 

 CalHstejjhiis chinf lists is a native of China and was known so far 

 back as 1731. 



lleJichrysnm : " Everlastings" have made this a well known 

 genus. The dried flowers are sold extensively for dried bouquet 

 purposes in Europe. The princi2)al species which yields the evei- 

 lastingis//. hracteatum and its A^arieties ; these are found in Australi;'. 

 Although only of a brown-looking appearance, we have a Com- 

 posite in Trinidad — E?ej/hanfojjus sciher L. J'oruia, (E. molliir', 

 Kunth) which might be used to advantage in a similar wa}'. 



Fluvhen : Two species ai'e lecorded from the AA^est Indies — • 

 P. odorata, Cass., and 7^ pnrjmrascens, D.C. The former is 

 locally known as " (Juerif tontri " or " Cure All," under which 

 name it enjoys no small degree of notice as a medicinal plant. 

 The Hon. Dr. L. A. A. de Vertkuil, in the first number of the 

 Agricultural Record, August 1889, p. 22 writes —" Also a good 

 diaphoretic ; used also iis a bath." Mi-. Chas. Boissiere Snr., 

 Port-of -Spain, informs me it is much sought after for medicinal 

 purposes. 



PartheniiDu : P. JJi/str'roj/Iionts, L., is a common Trinidad 

 plant. Mi\ T. W. Carr writes of this — " In look and smell it 

 so recalls Wormwood (Artemisia) that I call it in my M. S. flora 

 " Country Wormwood," or " Bitterweed." This is tlie only species 

 recorded from the British West Indies. 



Ambrosia : Although three species are said to be West 

 Indian, one is only present in Trinidad and that as a cultivated 

 plant — A. nrteinisifolia, 1^. Quoting Mr. Carr, " close to it (A 

 Ilysterophorus, L.) is the AiiJirosia arfemisifolia yiu- Triiiitctisis 

 of Finlay — at this, I have the expression 'Cult' (cultivated) in 

 my notes." 



Zinnia : A well-knoAvn garden genus. Natives of America. 

 Z. eh'ijans, Jac(|., is the original s])ecies of most of the garden 



