388 EDIBLE WILD PLANTS 



industrious little animals dig burrows usually in the side of a 

 small knoll (or cradle-hill as it is often called). The entrance 

 is about 1 in. wide, and descends about 1 ft. at an angle of 40° 

 to 50°, though often nearly vertically. After a tortuous and 

 somewhat horizontal course of 2 ft. to 5 ft., a chamber nearly 

 1 ft. in diameter is made. In this is the nest, packed round 

 with nuts and seeds of various kinds. Several branch burrows 

 also contain the same kind of food, often to the amount of three 

 or four gallons. 



A knowledge of the appearance, location, and edible qualities 

 of the plants described herein, though not always ensuring a 

 bounteous meal, will, without doubt, keep oft the pangs of 

 hunger so frequently dwelt on in tales headed "Lost in the 

 woods." To a backwoodsman of ordinary intelligence such 

 stories sound like gross exaggerations. A pocket knife, a tin 

 kettle, and a few matches, provide means of existing in a forest 

 which would be totally inadequate in a city. The addition of 

 a little sugar and salt would place him beyond need, and if he 

 has any skill as a trapper the animal world would also be 

 largel3^ at his mercy. 



Note. — The descriptions in this paper are intended to be 

 given, as far as possible, in plain, untechnical language, so as 

 to be easily understood by those for whom the paper is pri- 

 marily intended, namely, persons with little or no botanical 

 knowledge. The writer does not wish to be considered as at 

 all attempting to present technically accurate descriptions, 

 which may be found in various systematic works. The nomen- 

 clature is mainly that of Gray's Manual of Botany. 



FRUITS AND BERRIES. 



1, Vaccinium Canadense Kalm., and Vaccinium Pennsylvan- 

 icum Lam. Canadian, and Dwarf Blueberry. 



Two species much alike ; but the former has downy leaves 

 with entire edges, the latter little or no down and finely-toothed 



