plantsfooD anD /iRotfon 145 



ever now that so many of their kindred have faded 

 and perished, and that two months more in our 

 Northern climates will complete their reign, and 

 bereave us of their presence. 



Along the roadsides that brilliantly blue flower, 

 the " simpler's joy/' grows abundantl3^ If the long 

 spike of blossoms oi^ened at the one time, this would 

 be among our flower favorites, but the spike is ren- 

 dered unsightly by the hard, rough seed vessels of 

 the lower blossoms, while the florets at the top 

 of the stalk are just opened. Another misfortune 

 of this honest plant is, that owing to the localities of 

 its choice the rough stem and leaves are usually 

 loaded with dust. In spite of these drawbacks the 

 vervain, or " simpler's joy," is a plant of song and 

 stor3^ The Latin poets tell us that it was a favorite 

 decoration for altars, and was made into garlands for 

 beasts that were to be sacrificed. No doubt the 

 wreaths fashioned by the impulsive 2')eople of 

 Lystra, when they were about to do homage to 

 Paul and Barnal^as as epiphanies of Jupiter and 

 Mercury, were made of this blue simpler's joy. In 

 the Middle Ages this plant was called " The Herb of 

 Grace," and is said to have first bloomed upon Cal- 

 vary. The name simpler's joy has no reference to 

 idiots — " sim piers " were formerly the gatherers of 

 medicinal plants, " herb doctors," and these made 

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