44 
dren more about the fruit of the sumac than I can tell 
you to-day. 
There are many interesting things about plants yet to 
be found out ; and you children will find it far pleasanter 
to make your own discoveries, using your own bright 
eyes, than to read about the discoveries of other people. 
Every field, each bit of woods, the road we know so 
well leading from home to the schoolhouse, and even 
the city squares and parks, are full of interesting things 
that as yet we have never seen, even though we may 
have been over the ground a hundred times before. 
Now let us leave the lane, and strike into the woods 
in search of new fruits. This morning we will look 
\ especially for those fruits which by 
their bright colors and pleasant looks 
seem to be calling out to whomsoever 
it may concern, “Come and eat us!” 
Close at hand is one of our prettiest 
plants. Its leaves look as though 
they were trying to be in the height 
of the fall fashion, and to outdo even 
the trees in brightness of 
color. These leaves are set 
in circles about the slim stem. 
From the top of this grow some pur- 
ple berries (Fig. 34). 
This plant is the Indian cucumber 
root. If one of you boys will dig it 
FIG. 34 up with your knife, you will find that 
its root is shaped a little like a cucumber. Though 
I have never made the experiment myself, I am told 
