216 A BUNCH OF HERBS. 



range than the common Old World thistle that grows 

 everywhere. Our little, sweet, white violet (blanda) 

 grows only in wet places, and the Canada violet oni^ 

 in high, cool woods, while the common blue violet it 

 much more general in its distribution. How fastidi- 

 ous and exclusive is the cypripedium ! You will find 

 it in one locality in the woods, usually on high, dry 

 ground, and will look in vain for it elsewhere. It 

 does not go in herds like the commoner plants, but 

 affects privacy and solitude. When I come upon it 

 in my walks, I seem to be intruding upon some very 

 private and exclusive company. The large yellow 

 cypripedium has a peculiar, heavy, oily odor. 



In like manner one learns where to look for ar- 

 butus, for pipsissewa, for the early orchis ; they have 

 their particular haunts, and their surroundings are 

 nearly always the same. The yellow pond-lily is 

 found in every sluggish stream and pond, but Nym- 

 phcea odorata requires a nicer adjustment of condi- 

 tions, and consequently is more restricted in its 

 range. If the mullein was fragrant, or toad-flax, or 

 the daisy, or blue weed (Echium), or golden-rod, they 

 wctild doubtless be far less troublesome to the agri- 

 culturist. There are, of course, exceptions to the 

 rule I have here indicated, but it holds in most cases. 

 Genius is a specialty ; it does not grow in every soil ; 

 it skips the many and touches the few ; and the gift 

 jf perfume to a flower is a special grace like genius 

 w like beauty, and never becomes common or cheap 



* Do honey and fragrance always go together ii 



