226 THE RING OF NATURE 



constructed solely for advertising the nectar of 

 the community. 



The near relationship of common and mealy 

 guelder is startlingly shown when the stone of 

 each is exhibited. Both are flat, the stone of the 

 mealy guelder carrying out the shape of the fruit, 

 but that of the other appearing as a complete 

 surprise on account of the generous rotundity of 

 the fruit. The high-bush cranberry is one of the 

 wild fruits of Canada that are accounted good to 

 make jam of. An Indian describing the fruit to 

 a settler put the cap on his definition by saying 

 that the seeds were ' all same as a bug.' In fact, 

 the high-bush cranberry and the guelder-rose are 

 the same shrub, and, little as it is known in this 

 country, a rather tart red-currant jelly can be 

 made of these handsome fruits. When raw, they 

 are so astringent to the palate that it is scarcely 

 a wonder that they are classed as poisonous. 



The handsome spindle -wood ripens its berries a 

 little later than both the guelders. The starry, 

 greenish-white blossoms are exquisitely but mildly 

 beautiful in May. The three-lobed berries begin 

 to be noticeable when they turn slowly towards 

 a bright crimson - lake, which they reach in 

 September. Then the crimson lobes split and 

 show within the astonishing contrast of bright 

 vermilion seeds, one in each lobe, an arrangement 

 that has somehow earned them the name of ' pin- 

 cushions.' By this time the leaves have taken 

 on the crimsons and purples of the dogwood 



