YELLOW 



of the " Winter's Tale," but insist on retaining for that larger, 

 lovelier garden in which we all feel a certain sense of possession 

 even if we are not taxed on real estate in any part of the coun- 

 try the " golden eyes " of the Mary-bud ; and we feel strength- 

 ened in our position by the statement in Mr. Robinson's " Wild 

 Garden ' ' that the marsh marigold is so abundant along certain 

 English rivers as to cause the ground to look as though paved 

 with gold at those seasons when they overflow their banks. 



These flowers are peddled about our streets every spring 

 under the name of cowslips a title to which they have no 

 claim, and which is the result of that reckless fashion of christen- 

 ing unrecognized flowers which is so prevalent, and which is re- 

 sponsible for so much confusion about their English names. 



The plant is a favorite " pot-herb " with country people, far 

 superior, I am told, to spinach ; the young flower-buds also are 

 considered palatable. 



The derivation of marigold is somewhat obscure. In the 

 " Grete Herball " of the sixteenth century the flower is spoken 

 of as Mary Gowles, and by the early English poets as gold sim- 

 ply. As the first part of the word might be derived from the 

 Anglo-Saxon mere a marsh, it seems possible that the entire 

 name may signify marsh-gold, which would be an appropriate 

 and poetic title for this shining flower of the marshes. 



SPICE-BUSH. BENJAMIN-BUSH. FEVER-BUSH. 



Lindera Benzoin. Laurel Family. 



An aromatic shrub from six to fifteen feet high. Leaves. Oblong; 

 pale underneath. Flowers. Appearing before the leaves in March or April; 

 honey-yellow; borne in clusters which are composed of smaller clusters, 

 surrounded by an involucre of four early falling scales. Fruit. Red; 

 berry-like ; somewhat pear-shaped. 



These are among the very earliest blossoms to be found in 

 the moist woods of spring. During the Revolution the pow- 

 dered berries were used as a substitute for allspice ; while at the 

 time of the Rebellion the leaves served as a substitute for tea. 



124 



