botany, will certainly 

 recall the well-known 

 "ground-pine," which 

 carpets the winter 

 woods in its fan- 

 shaped green foliage, 

 and which is such a 

 favorite for Christmas wreaths and decoration in general. 

 This is the most familiar form of the lycopodium (L. 

 dendroideuni), but there are others equally common in 

 our woods, some assuming the form of miniature branch- 

 ing pine-trees, or trees resembling closely tufted mosses, 

 but all, at one season or another, lifting their catkin-like 

 fruiting spore fronds, and shedding in the breeze their 

 smoky yellow clouds. Certain of these species are now 

 fruiting in the woods, and we have only to find them to 

 obtain our generous supply of this same yellow powder 

 of the pharmacy. 



Where the plant grows abundantly these spore stems 

 rise in profusion among the leaves, and as we walk 

 through them our shoes and nether garments are soon 

 covered with the yellow dust. With a little care each 



