168 GARDEN FLOWERS. 



not ornamental, yet their berries render them 

 so in a good degree, nor is their handsome 

 spinach-hke fohage uuworthj of admiration. 

 The crimson berries are covered, lilie those of 

 the strawberry, with small seeds. 



The strawberry blite is one of the greatest 

 ornaments of the summer woods of Canada, 

 and it grows in great profusion in those forests, 

 where 



" The hiccory, the sumach, and the red maple, 

 The fringe-tree, and the acac'a triple-thorned, 

 Temper the ardour of the burning sun. 

 And on the locust's violet-breathing flowers 

 Cast the pale yellow of its meekened tire." 



The author of the " Backwoods of Canada " 

 mentions having gathered branches a foot in 

 length, thickly studded with its crimson ber- 

 ries, and regrets that the beautiful fruit should, 

 by its insipidity, be unfit for eating : she adds, 

 that on the banks of creeks and in rich ground 

 it grows luxuriantly, " sending up twenty or 

 thirty branches, drooping with the weight of 

 their magnificent burden. As the middle and 

 superior stems ripen and decay, the lateral 

 ones come on, presenting a succession of fruit, 

 from July till the frosts nip them off, in Sep- 

 tember." 



The Canadian Indians are said to be fond of 

 these unpalatable berries, and they use the 

 juice as a dye, and make it into ink. The 

 writer before quoted, states, however, that this 

 ink is liable to fade ixnless mixed with alum. 

 She mentions the circumstance of a lady, who 

 sent a letter from Canada, crossed with the red 



