YELLOW 



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 christening un- 

 recognized flowers which is so prevalent, and which is responsible 

 for so much confusion about their English names. 



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, sur- 

 rounded 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. 



YELLOW ADDER'S TONGUE. DOG'S TOOTH VIOLET. 



Erytkroniwn Americanum. Lily Family. 



Scape. Six to nine inches high, one-flowered. Leaves. Two, oblong- 

 lance-shaped, pale green mottled with purple and white. Floiver. Rather 

 large, pale yellow marked with purple, nodding. Perianth. Of six re- 

 curved or spreading sepals. Stamens. Six. Pistil. One. 



The white blossoms of the shad-bush gleam from the thicket, 

 and the sheltered hill-side is already starred with the blood-root 

 and anemone when we go to seek the yellow adder's tongue. 

 We direct our steps toward one of those hollows in the wood 

 which is watered by such a clear gurgling brook as must appeal 

 to every country-loving heart ; and there where the pale April 

 sunlight filters through the leafless branches, nod myriads of 



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