Late August and Early September 



genus. It is often mistaken for the tan- 

 sy, which is also a yellow Composite, but 

 which is quite dissimilar in detail, having 

 deeply divided leaves, the segments of 

 which are cut and toothed, and sometimes 

 much crisped or curled, and button-like, 

 deep-hued flower-heads, which appear to 

 be devoid of ray-flowers. Strictly speak- 

 ing, the tansy is not a wild flower with us. 

 It was brought from Europe to the gardens 

 of New England, where it was raised as 

 a valuable herb. Now it dyes yellow the 

 hollows of the abandoned homestead and 

 strays lawlessly to the borders of the high- 

 way. 



The tribe of asters is even larger than 

 that of golden-rods, numbering some two 

 hundred species. Italy, Switzerland, and 

 Great Britain each yield but one native 

 variety, I believe, although others are 

 largely cultivated ; the Christmas and 

 Michaelmas daisies of English gardens 

 being American asters. One species, 

 117 



