116 THE GOLD MINE 



There are over 100 kinds of perennial asters and 

 only a few of them have been cultivated. They get in 

 their work after the frosts. 



Many annuals come to their blooming in the middle 

 of the summer when it is hot and dry, and they are 

 not well enough rooted to stand the severity of the 

 climate. Again most of the seeds of the annuals are 

 very small and it is difficult to make them germinate. 

 Among these, however, we must place the modern 

 white asters which closely resemble large chrysanthe- 

 mums. As they come on in August and September 

 they are very important factors in keeping up the pro- 

 cession. 



YUCCAS. 



There are many varieties of these plants, some of 

 them not hardy in the ^North. I saw some growing in 

 Alabama that were natives there. They were six inches 

 through and eight to ten feet tall. They are said to 

 be very beautiful in bloom. 



The two kinds in ordinary cultivation are the Rocky 

 Mountain or Spanish bayonet and the Filamentosa. 



The former is by far the hardier. It grows not only 

 in the mountains but comes down in the plains as far 

 west as the 100th meridian. It seems to delight in 

 dry situations, but nevertheless grows well in rich soil 

 and responds to good cultivation. It has a long stiff 

 leaf which is pointed by the sharpest kind of a needle. 

 As it grows, the root lifts itself out of the ground like 

 a large beet. This is the soap weed of the Mexicans, 

 who often use it at the present day. The. roots also, 



