1 



S^mmflipw^r. 



C)cliantl}us aiuiuus. N. 



CoMpos/'fce — Aster Family. 



ITERALL\ Helianthus, from two Greek words, lielios, the 



sun md (iiil/ids. a flower, denotes Sunflower. The common 



\ uiLt\ IS I nati\e of South America, and is probably the 



lai<;e&t ot the species, for it towers sometimes to the height 



ol htteen feet, with a stalk as large as a man's wrist. 



This giovvth depends on the character of the soil, as a 



pooi soil dwarth and diminishes its stature. The flowers are yellow. 



uid lu ti equenth the size of a large dinner plate. The seeds are 



\ei\ iich uid oih md are sometimes used like almonds for preparing 



p soothing emulsions. In Europe a sort of bouillon is made of them for 



infants, and in Portugal they are ground into meal for bread, and are 



sometimes used in the same way by our own American Indians. They 



are also said to be used as a substitute for coftee. The oil is nearly 



equal to olive oil, and the stems are useful as food for cattle and also 



It has been asserted that if the seeds are planted around a dwelling 



act as a pre\'enti\'e of fevers, by absorbing the malaria. 



)RIDE of the garden, the beauteous, the regal, 

 The crown'd with a diadem burning in gold ; 

 iltan ot" flowers, as the strong pinioned eagle 

 .\nd lord ot" the t"ore*t their wide emiiire hold. 



'pHERE is a region loftier far 



Than sages know or poets sing — 

 Brighter than summer's beauties are, 

 .And sot"ter than the tints of spring. 



There is a world with blessings blest, 

 Bevond what prophet's e'er foretold; 



Nor might the tongue of angel guest 

 A picture of that world unfold. 



TOOK past yon hills, whose crest bright sunned is 

 '-' With the last fond glance that the dead dav gives; 

 Up ! let the voice of thy Di; Profundis 



Thrill to those courts where no soi-row live*! 



-Barton Grey. 

 290 



as 



