STUDIES OF PLANT LIFE 



slender variety occurs of a pale buff, and also of a bright 

 lemon color. The American botanists speak of Castilleia 

 coccinea as being addicted to a low wettish soil, but this 

 has not been my experience; if you would find it in its 

 greatest perfection you must seek it on the high dry roll- 

 ing plains of Rice Lake, Brantford, the Humber to the 

 north of Toronto, Stoney Lake, the neighborhood of Peter- 

 boro', and similar localities. 



For soil the Scarlet Cup seems to prefer light loam, and 

 evidently courts the sunshine rather than the shade. If it 

 could be prevailed upon to flourish in our garden borders 

 it would be a great acquisition, from its long continuance 

 in flower and its brilliant coloring. The seed is light 

 brown, contained in thinnish capsules, ripe in September. 

 Gray says : " Herbs parasitic on roots," but our brave plant 

 is no parasite but grows freely on open ground. Neither is 

 it found with us in low wettish places; it loves the light 

 and would not flourish in shade. It is essentially a " prairie 

 flower." I have had bright specimens from our North- West 

 and also from Wisconsin and Dakota, U.S. ; of a darker 

 red from Manitoba. 



These lovely plants, like many others that adorn our 

 Canadian woods and wilds, yearly disappear from our 

 midst, and soon we shall seek them but find them not. 



We might say with the poet: 



" 'Twas pity Nature brought ye forth 

 Merely to show your worth, 



And lose ye quite ! 

 But ye have lovely leaves, where we 

 May read how soon things have 

 Their end, though ne'er so brave ; 

 And after they have shown their pride 

 Like you awhile, they glide 

 Into the grave." 



Herrick. 



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