STUDIES OF PLANT LIFE 



Lettuce and others, are narcotic, being supplied with an 

 abundance of bitter milky juice. The Sunflower, Coreopsis, 

 Coneflower, Kagweed, and Tansy contain resinous pro- 

 perties. 



The beautiful Aster family, if not remarkable for any 

 peculiarly useful qualities, contains many highly ornamental 

 plants. Numerous species of these charming flowers belong 

 to our Canadian flora, lingering with us 



" When fairer flowers are all decayed," 



brightening the waste places and banks of lakes and lonely 

 streams with starry flowers of every hue and shade white, 

 pearly-blue and deep purple. 



The Coneflower is from one to three feet in height, the 

 stem simple or branching, each branchlet terminating in a 

 single head. The rays are of a deep orange color, varying 

 to yellow; the leaves broadly lanceolate, sometimes once or 

 twice lobed, partly clasping the rough hairy stem, hoary and 

 of a dull green, few and scattered. The scales of the chaffy 

 disc are of a dark shining purple, forming a somewhat 

 depressed cone. This species, with a slenderer-stemmed 

 variety with rays of a golden yellow, are to be met with 

 largely diffused over the Province. 



Many splendid species of the Coneflower are to be 

 found on the wide-spread prairies of the West, where their 

 brilliant starry flowers are mingled with many a gay 

 blossom known best to the wild Indian hunter and the 

 herb-seeking Medicine-men of the native tribes, who know 

 their medicinal and healing qualities, if they are insensible 

 to their outward beauty. One tall purple-rayed species 

 (Nchinacea purpurea) is very handsome. 



I sometimes think that, though apparently indifferent 

 to the beauties of Nature, our laborers are not really so 



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