STUDIES OP PLANT LIFE 



distances and establishing themselves wherever they chance 

 to alight. Many an unnamed flower exists, no doubt, in 

 secluded spots where as yet the foot of man has never 

 trod. Those primitive wilds where even the hardy lum- 

 berman's axe has never been heard, those rugged hills 

 known only to the eagle and the falcon, those deep cedar 

 swamps that afford shelter to the wolf, the bear and the 

 wildcat, conceal many a graceful shrub and rare plant that 

 one day may be gazed on with admiring eyes by the for- 

 tunate naturalist, whose reward may possibly be to have his 

 name conferred upon the newly-discovered floral treasure. 



A large number of plants of the Composite Order are 

 remarkable for the bitter milky juice contained in the leaves, 

 stalks and roots, the properties of which are narcotic and 

 sedative. This bitter milky juice pervades all parts of the 

 Dandelion or Taraxacum; also the Wild Endive and other 

 members of the Lettuce tribe. 



The Dandelion is so well known that it is unnecessary to 

 enter into any description of its floral parts. The root of 

 the Dandelion has been utilized as a substitute for coffee; 

 in preparing it the root should be washed thoroughly, but 

 the thin brown skin not scraped off, as much of the tonic 

 virtue is contained in this brown covering of the root. This 

 must be cut up into small pieces and dried by degrees in the 

 oven until it becomes dry and crisp enough to grind in the 

 coffee-mill; it is then used in the same way as the coffee- 

 berry, with the addition of milk and sugar. A small portion 

 of fresh coffee would, I think, be an improvement to the 

 beverage, but it is not usually added. Many persons have 

 used this preparation of the Dandelion and greatly approved 

 of it. It is a good tonic and very wholesome. The herb 

 itself, if the leaves be blanched, makes a good salad, equal 

 to the garden Endive. 



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