20 NATURE STUDY 



in every country where it is known, following in the 

 steps of civilization, and occupying only waste ground. 



It belongs to the same family as the tobacco and the 

 tomato ; but, while these by cultivation have wholly, or 

 partly lost their poisonous character, the Jamestown 

 Weed, growing as it will, retains it. 



Jamestown Weed. Bud, flower, and fruit, all on the same branch. 



It is an annual, of spreading habit and rank odor, 

 which becomes plainly perceptible on crushing the curi- 

 ously toothed or angled leaves. Children, however, are 

 very apt to like the smell of the flowers, and they always 

 admire their morning glory like beauty. The stems of 

 one variety are purple, and of the other, green. There is 

 the same difference in the coloring of the flowers, although 

 this seems to be also somewhat dependent on the amount 

 of heat and light which they receive. Those which are 



