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The pretty yellow flower you noticed a month 

 since along the ditches and low places is scarce- 

 ly recognizable now. A friend then, to all out- 

 ward appearances, it has turned to a foe, thrust- 

 ing its javelins at whatsoever crosses its path. 

 The bright-yellow petals have disappeared, the 

 green disk has changed to rusty brown ; and the 

 larger burr- marigold (Bidens chrysanthemoides) 

 stands revealed in its true hideousness an ugly, 

 swarthy ruffian, at once an armory of halberds, 

 arquebuses, arrows, and poniards. 



Finest of the extremely numerous asters that 

 follow one during an autumnal ramble are the 

 several forms of A. Nova Anglice, the large 

 purple, starwort of the road-sides, varying from 

 lavender and rosy purple to deep purple. It is 

 the richest and one of the gayest of the common 

 late wild flowers, and, common as it is, is well 

 worth a suitable place in the garden. It seldom 

 looks so well under cultivation, for the reason 

 that it is seldom planted in sufficient quantity. 

 This is equally the case with most wildlings ; 

 they should be seen in masses, as they oc- 

 cur naturally, to disclose their true worth. 

 " Enough " is not " as good as a feast " when it 

 Comes to flowers, 



The late flowering characteristic of the peren- 

 nial aster is one of its many charms. Gerarde, 



