72 B!i)e ffiarten's Storj. 



Little later than the adder's-tongue comes 

 the lung-wort (Mertensia Virginica), pretty in 

 the blue and lilac shades of its drooping flowers, 

 and almost equally beautiful in the rich, dark 

 purple of the early leaves. The large blue flag 

 (Iris versicolor), an inhabitant of wet places in 

 woods, meadows, and along streams, is a hand- 

 some subject for naturalizing where it can ob- 

 tain the necessary moisture. Soon the little 

 Dutchman's breeches (Dicentra cucularia) will 

 disclose its curious spurred flower, and the 

 columbine (Aquilegia Canadensis) plume the 

 rocks and enliven the dry places with its pendu- 

 lous scarlet-yellow blossoms. The wild crane's- 

 bill (Geranium maculatutn) is usually found 

 with the columbine, both being fond of places 

 where the Hepatica has preceded them. 



Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisama triphylluiri) I 

 regard as the coarsest of the aroids, not fit to 

 associate with refined flowers ; it looks more like 

 a snake than a flower. The name Jack-in-the- 

 pulpit sounds well, and doubtless has helped 

 it to retain popular favor. Female botanizing 

 classes pounce upon it as they would upon a 

 pious young clergyman. But it is an arrant pre- 

 tender, and should be called by its proper name, 

 " Indian turnip," which befits it well. Let it 

 pass for what it is worth, and pose not as a 



