418 FAMILIES OF GREATEST WORTH. 



much importunco on account of the groat value of many plants 

 which it contains. Ilcro belong the ponies, such as apples, pears, 

 quinces, medlars, service berries ; and hero aro the ilrHjx's, such 

 as })eache8, almonds, apricots, nectarines, plums, prunes, and 

 cherries. Here are found strawberries, red rasjjberries and black 

 raspberries, and blackberries. This nuiy well be called the 

 "fruit" family. There are also many choice Rowers, including 

 the rose, potentilla, spiraea, hawthorn, and Japanese quince. 



Tlie Saxifragacew (Saxifrage Family) affords currants and 

 gooseberries, mock orange, deutzia, hydrangea, and saxifrage. 



The CurvrhH(U'(a> {Cionvi\ Family) contains squashes, pumpkins, 

 melons, musk melons, gourds, and cucumbers. 



The Uni belli f era' (Parsley Family) includes the carrot, chervil, 

 colery, turnip-rooted celery, parsley, parsnip, caraway, coriander, 

 fennel, lovage, and sweet cicely. 



The CompositcB (Sunflower or Aster Family) is the largest 

 family of flowering plants, and contains about one-eighth of all 

 species in the United States. It affords a largo number of weeds, 

 such as thistles, ox-eye daisy, rag-weed. May-weed, yarrow, fire- 

 wecd, dandelion, burdock, cocklcbur, flea-bane, and many more. 

 It cont.ains a largo number which are valuable for ornament, as 

 asters, zinnias, dahlias, feverfews, cinerarias, chrysanthemums, 

 and sunflowers. Considering the enormous size of the family, 

 about 10,000 species, wo should expect something profitable in 

 the lino of field and garden products. The best it can do is to 

 furnish lettuce, two kinds of artichokes, dandelion, salsify, chic- 

 ory, endive, and sunflower. There is not a fruit nor a valuable 

 vegetable, properly so-called, nor a good forage plant, so far as 

 we know, in the entire list. 



The Ericaccce (Heath Family) is one of much interest to the 

 florist. It includes the cranberry, blueberry, huckelberry, rho- 

 dodendron, azalea, laurel, heath, and trailing arbutus, or May- 

 flower. 



