 hy8] BRIEFER ARTICLES 355 
' wecome next to the landward side. This part of the island is more 
_ level and is occupied by meadows, with the cultivated fields belonging 
tothe farm in the center of the island. It is here that the greatest 
abundance of summer flowers is to be found. Inthe spring violets and 
Wild strawberries abound ; later on, the meadows are a blaze of yellow 
adwhite from the buttercups and daisies which fairly cover the ground; 
still later, when the hay has been gathered in, and the fields have been 
_‘eitbare by the mowing machine, every stony place, hedge or thicket 
_ adorned with masses of goldenrods and purple asters. Besides these 
~ Plants, which are in such abundance as to form prominent features in 
the landscape, there are scores of old friends to be found by every road- 
- side, along the fences, and among the hay. Here are clovers, ever- 
: lastings, wild rose, sweetbriar, silkweed, thistles, mustard, evening 
ftimrose, and a host of others too numerous to be enumerated here. 
«One point of interest might be mentioned in connection with these 
meadow plants. A botanist looking at the list of the species that 
_ Scur would probably be struck by the fact that very few of them are 
lative American plants. Cushing’s island has been inhabited for two 
tundred and fifty years, and during this time many plants have been 
nroduced, either intentionally or accidentally, through their seed 
~ teing mixed with that planted on the farm. Other seeds have proba- 
_ 4y blown or floated across from the mainland. These foreigners have 
Tourished and driven out of the fertile places most of the native plants ; 
ie “0 that if one wishes to study true American plants, he must go to the 
: ‘ean Tocks, marshes, and out-of-the-way places. As an illustration 
Ot this it may be remarked that no less than fifty-eight different kinds 
English, European, and tropical plants are to be found growing in 
Ids on Cushing’s island. 
_, ilthough the woods and meadows furnish the greater part of the 
flowers of the island, a visiting botanist would probably be more 
‘Tested in the plants of a less promising locality, namely, those 
i, 0 the rocky shores and sandy beaches. While the flowers 
Site, Mentioned may be seen anywhere in the northern states, those 
> ggg are peculiar and only to be found along the, AUAOYE sea- 
det hey grow in the most unlikely localities, flourishing in the 
of th 
