33 



swamp. The first to turn is the smooth sumac {Rhus glabra) . 

 The mountain sumac {R. copallina) usually keeps its rich dark 

 green color much later than the others, and when it does turn, 

 shows more crimson than scarlet. But the poison sumac {R. 

 vernix) is the most gorgeous of all, which is a great pity, for the 

 lure of its wonderful leaves causes much suffering to most of 

 those who touch them. Several years ago one of the country 

 churches was elaborately decorated with it. Although a stranger, 

 I told some of the people the bush was dangerous but was met 

 by smiling assurances that I was mistaken, and they kindly 

 pointed to the mountain sumac as the one to avoid. I never 

 heard the results of that decoration, but suppose if any were 

 affected, they attributed their discomfort to some other cause. 

 Of the large trees the sassafras and the various maples claim 

 most attention because of their vivid colors. Some of the swamp 

 maples turn very early, others remain green until October, so the 

 swamps are ablaze in spots for several weeks. The berries of the 

 black alder {Ilex verticillata) make the swamps gay after the leaves 

 have fallen. Gathered late in October, and kept in a cool place, 

 not too dry, these berries will remain fresh and brilliant and add 

 much to the beauty of holiday decoration. 



Presently trees and shrubs are stripped of "their wealth of 

 gold and crimson" and they compose themselves to rest. Then 

 on a quiet day late in October, when everything seems dead, we 

 come suddenly upon the witch hazels {Hamamelis virginiana) 

 in full bloom ! The bare branches are covered with curious lemon- 

 scented yellow flowers, — for all the world like tiny wisps of 

 crinkly yellow tissue paper, scattered over a dead bush. The 

 gathering of the branches is attended with some little discomfort, 

 for we cannot avoid touching the ripe capsules, and the seeds 

 fly in every direction, sharply stinging cheeks already tingling 

 from the frosty air. 



SHORTER NOTES 



Prolification of the Fruit in Okra, Hibiscus Esculentus. 

 — Among the various phenomena included by teratologists under 



