i88 The \^est American Scientist. 



and often white; being- a perennial and increasing by off shoots, 

 it is quite easily cultivated and is often found in gardens, where 

 its beauty can be appreciated. To be successful in growing it, it 

 should be transplanted in the fall after it has finished blooming, 

 and placed, with plenty of its native earth, in a very wet spot in 

 the yard or garden, and in the spring it will come up and bloom 

 in profusion. Another handsome Lobelia, found somewhat later, 

 is the g-reat Lobelia, or known to the botanist as the Lobelia 

 syphilitica. This one bears large blue flowers; they also are often 

 found white. 



Somewhat of a different type is the Helenium autumale or Sage 

 Weed, a composite! growing to the height of several feet and 

 bearing a showy corymb of yellow flowers. It is very abundant, 

 except, perhaps, in New England. Its drooping rays give it a 

 peculiar appearance It is readily distinguished by its extremely 

 bitter taste. 



A rather local and not generally met with plant is the Lythrum 

 Salicaria, commonly known as the Spiked Loosestrife. In most 

 all botanys its location is given as Eastern New England and 

 Orange Co., New York, but this is erroneous as it has a much 

 wider circle of growth. It is found besides in New England in 

 Northern New Jersey, and in many places in New York. Con- 

 trary to its being found in only Orange County I have myself 

 observed it in six counties of the state, and it is still spreading, 

 and all along the shores of the Hudson may be seen its tall spike 

 of purple flowers, during July and August. This plant is quite 

 extensively cultivated. 



Along streams and in wet ground the Hardback or Steeple 

 bush Spiraea tomentosa flourishes and lifts high its tall handsome 

 spikes of leathery blossoms; it is often discovered with white 

 flowers. It is commonest in New England, and is one of our 

 handsomest summer wild flowers. Growing with this, but more 

 abundant, is the Spiraea salicifolia familiarly known as the com- 

 mon meadow Lueet. It bears a crowded panicle of flesh colored 

 flowers; it often attains quite a height and becomes a large bush, 

 and its beautiful tints make it desirable for the garden. 



One wishing to examine a very curious plant should not fail to 

 observe the Chelone glabra, known under the common names of 

 Turtle Head, Snake Head, Balmony, Shell flower, etc. It blooms 

 from July to September in all wet places and very abundantly, 

 and bears flowers about an inch long, and of a white rose or purple 

 color; its varieties of shades being a particular feature. Its shape 

 is its peculiarity; it resembles greatly the head of some reptile, as 

 a snake or turtle, whence its common name; and its scientific name 

 is from a Greek word, meaning a tortoise. It has long been cul- 

 tivated, its curiousntss being the great incentive that brings it in- 

 to the garden. 



