L 87 ] 



enrod nemoralis). The whole field turns to yellow, 

 as the cuticle of a ripe fruit. This is the season when 

 the prevalence of the goldenrods gives such a ripe 

 and teeming look to the dry fields and to the swamps. 

 The S. nemoralis spreads its legions over the dry 

 plains now, as soldiers muster in the fall. It is a 

 muster of all its forces, which I review, eclipsing all 

 other similar shows of the year. Fruit of August 

 and September, sprung from the sun-dust. The 

 fields and hills appear in their yellow uniform. There 

 are certain fields so full of them that they might 

 give their name to the town or region, as one place 

 in England is called Saffron Walden. Perhaps the 

 general prevalence of yellow is greater now when 

 many individual plants are past prime. 



Journal, xii, 320-22. 



