WOMEN BOTANISTS OF OHIO. 113 



dandelion. It is an all-the-year-round flower. 

 Give it a day or two of sunshine and wanntli 

 after a thaw, any time during the winter, and 

 it comes with a smile in the sod of the lawn 

 and looks alt other smiling faces of its kin- 

 dred. 



It is beautiful to look at in the spring when 

 the grass is so green, but it is not a welcome 

 guest. It, too, has taken possession of the 

 fields on the edge of town. The sod of Eng- 

 land is not troubled with it as is that of this 

 country. But the lesser celandine is in its place. 

 I wonder which is the worse, or if either is in 

 reality harmful ? 



Along the railroads in May and June the 

 wild strawberry has taken possession of the 

 banks, furnishing a luxuriant crop of fruit to 

 any who may see fit to gather it. This is a 

 plant entirely beneficial in every respect. The 

 roots bind the soil, the leaves make a thick 

 carpet which prevents its washing away and 

 the fruit is a blessing to the gatherer. 



But there are other plants along the roads 

 which are gaining great headway and taking 

 possession of orchards and fields to the detri- 

 ment of the land and the future expenditure 

 of labor in ridding the soil of them. Among 

 these are the wild carrot, the horse nettle, the 



