WILD FLOWERS YELLOW AND ORANGE 
of Alabama, Kentucky, Maryland, and Nebraska. 
The scientific generic name, Solidago, signifies to join, 
or make whole, and alludes to the healing qualities: 
which this plant was formerly supposed to possess, 
when applied to wounds. One hundred year ago the 
Golden-rod was regularly exported to China, where 
it commanded a high price. Sheep will forage upon it. 
Golden-rods grow in greatest profusion, and are exceed- 
ingly socialistic; numerous species occurring in the 
same community. Casual observers, however, seldom 
realize that several widely differing species invariably 
make up the various masses of yellow, which they pass 
afield or by the wayside, as Golden-rod. Time and 
again I have amazed those whom I have accompanied 
out of doors during September, by calling their atten- 
tion to the number of different varieties of Golden-rod 
about them. F. Schuyler Matthews records finding 
no less than fijteen well defined species within a quar- 
ter-mile length of road in New Hampshire. As the 
flower clusters fade they become hoary, and the seeds, 
tipped with fine, feathery hairs, somewhat after the 
manner of the Dandelion seeds, are wafted by the 
winds in every direction. During the winter when. 
other food is scarce, the seeds of the Golden-rod are 
sought by the goldfinch and song sparrow. The 
following species are most likely to be found 
growing more or less commonly throughout our 
range, and they will become a ‘satisfactory group 
about which to establish other species, which are 
gure to be found most. everywhere. All have yellow 
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