COMPOSITE FAMILY 



coffee, he insisted that what he wanted most of all was a decoction 

 of Chicory; in fact that all the Chicory of the establishment was 

 not too much to supply his needs. When the Hquid was brought 

 him he durected that it be poured upon the ground; then trium- 

 phantly ordered a cup of coffee, reasoning that, as there was no 

 more Chicory in stock, there would be none in his coffee. 



The bitter leaves forced and blanched in a warm, dark place are 

 used as a salad by the French, and a very good salad they make. 



It is interesting to note how two farmer poets separated by the 

 gulf of two thousand years look at Chicory. Virgil, who was 

 probably color-bhnd, as we know many of those old Romans were, 

 views it from the agricultural side wholly, for he writes: 



The spreading succory chokes the rising field. 



Emerson, whose fields no doubt were overrun by the weed, 

 nevertheless having eyes to see, rises above the practical as a poet 

 should, and sings: 



The succory to match the sky. 



Endive, Cichorium endlvia, an old-world species, has large, 

 spreading root-leaves which have long been used as a salad. 



AGERATUM 



Agerdtum conyzoides. 



Ageratum, Greek, not having old age; so named from the absence 

 of the fluffy white pappus usual in composite flowers; not applica- 

 ble to this flower. 



An annual, used considerably as a border plant, bearing corymbed 

 heads of azure-blue fiowers. - Native to tropical America, but sparingly 

 naturalized at the South. Summer and autumn. 



Stem. — Erect, bushy, one to two feet high, downy. 

 Leaves. — Opposite, oval or ovate, crenate-serrate. 

 Flower-heads. — Discoid, blue, half an inch across, the long, divided 

 styles giving a fuzzy appearance to the head. 



So6 



