Music of the Wild 



monlxcy flower, butterfly zcecd, ^ewthvced, toad- 



flax, and carrion vine. Of all the decorations that 



Incon- ent^\'ine tlie.se old fences none is more beautiful 



gruous ^]ja^jj ^j^g carrion vine. Ikit Avliat a name! Knoua'h 



Flo\ver . , 



Names 1*' ])reiu(lice any one. All because the ball of 

 (greenish-yellow blooni has a faint pungent odor 

 that impressed Linna?us, or some other earh' writer, 

 as slit^'htly disa()-reeable. It can not be so very 

 noxious, eitbei', for tbe bees should know their busi- 

 ness, and they ''■ather its pollen ea<>'erly. God put 

 that ])ungent, almost sour odor in some flo^\'ers to 

 cut the cloying- sweetness of others, and make 

 honey edible. 



So tins beautiful vine is disgraced, and there 

 are so many more appro])riate names it might have 

 l)orne qnite as well. It is difficult to understand 

 Avhy a slightly unusual odor of tbe flower should 

 have been emphasized, while the exquisite cutting 

 and texture of the leaves is overlooked. Thev are 

 heart-sha])ed at the base, curving off to a long 

 lance-])oint, of delicate texture, and of lovely 

 shades of green that vary as the light falls on them. 

 So why not name it "lance leaf" or "golden globe," 

 either of M'hich is (]uite as a])pro])riate as carrion 

 vine and not suggestive of anything objectionable. 

 Anotlier common, but peculiar vine of my ter- 

 ritory is M'ild yam, the dried seed pods of which 

 form nature's best rattlebox. Dioscorcn villosa is 

 a great beauty. Its leaves are a perfect heart- 



226 



