— 288 — 



it is our most handsome climber. This family in foreign 

 climes includes many valuable medicinal plants, as the 

 Scammony, Jalap, &c. 



In ditches we shall soon find the Touch-me-not, a 

 spotted, yellow flower, sometimes called (at Quebec) the 

 Canary flower, though very erroneously, for that name 

 belongs to the Tropcolum canariense. The beautiful 

 green leaves and bright yellow canariense flowers of 

 the Touch-me-not, form a pleasing contrast and give an 

 attractive appearance to ditches, which otherwise would 

 not be very tempting. If the seeds and flowers of this 

 plant are examined they will be found to resemble the 

 Balsam, to which family they belong. 



The Narbalus, or Rattlesnake root is a tall plant, gen- 

 erally found associated with the Golden Rod and 

 Michaelmas Daisies. 



In the fall, seeds and fruit form a very attractive 

 study, many of our berries being more handsome than 

 the flowers they have succeeded : I may instance the 

 brilliant red and snow white berries of the Actia, the 

 deep blue of the Clintonia, the twisted stem, and the 

 netted, veined berries of the Smilacinas." 



FIVE LITTLE WHITE HEADS. 



Five little white heads peeped out of the mold, 



When the dew was damp and the night was cold ; 



And they crowded their way through the soil with pride, 



" Hurrah ! We are going to be mushrooms ! " they cried. 



But the sun came up, and the sun shone down 

 And the little white heads were shriveled and brown ; 

 Long were their faces, their pride had a fall — 

 They were nothing but toad-stools, after all. 



— Walter Learned, in St. Nicholas. 



