periods of collecting. The older, dry, 

 corky bark should not be collected, as it 

 contains little volatile oil. In all care- 

 fully prepared cinnamons the outer bark 

 layers are removed by scraping. 



Cinnamon is quite frequently adulter- 

 ated ; poor qualities are substituted for 

 good qualities or added to the better 

 qualities. This applies especially to 

 ground cinnamon. 



Cinnamon is one of the richest of the 

 spices. Its flavor is quite universally 

 liked. It is employed in pies and other 

 pastry, in drinks, in the preparation of 

 hair oils and hair tonics, in confection- 

 ery, with pickles, etc., etc. Medicinally 

 it is employed as a corrective, in dysen- 

 tery and in coughs. The excessive con- 

 sumption of spices, cinnamon included, 

 is a pernicious practice, as may be gath- 

 ered from the opening quotation from 



Ravenscroft. Spices cause pathological 

 changes in stomach, the liver and other 

 glandular organs in particular. Quite 

 frequently those addicted to the use of 

 spices are also addicted to the use of al- 

 coholic drinks, and it is more than likely 

 that the "jolly red nose" referred to was 

 caused by the alcoholic stimulants rath- 

 er than the spices. 



The not fully matured flowers are 

 known as cassia buds and are used as a 

 spice. They are not unlike cloves in ap- 

 pearance. The roots of the various cin- 

 namon trees yield camphor. The leaves 

 yield volatile oil and the seeds a faintly 

 aromatic fat. 



Description of Plate : A, flowerings 

 twig; i, diagram of flower; 2, 3, flower; 

 4, stamen ; 5, pistil ; 6, fruit. 



Albert Schneider. 



AT DUSK. 



Dark shadows fall upon the earth, 



Cool vapors rise in air, 

 The screech-owl in the copse is heard, 



The bees are freed from care. 



The butterfly has closed its wings, 



The lark has gone to rest; 

 The nightingale in tree-top sings; 



To sleep the crow thinks best. 



The lightning bug glows in the brake; 



The cricket chirps beneath the stone; 

 The whip poor will is yet awake, 



The bull-frog calls in deep, low tone. 



The flowers droop their weary heads, 



The leaves are nodding in the breeze; 

 Young birdlings sleep in downy beds; 



Squirrels are resting in the trees. 



The bats are flying low and high; 

 The fishes rest in waters deep. 

 The red has gone from western sky, 

 All nature soon will be asleep. 



Albert Schneider. 



96 



