THE /1/aERIC/lN BDTPIST. 



Vol. IV. BINGHAMTON, N. Y., JUNE, 1903. No. 6. 



POPPIES. 



BY M. F. BRADSHAW. 



HERE may be somewhere — somewhere — a land where 

 the poppies are fairer than in Cahfornia. 



I do not know, I only know that here they are so fair, 

 so varied, so regal, that sometimes they are so stately 

 and grand, sometimes gay and flaunting in gorgeous rai- 

 ment, sometimes cunningly meek and demure, that you 

 love each one the best and you know that Paradise will 

 be no place for you if your poppies are not there. 



Which one shall I bring first for you to see and ad- 

 mire ? I know not which ranks first and so will begin 

 with the dear, delicious little "cream cups," exquisitely 

 dainty, and spite of such a crushing name as Platystemon 

 CalifornicR the earliest to greet us in the spring. 



They are so ver\' modest and so quiet in their color 

 and size and numbers, that you are scarcely remembering 

 about them when you start on your wild flower tramp. 

 But just the same you see their blessed ^ little woolly heads 

 and down you drop upon your knees, telling all who may 

 be there to hear, "Oh ! here are the cream cups !" 



Each budded head hangs bashfully and is covered with 

 the most infantile, silvery down as is its stem. When it 

 gains confidence to raise its head and look into your face — 

 was ever anything so pure and innocent ? Petals cream 

 white with clear yellow at their base, anthers and stigmas 

 pure white, stems of a dull, pale purple, and covered as are 

 the sepals with silvery hairs and the leaves pale green , 

 broadly linear and clasping. 



On your next trip you are aware of the Bschscholtzia 

 — the far-famed "California poppy." Aware of it to the 



