THE\ SAY. 691 



The Cucumber-Root, Medeola Virginica, mentioned 

 in the July and October issues (pp. 420 and 598) is 

 shown in the accompanying engraving. Although an 

 insignificant plant to most reamers in woods, it is never- 



Medeola Virginica. 



theless interesting, as, in fact, are all woods plants. 

 One can never appreciate nature until he learns that 

 form and habit and shades of green are no less hand- 

 some and attractive than flowers. 



A Good Old Begonia. — We have heard persons re- 

 mark that they did not know how people did in former 

 times without bouvardias, winter carnations, and the 

 many other floral beauties that help us so pleasantly to 

 while winter away. It is certainly a wonder what we 



would do without begonias. I can remember when the 

 old " Elephant's Ear " or "Beefsteak plant" (Begonia 

 Evansiana), a half hardy herbaceous kind, was about the 

 only one grown for its flowers to any extent, and cer- 

 tainly room gardening was never so gay as now. They 

 seem so well adapted to window and room gardening, 

 that surely nothing can equal them. Most plants turn 

 to the light, and thus show how much they desire light, 

 and miss it when it is lessened in amount. The bego- 

 nia is the only plant we know of that does not turn to 

 the light. It is quite satisfied to make the best of what- 

 ever situation it may be placed in, and therefore preaches 

 an excellent sermon, while doing duty in making our 

 rooms and windows cheerful in the winter time. — 

 Thomas Meehan. 



Sensitive Briar. — The "Saw briar" or "Sensitive 

 rose, " is a wild plant which I have long admired for its 

 beauty, perfume and oddity. It grows wild in the black- 

 jack timber about Thayer, Neosho county, Kansas, 

 blooming early and late. The plant grows about a foot 

 high, and its stems are armed with small thorns which 

 quickly deface the farmer's pantaloons about as high as 

 the knees. It has a delightful perfume, which we com- 

 pared to cologne in our pioneer days. The color and 

 texture of the blossom is much like that of the brightest 

 thistle, and it is as round as a marble. The leaves close 

 when touched by the hand. — James H. Ferriss. 



[The sensitive briar, a specimen of which Mr. Ferriss 

 sends us, is Schrankia iiiuiiinta, one of the Leguminosae, 

 and allied to the true sensitive-plant. The plant grows 

 wild from Virginia and Florida to Kansas and Texas.] 



Daisies, Pansies and Violets. — I have a cold frame 

 for daisies, pansies, and violets, and always have a grand 

 show in early spring. The violets and pansies bloom 

 more or less during mild winter weather, and it is seldom 

 that there are more than four or five weeks during the 

 winter in which I do not gather a few flowers from 

 either the pansies or violets ; and when early spring 

 comes the plants are covered with bloom, including the 

 daisies. The cost of the frame per year is but little, and 

 the trouble but a small item, for I give them but little 

 attention after winter sets in. 



I usually start my plants in July, and when well estab- 

 lished set them in the cold frame, where they remain 

 unprotected until severe winter weather sets in, when 

 the sashes are put in place. No other protection is 

 given. On bright warm days we raise the sashes and 

 give the plants air. While all the above plants are 

 hardy with us (that is, young plants), I find that a slight 

 protection gives earlier flowers. — J. Oliver Wadlon, A/d. 



The Favorite Flower in New York. —The Superin- 

 tendent of Public Instruction, Mr. Draper, has an- 

 nounced the vote for the State flower as follows : golden- 

 rod, 81,308 ; rose, 79,666 ; daisy, 33,603 ; violet, 31,176; 

 pansy, 21,202; lily, 16,438; lily of the valley, 11,626; 

 trailing arbutus, 7,888; buttercup, 6,127: scattering, 

 29,045 ; total, 318,079. The scattering votes were dis- 

 tributed through 121 different varieties. 



