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RURAL HOURS. 
a pyramidal head, lias fragrant leaves. Another is common to 
both Europe and America ; this is one of the smaller and insignfi- 
cant kinds, but the only plant of the family found on both conti- 
nents. Perhaps the golden-rods are not quite so luxuriant with 
us, and in the lower counties ; the larger and more showy kinds 
seem more abundant in the valley of the Mohawk than upon our 
hills. Still, they are common enough here, hning all the fences 
just now. The silver-rod, or Solidago hicolor, abounds in our 
neighborhood ; the bees are very fond of it ; at this season, and 
even much later, you often find them harvesting the honey of this 
flower, three or four bees on one spike. 
As for the Michaelmas daisies, they can scarcely thrive better 
anywhere than in our own region — common as possible in all the 
fields and woods. There would seem to be a greater variety 
among these flowers than in any other family except the grasses ; 
botanists count some hundred and thirty American asters, and of 
these, about one-fourth belong to this part of the country. The 
difference between many of these is very slight, scarcely percep- 
tible to the casual observer ; but others, again, are very strongly 
marked. We all note that some are quite tall, others low ; that 
some bear very small blossoms, others large and showy flowers ; 
some are white, others pinkish, others grayish, those pm'ple, these 
blue. Tlieir hearts vary also in color, even upon the same plants, 
according to the age of the diff*erent flowers, the centre being 
either yellow, dark reddish purple, or pale green ; and this enli- 
vens the clusters very much. The leaves, also, are widely differ- 
ent in size and form. All this variety, added to their cheerful 
abundance, gives interest to this common flower, and makes it a 
favorite with those who live in the country. They remain so long 
