BOTANICAL INDEX. 
41 
necting the manners and customs of the present Indians with the Mound Builders. 
He said the roots were collected from the river close by and thrown into these basins, 
partly tilled with water, and boiled by means of stone heated in a strong fire near by 
and thrown into the basin until the roots were thoroughly cooked. The stone, after 
cooling in the water, was again returned to the fire and heated as before, until the 
heating and sudden cooling caused them to burst into pieces, and these pieces are still 
in the basins as witnesses of their former use. When a blanket could be procured it 
was spread over the basin to prevent the escape of the steam to assist in cooking; but 
the scarcity of blankets, or in fact anything they could obtain for a covering, pre- 
vented their general use, which is not essential to a successful preparation of these 
roots for food. Mr. Lindsley did not remember the species of the so-called Water 
Lily, but probably it was the same as is described in the Annual Report of the De- 
partment of Agriculture, for 1870, on page 407, where, in the article on Food Products 
of the North American Indians, the yellow Pond Lily ( Nuphar advena) is enumerated 
among the number, and the writer, who was evidently familiar with the subject, 
describes their mode of gathering and preparing it for use. He says: “ The roots 
grow four or five feet deep in water, and Indian women dive for them, obtaining 
large quantities, one or two feet long. They are very porous, slightly sweet and 
glutinous, generally boiled with wild fowl, but often roasted. Muskrats store large 
quantities of these roots in their dwellings for winter use, which the Indians con- 
trive to steal. The plant is called Tak-wah-pah by the Dacota Indians. The seeds 
form an important part of the diet of the Klamath Indians of California, and when 
pulverized they are made into bread or gruel, but are often parched and eaten as 
pop-corn.” 
Successful Florist. 
It is always a pleasure to know that our customers are successful in raising good 
plants, and especially plants for exhibition, sent by us a long journey through the 
mail. The following private letter from Mr. Meyer, although intended as an 
acknowledgement to us for first sending good plants, is the best evidence that Mr. 
Meyer is a No. 1 plant grower, and must be a successful gardener. We wish him 
success and prosperity in his business : 
New Orleans, July 24, 1877. 
L. B. Case , Esq., Richmond, Ind. 
Dear Sir: On the 19th inst. I mailed you the New Orleans Democrat, and to-day 
send you the New Orleans Picayune, and request your kind attention to the report of 
the “ Fruit Growers’ Fair,” by which you will see that the diploma for the finest 
collection of pot plants was awarded to me. The plants exhibited were only such as 
were imported from you — Coleus and Caladiums — and I can state they made a glorious 
display. The first diploma for the largest collection (not for the^xest) of plants, was 
awarded to the treasurer. Hoping the above will interest you, I remain, 
Yours, very truly, GEO. MEYER. 
American Lotus. 
We are now prepared to furnish seed of this choice Aquatic Plant, ( Nelumbium 
luteum ,) the American Lotus, collected in Northern Indiana and Michigan, at 50 cents 
a package. Also, seed of Desmanthus ( Darlingtonia ) brachyoloba, a beautiful, acacia- 
like, hardy ornamental shrub, at 25 cents a package. 
We take pleasure in returning thanks to a few' of our friends that have favored us 
with Seeds or Plants from the new and unfrequented parts of the United States. 
Among these, we particularly wish to mention Lieut. Hugh T. Reed, 1st Infantry U. S. 
A., Montana; Geo. Springer, Arizona; J. E. Johnson, Utah; C. J. Croft, Colorado; 
Mrs. S. C. Willoughby, Washington Territory; A. H. Curtiss, Florida, and H. 
Case, San Diego, California. 
We feel justly proud of the mechanical wmrk on this number of the Index, and 
take great pleasure in recommending Messrs. Manz & Co., Chicago, the w r ood engra- 
vers that prepared nearly all our illustrations, and wdiose card appears on page 54, to 
the consideration of Florists and Botanists who may wish wood cuts for their pub- 
lications. Also, the Telegram Printing Co., Richmond, for the neat and accurate 
typ°g ra phical work on this, at; w'ell as on all their publications. 
