86 
BOTANICAL INDEX. 
different from that of tiie Zizania in this immediate neighborhood. Here the plant 
is found growing, usually on mud left bare by the receding tide, but in some places 
it invades comparatively solid ground ; it, however, grows with the greater part of 
its length out of, or above the water; the seed are sweet though insignificant in size, 
and they commonly fall so that their stiff arm runs down into the mud, leaving the 
grain end projecting. In Minnesota, however, this plant grows directly in water, 
from three to ten or more feet in depth, upon mud flats fringing the banks of rivers 
and shores of lakes, while it sometimes wholly 111 Is up the smaller lakes. The flow- 
er appears but a couple of feet above the surface of the water; indeed, I do not re- 
member having seen heads much over three feet from the water, in any stage of 
growth or perfection. Winds beat them down so that they are frequently seen all 
slanting in one direction. When the grain ripens the Indians gather it in canoes as 
you describe. I have understood that in some places they tie a number of heads to- 
gether over the area to be gathered, before beating off the grain; but of this I am 
not certain. The rice swamps become the resort of all sorts of wild fowl, and, in- 
deed, of almost everything that has feathers, and on this nutricious fare they become 
fat; delicious as game. 
Every one who partakes of the wild rice must, I think, prefer it to any other. 
Each grain contains twice or three times as much as the Carolina rice; it is sweet, 
appetizing, agreeable food ; one' wants it at anytime, and cooked in any fashion. 
Camp fare, which includes wild rice, will increase a man’s weight at the rate of a 
pound a day, and when the rice crop fails Indians are thin. A great deal of the 
quantity matured is not gathered ; it goes to waste and is eaten by birds and animals. 
It takes no trouble to grow, requires no cultivation, and is simply an article of fooil 
which it is desirable to place at the disposal of the human race; and it deserves atten- 
tive consideration as an important food plant. I was interested to note that this 
grain is to some extent affected with ergot, like rye. In the grain prepared for use 
by the Sandy Lake Indians, the ergoted grains are found in the proportion of half a 
pint or less to the bushel; some of them are left upon the stalks when the grain is 
gathered. They are, however, of usual occurence, as attested by the fact that the 
Indians have bestowed on them a special name due to their appearance, and signify- 
ing “the rice-harvest bird,” which is what they call the Sora Rail. I do not know 
whether the ergot is found on all rie-tields, or if it possess medicinal properties. 
Some of it is in the hands of Professor II. C. Ward, Jr., of the University of Penn- 
sylvania, who will doubtless give it the attention it merits. 
If anything above is of interest to your readers, you may make use of it if you 
have space. I hope you will find it so, at all events, and remain 
Yours, truly, C. II. BAKER. 
Martindale Conskrvatoky and Green Houses, July 18. 1879. 
Mr. L. B. Case, Richmond, Ini>. — Dear Sir: Your postal received. Dr. E’s letter 
to me I received some days ago, and in answer wrote him that what I took for seeds 
were actually young plants growing on the stem; all I had to do was to set them in 
a propogating bench like Tuberoses, and they formed roots right off. I send some 
of the seeds to you with this. Have several hundred plants growing. I put some 
flowers in alcohol, which the Doctor can have if be can make use of them. 
Yours Truly, CHAS. BECK, Chief Gardener. 
■ [The. above note from Mr. Beck was in regard to the Furcrcea (Ugantea, page 48, ; 
July number of the Botanical Index, 1879, and adds to the knowledge of this pecu- 
liar plant. — Ed. Botanical Index.] 
Leesburg, Sumter County, Florida, July 2d, 1S79. 
Mr. I.. B. Case. — Dear Sir: The July number of the Botanical Index just re- j 
ceived. With this I forward a plant called here Paint root, which grows either in the j 
water or near the water, on wet and mucky land. It sprouts in early spring, and j 
blooms the last of June or July. It puts on its first root or tuber after it blooms, j 
like the sweet potato. Hogs are very fond of the root, and where they can get it j 
plentifully, fatten very rapidly on it, and frequently, founder and lose their hoofs; j 
it makes firm meat and lard, and is very sweet, but the meat is colored pink, like the j 
root. I also forward a specimen of plant called Sweet Beggarlice, (probably B ideas I 
leucantha, Willd . — Ed.) While young is a very tender, sweet and nutricious plant. 
Horses and cattle eat it in prcferance to any other grassor clover, and fatten on if rapid- ] 
ly. When cut while young before it seeds, it makes good hay. It drops its seed in the 
fall and comes up the following summer after the corn crop is laid by. It grows j 
