appeared in the midst of a row of tall delphiniums a plant of buttercup, 
which has grown neck and neck with the delphiniums, undisturbed 
until flower time, vying with the latter as to size and form, with a 
resultant growth never attained by its humble brothers of the wayside 
and fields. 
We all know the chameleon, tree toad, and some insects, success- 
fully protect themselves by assuming the color of objects they are in 
contact with, and may not we give credit for an equal intelligence in the 
case of the plants, an intelligence which if we were scientists we might 
dignify by some such title as "Imitation in Nature." 
Margaret L. Gage, 
Litchfield Garden Club. 
a umeefc 
The agricultural department at Washington is engaged in trying 
to define a weed. The old definition, a "plant out of place," is too 
sentimental and does not fit the case. Rye growing in a wheat field is 
out of place, but it is not a weed. Blue grass growing in an alfalfa 
field is a plant, though it is out of place. In view of these exceptions 
a definition has been invented as follows: "A weed is a wild plant that 
has the habit of intruding where it is not wanted. This is entirely too 
psychological and so a specialist in the department, after great effort, 
has reached this conclusion: 
"The old definition that a weed is a plant out of place, while a 
very catchy one, does not clearly represent usage. The hundreds of 
wild plants which inhabit a field which is not planted to crops are in 
common usage called weeds; yet the vast majority of these plants are 
decidedly 'in place* and are serving a useful purpose through adding 
organic matter to an impoverished soil." 
According to it one may regard dog fennel no more a weed than 
a turnip. Our definition is that a weed is a plant with a bad reputation. 
— From the Ohio State Journal. 
®too 4&oge Stories 
The London Daily Mail last year offered a prize of £1 000 to the 
best rose originated during the year and exhibited at the Rose Show, 
held annually in London. The one condition attached to the prize was 
that the winning flower be called the Daily Mail Rose. 
The prize winner was a most beautifully formed apricot-colored 
rose, originated by M. Pernet of the famous firm of Pemet-Ducher, of 
Lyons, France. 
The honor was a coveted one and the prize worth winning, but 
M. Pernet declined to accept the £1000. Mme. Herriot, the wife of 
