Am.  jour.  Pharm.  \ 
Sept.,  1921.  J 
Visiting  Old  Friends. 
595 
and  upland  sumach,  with  now  and  then  a  sassafras  standing  out, 
showing  promise  of  reds  and  yellows  to  come  when  the  leaves  are 
frost  touched. 
The  sea  rocket  sprawled  over  the  level  sandy  places  and  the 
deeper  green  of  patches  of  beach  heather  carried  the  thought  back 
to  early  summer  when  the  golden,  insect-laden  blooms  vie  with  the 
purple  of  the  lupine  in  catching  the  eye  of  the  speeding  wayfarer 
along  miles  of  pine  barren  roads. 
The  seaside  golden  rod,  almost  bush-like  in  size  and  growth 
was  seen  on  every  side. 
The  procumbent  sensitive  plant  with  its  yellow  flowers  and  irri- 
table leaves  bordered  the  foot  paths,  while  the  Indian  mallow  and 
clotbur,  coarse-leaved  and  despised  by  man  and  beast  alike,  were 
everywhere  abundant. 
The  omnipresent  bouncing  bet,  the  common  pepper  grass,  the 
yellow  flowered  mustard,  the  yarrow  with  its  delicate  fern-like  fol- 
iage, the  smartweed  and  an  occasional  daisy,  were  familiar  friends 
whose  absence  would  probably  make  them  more  conspicuous  than 
does  their  presence,  they  are  so  homely  and  common.  In  this  recital 
of  the  commonplace  must  not  be  forgotten  the  diminutive  black 
nightshade  everywhere  underfoot,  nor  the  ungainly  evening  prim- 
rose, an  ugly  plant  with  a  pretty  name. 
In  the  open  spaces  of  the  meadows  could  be  seen  the  saltworts 
and  samphires,  which  in  October  and  November  flood  the  scene  with 
a  crimson  haze  as  one  looks  toward  the  horizon.  In  among  the 
waving  marsh  grass  were  clumps  of  sea  lavender,  sometimes  called 
marsh  rosemary,  which  was  at  one  time  official  in  the  U.  S.  P.,  but 
which  has  long  since  been  discarded  from  medical  practice.  A  bunch 
of  these  plants  makes  a  fine  winter  bouquet. 
Each  little  tidewater  thoroughfare  is  outlined  by  the  tall  grasses 
bordering  its  course,  and  the  pattern  of  their  lines  of  deeper  green 
is  conspicuous  and  curiously  intricate  and  attractive,  reminding  one 
of  a  gigantic  picture  puzzle. 
As  soon  as  the  mainland  is  reached  other  interesting  and  familiar 
plants  are  encountered.  The  ubiquitous  poke  and  the  dreaded  poison 
ivy  greet  one  from  almost  every  fence  corner.  This  selective  dis- 
tribution is  ornithological  in  its  etiology.  The  choke  cherry  also  is 
frequently  found  in  similar  situations  for  the  same  reason. 
