598 
Visiting  Old  Friends. 
( Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
t      Sept.,  1921.  - 
.  Groups  of  fireweed,  ugly  and  persistent,  strike  a  discordant 
note  now  and  then  which  is  relieved  by  its  silky  gray  competitor,  life 
everlasting,  so  often  used  for  filling  fragrant  pillows  and  cushions 
for  tired  heads.  On  one  side  is  a  dry  woods,  where  by  walking  but 
a  few  steps  from  the  road  is  found  the  three  wintergreens,  the  Gaul- 
theria  or  fragrant,  the  Chimaphila  or  spotted,  and  the  Pyrola  or 
shin-leaf.  Here,  too,  is  found  the  Mitchella  or  teaberry,  also  called 
partridge  berry,  and  an  occasional  rattlesnake  plantain,  which  be- 
longs to  the  orchid  family. 
Over  to  the  right  is  a  deeper  green  and  greater  luxuriance  of 
foliage  -which  promises  much,  if,  as  we  hope,  it  is  a  cedar  water 
pond  or  a  cranberry  bog.  On  the  edge  we  find  iron  weed  and  Joe- 
pye  vying  for  supremacy.  As  we  approach  nearer  to  the  water  the 
lush  damp  grass,  we  see,  is  dotted  with  many  colors  of  flowers 
loving  wet  places.  Here  we  find  the  deer  grass  or  meadow  beauty 
alongside  the  blue-eyed  grass,  neither  of  them,  however,  being 
really  grasses.  The  cross-leaved  or  marsh  milkwort,  with  its  purple 
flower  heads  is  intermingled  with  the  orange  milkwort,  sometimes 
known  as  the  wild  bachelor's  button.  The  marsh  pink  or  Sabbatia 
here  shows  its  starry  pink  flowers  with  their  contrasting  yellow  cen- 
ters. 
The  common  lobelia,  known  as  Indian  tobacco,  is  found  here  and 
almost  at  the  water's  edge  we  find  the  wild  cranberry  plant,  with 
flowers  and  fruit  both  present  at  the  same  time.  Most  persons  have 
an  idea  that  cranberries  grow  on  bushes  and  are  surprised  when  they 
first  become  acquainted  with  the  plant  as  it  grows  and  see  its 
diminutive  size  as  compared  with  its  fruits. 
Now  we  reach  an  opening  that  leads  to  the  water's  edge  and 
looking  across  the  amber  transparency  of  the  cedar  pool,  dotted  with 
islet-like  clumps,  we  are  confronted  with  a  scene  of  unusual  beauty. 
Along  the  edge  are  tall,  graceful  plants  of  meadow  rue,  the  beauty 
of  whose  finely  divided  foliage  is  unmatched  by  any  other  plant  of 
its  size.  The  spotted  hemlock  rises  to  a  height  of  five  or  six  feet 
with  its  umbels  of  white  flowers  borne  on  purple  stalks.  The  button 
snakeroot  or  rattlesnake  master,  with  its  steel  blue  flower  clusters  and 
feathery  foliage  is  striking  in  its  individuality. 
Lower  down  the  cardinal  lobelia  makes  a  bright  spot  of  con- 
trast with  the  deep  blue  giant  lobelia,  which  accompanies,  and  the 
white  waxy  blossoms  of  the  arrowhead  are  again  contrasted  with 
