Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-01-26
streams are passed, and springs which quench
our thirst, the water pure, clean, sweet and


our thirst, the water pure, clean, sweet and
soft
One snake was seen, small harmless kind.
Not poisonous reptile or plant it is said, exists
west of the Cascade Mountains.
And thus after a long DAYS laborious strug-
gle, we accomplished our six miles Journey at ~
O'Clock, new time. and | assure you We enjoyed
our hot supper, If it was very rough fare.
THE BOTANY OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY.
Vine maple (acer circinatum) is abundant in
the rich bottom lands, small growing tree of
great beauty eQualling any Of the japanese
NAPLES which We SO carefully import The sap
is sometimes drawn off for making syrup. and
is not inferior to our maple syrup. Like some
sensitive people, 10th to come in immediate con-
tact with rude or distasteful persons. the vine
maple SHES off from other coarser growths. and
also seeks the light. 1t is thus apt to start off
in horizontal direction for ten or twenty feet,
then suddenly rising to an upright position in
several small branches, the horizontal portion
becoming covered with moss. sends out roots
all along its length. and thus really becomes a
root stem In autumn the leaves become gor-
geous in their cOloring, all shades OF crimson
and gold, splashed and striped according to the
amount of light it has received to perfect the
shading. L never saw an insect of any kind on
this beautiful member of the maple family
Salmon berries, SO called from their color are
peculiar to this moist climate. Shaped like a
very large raspberry. growing on bushes six to
eight feet in height very prolific. of singular
flavor unlike all other small fruits, liked by
some. dstasteful to many. it forms the principal
dessert for two months for bears. birds. Indians
and those OF the white race who are fond of
them.
Huckleberries are abundant. the high bush
acid sort; cranberries, in the beaver marshes.
are plentiful, of small size, dark color, but OF
excellent flavor.
FLOWERS.
HOnpySnnEla oil 49,
upright habit, is occasionally met with; but no
vines proper were seen in the country; no wild
grape, ivy, ampeopsis or other plant with ten
trils for attaching itself to trees.
Wild roses of several varieties are in the
greatest profusion along the sandy shores OF
sloughS, more particularly near tide, the soil
so saturated with salt that few plants survive
On the hills of Hoods canal. in the vicinity OF
Port Townsend. and about Olympia, the capital
three localities OF crcumscrbed limits, found
the most magnificent rhOdodendrons. No
wild flower that 1t has ever been my fortune to
see can at all compare with it. AS handsomely
marked as the finest orchid, the smooth, glossy
foliage Of richest shades of green, set off its
beauty in perfection
A handsome little creeping and sometimes
pendant, vine, called mountain tea, is quite
common. Overhanging the banks of ravines, on
moist. rocky places, and would make splendid
basket plant.
IHeTe are lew pTalTleS IN western NaShlng-
ton, but OF small extent. Instead of being grassy
these are. many of them, fern covered. Comas
(sciila esculentum), the noted food plant of the
Indian, that the earlier explorers purchased to
take the place OF their exhausted supplies. an
edible bulb three fourths of an inch in diameter
with spike foot in height, having a raceme
of handsome large, blue flowers, and the lady
slipper, formerly abundant, but now nearly eX-
tinct, in the timber regions of the middle states
are among the principal flowers Of these prai-
ries.
Here and there shallow lake is filled with
water lilies (neblium luteum) and a number OF
aquatic plants. The swampS are filled with crab
apples, but the fruit, the size Of peas, is per-
fectly worthless.
Alder, birch, dogwood are found here: the
latter bright with white flowers much larger
than our variety; and the elder, which here
grows to be good sized tree.
pretty bright mmulus is quite common In
the grayelly hills. where little sunlight reaches
in Also to be seen are the sala. low grow
ing shrub. with large bright glossy leaves:
several wild spireas, syringa, gooseberry the
brilliant Oregon currant, worthless as fruit.
but lovely in spring. like our red bud. ii is filled
with crimson and pink flowers. even before the
I leaves appear: purple peas, waXplant with its
white Wayy berries all summer fall and winter:
Solomons seal. and q host of beautiful ferns
and moses, that exceed in beauty any that are
found in the tropics