The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-05-08

leaves like ivy, flowers like wax, and
fruit like grapes. The Virginia Creep.
or, Shrubby Bitter Sweet, with yellow
berries for winter decor atoms, the bend.
ing Surilsx and the pretty Clematis are
found on the Pembina River.
Among medicinal plants are found
Seucka-root in great demand for fluid
extracts. Several tons Of this root
Gained of old as cure for the bite of a
rattlesnake) are dug aud sold by the
Chippewa Indians at prices from 35
to 80 cents q lib. Sarsaparilla is com.
mon on the Pembina and is likely to he
found on the Red and Park Rivers.
Under the name Of Ginseng it was COL
lected and sent to China. The price
here was $1.00 per lb. In 1877 the ex-
ports OF Ginseng from the o. 8. were
valued at 800. 600. The Willows. Dog
woods, jumpers, Alders, Bearl,erries,
Gentians and Artmesias are all of
great medicinal value, and oil found in
abundance in northern Dakota.
OF grasses and forage plants there
are about one hundred kinds of varieties
in Dakota. They are found on plains
extending 100 miles from east to west.
They are fit for all animals that chew
the cud and divide the hoof, for horses,
wild and domestic, for mules and asses
also. Ninety-six species of true grass
es were found and named by Prof. Ma
coun in the northwest, nearly all of
which are found in Dakota. For win
ter pasture the prettiest of all the Ar
temeslas (Artemesia frigida) is abund-
ant in many localities. It takes the
place of bunch grass when that is de-
stroyed by cattle. Equal almost to Timo-
thy for feeding purposes are Beard grass
or Blue joint, June grass, False Red.top,
Fall Panic grass, Sweet scented grass,
and Fescue grass. On the grasses of
the west vast herds of Buffalo, Elk,
Moose, and Caribou fattened, and they
are certainly as we'll suited for domestic
animals.
Of Towering plants there is great
variety, all through the territory. The
Wind flower (Anemone patens) takes
the lead when spring opens. This year
it was noticed in flower at Walhallu on
the 2lst of April. After it comes the
Ranunculus-Dwarf Buttercup-with
its modest yellow flowers. Of this
family twenty kinds may he found in
Dakota. OF Anemones there are about
ten. Ofviolets about IL kinds. Meadow
Parsnip comes next. Flowers in umbels
of deep yellow. Puccoon or Alkanet
is common all over, Towering in
May or June. Its yellow flowers
have pleasant odor and are much
sought after by children. Alum root,
Blue eye grass, star grass, and in some
places Columbines and Cypripediums.
Roses, Lilies and Spireas are common
all over. Lead plants, Artemesias and
Evening Primroses are crimson in Penn.
bina county. In the month of August
the prairie is yellow with sunfowers,
and wild artichokes. with Golden Rods
and Golden Asters. The Asclepias and
Nfilkweeds, with Dogsbane and Wild
Lettuce are noticed in patches. On
sandy ridges Gillardias and Spachys,
with Blazing Stars and Milk Vetcllcs
abound. Prairie Glover with a little
spike of pink flowers, and Petalosta.
nous with silvery leaves and delicate
blue flowers are objects of poetic inter.
est. The roots Of one of this family are
eaten by the Indians who call it
"Pomme de Terre, Apple of the Earth.
In the latter part of the season
the prairie is white and blue
with Asters and Gentians.
The parasite Doddcr is found in
the woods on the Pembina with Cohosh
and Dutchman's pipe. The above are
some of the many plants of Northern
Dakota.