Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-05-03
What Can Be Found During a Stroll
Just Outside the Busy City.
TYPES PECULIAR TO THE CLIMATE.
Beautiful Flowers, Graceful Climbers and
Varisgstsd Shrubs.
QUALITIES OF TIE MOST csHHos
rwnrrrrx ron THE DrspArcu.1

coast" climate, manifesting itself in reg
ular turn of four distinct seasons, we find
here in the same latitudes an Finland" OF
continental climate in all its contrasts and
extremes. A comparison Of the isotherm.
of the same latitudes between the Eastern
States of North America and Western Eu-
rope reveals the following facts: Halifax
and Bordeaux. both under the same latitude
of about 40, shows for the former q mean
annual temperature of 1872 f., for the
latter 57.1 F.; Naples and New York both
under the 400. shows for the former "a. I
F.. for the latter eos f.; Richmond and
Catonia (sicily), both under the 37o,
shows for the former 56.8 B., for the latter
67.2 f., and 80 on.
These figures prove that within the north.
ern temperate zone the mean annual tenn
perature or isotherm between Eastern n orth
America and Western Europe greatly differ.
Still stronger marked, however, is the diff
ference between the mean summer and win
ter temperature, which shows for the East
ern United States proportionately greater
contrast as for Western Europe.
Climatic Effects on Plants.
II is evident that such sudden changes
affect most seriously organic life and in
fuence deeply its development While the
totally altered climatic conditions, different
mode Of living, etc., modify the race type
of man and that of the domesticated animals
introduced by him, they influence still more
strikingly plants which originated on the
temperate zone of Europe. Slowly but
gradually they accommodate themselves to
the changed conditionsof life.
To illustrate this with q few examples:
The German prune after few years turns
under this sky into plum, assuming the
shape and favor of the latter; the cherry
tree, originally a slender tree in Europe,
changes likewise its babituS the trunk be-
coming thicker, its crown denser, the
whole growth more compact, not to speak of
the fruit, which never attains that perfection
of flavor as in its native country.
Many of our favorite shrubs Of foreign
origin as "Mock Orange" (Philadelphus
corouarius), the "Lilac". (Syringa) and
many more which are famed in their own
land for their exquisite fragrance, lose this
quality under the influence of the new
climate either entirely, or develop it only in
limited degree. Even the queen of flowers,
the rose, despite the great care bestowed
upon it by our florists, is far from showing
that intensity of fragrance which we admire
in roses of the Old World. Only the hya-
cinths and some other bulbous plants please
us in their original perfection, but this is
consequence of their yearly renewing from
fresh imported stock.
Still We Have Pleasing Plants.
Still as if to offer compensation for this
defect, nature IN its aim of equilibrium,
has given to this climate number of plants
which-true types of their native virglnal
M hv he fr1ll
originality of their characteristic forms.
And now, dear reader. join me on fine
day in the first half OF the month oEMay in,
a ramble through the surrounding country,
be 1t only a few miles distance from the
heart Of the city. There our native Flora
will disclose itself to you in. a variety of
forms, which will convince you that ma
ture, in distributing its gifts has by no
means neglected this zone. True, we miss
that most charming OF European spring her
aids, the sweet-scented violet, but find soon
compensation for it in host of other inter-
esting plants, all characteristic types of
their climate.
Emerging from the region of eternal
smoke we meet, still on the outskirts Of the
city, in the first pasture which we are about
to cross the graceful ''spring beauty" (clay-
tonia caroliniana), which expands its deli
of ''cockspur thorn" (crataegus crus-
galli). Associated with 1t are generally a
few early representatives of the order of
Crucifers, perhaps Pepper root" (den-
aria laciniata), "bitter cress" (cardamine
rhomboidea), the common "whitlow grass"
(erophila americana), and some unsightly
species of "crowfoots." Ascending the hilly
pasture we find it covered with the most
common of American violets, the "hooded
violet" (V. cucullata), the substitute here
Of the European "dog violet" ". canina),
which is likewise scentless.
The Pretty Little BIuets.
It is intermixed in sunny places with
patches of the forget-me- not like "bluets,"
(houstonia carulea) while in depression Of
the fertile soil we espy the neat tulip-like
"ervthroninm" which like its near relative
the "bellwort," (uvularia sessilifolia) is
usually found in these situations. In the
moist shade of little ravine nearby we dis
cover stately representative of the specific
ally American genus "water leaf (hydro-
phyllum) which thrives here luxuriantly
in company with some lovely specimens of
''Dutchman.s breeches" (dicentra cutull-
aria), "meadow-rue" (thalictrum dioicum),
the ''smooth. rock cress" (arabi laeyigata),
''claytonia virginica" (the twin sister Of
the first mentioned C. caroliniana), the
'arrow leaved violet" (V. sagittata) and
profusion of "sweet cicely" (osmorrhiza
Iongistylis) an zunsightly plant resembling
somewhat parsley and belonging to the same
natural order, but noted for the anIse-like
flavor Of its deshy root.
Vending our way to the wooded hilltop
our eyes rest soon on a colony of the inter-
esting mandrake" or "May apple"
'podophyllum peltatum), whose peculiarly |
shaped bright-green pair of leaves expands
and shields o rather strong
scented flower which is succeeded later by |
IN ovoid yellowish fruit Of the size of
plum and lemon-like favor-hence
,alled "wild lemon" This plant is one |
If the mere characteristic OF the Eastern |
North American fora and possesses medical |
in a. high degree. 1t prefers
moist groves to all other locations and is |
here usually associated with the elegant |
rue anemone" (anemone thalictroides) 4
Ebose pure white flowers form striking COLI
rast with the deep yellow Of the "early |
.rowfoot" (ranunculus iaseicularis) and the
,urple of the spotted geranium" (geranium
which in connection with the
early saxifrage" Is. virginicusis), the
'cuigfoil" (potentilla capadensis), the
'mouse-ear everlasting" (antennaria planta-
.inlfolia), the "frostwort" (helianthemum
anadeuse). s'wood sorrel" (oralis violacca), |
'vetch" (vicia Americaua),, some belated
'liverworts" (hepatica triloba). and a num-
'er of sedges and grasses constitute the early
lower carpet Of these little woods or copses.
The Beautiful Dogwood Tree.
OF shrubs and trees blooming at this time