The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1892-09-09
A STATE FLOWER.

At a recent meeting of the state
auxiliary, the subject of state flower
was brought up and discussed. Many
states in the union have already
adopted something, and other states
contemplate doing the same. And
the ladies interested in the World Is
Fair work have felt it incumbent upon
them to take the initiative in this
state.
With view of giving all the women
of the state an opportunity to express
their choice, Mrs. L. P. Hunt, Man
kato, Mrs. A. T. Stebbins, Rochester,
Mrs. A. Samson, Minneapolis, Miss
Hill, Minneapolis, and Miss Gordon,
ST. Pau, were appointed to confer
with Prof. Conway Mcmillan, of the
State University, and secure list OF
flowers that were indigenous to the
state, and also familiar to all, from
which to make selection.
The result of the interview was the
IOllOWluS IlSU.
Lady Slipper. (Moccasin flower)
Cypripedium Specialize.
Silky Aster.
Aster Sericeus.
Indian Pink.
Castilleja Ceccinea.
Cone Flower. (Brown-Eyed SUSAN
Rudbeckia Laciniata.
Wild Rose.
OF the flowers presented there is
probably not one of them so well and
favorably known as the Lady Slip
per.
The little children know and love
them dearly, and as they come trudg-
Ing home from hard days tramp,
wet and tired perhaps, their faces
beam with pleasure and satisfaction
as they contemplate the softly round
ed, beautifully colored and delicately
veined ''baby shoes" with which their
hands and baskets are laden.
There are many reasons why the
moccasin flower should be adopted by
Minnesota. First of all, our state be-
ing redolent in days of yore with In
dian "reminiscences and many of our
cities and villages as well as rivers
and lakes bearing Indian names, it
would seem meet that our state flow
er should also carry out the sentiment
thus expressed.
Again, we have a chance to secure
to ourselves in this flower a born aris-
tocrat, for the lady slipper is a mem
Der of the orchid family, some Of
which have brought prices that are
almost past believing, and even the
poorest members can look down upon
chance companions with a feeling of
Then, too, it lends it.
self so readily to decoration, and sure
ly we would want to use our state
flower in decorative sense.
The moccasin flower is hardy lit
tie fellow and positively declines to
bud, bloom or die in the South, ex-
cept in the mountains. 1t prefers to
nestle in the fresh wet grass of our
sWamps, or on moist sandy prairies,
and shady woods. In fact it is like a
duck, enjoying its short life best near
the water.
There are six varieties of the lady
slipper found in Minnesota. The best
known are the small and large yellow
and small and large white
ones:the latter turns pinkish purple
in July.
Of course they each have a long
drawn out botanical name, but to the
most of us they are simply the Moe
casin flower, long may they live in
our hearts, and if the ladies of the
state only see fit to cast their vote for
them, they will live forever in the
minds of our people.
WomenS' clubs and organizations
are earnestly requested to vote upon
the matter when the time comes, and
as the politicians say don't waste
your VOTE" but put it on the right
side.
The moccasin flower will have
and let it be big one.
A BIG INSTITUTION