New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-10-16
AUTUMN WILD FLOWERS.
BEAUTIES OF CoLoRING IN THE FINEST
FLOWER ETS-ROW TO OPEN THE
GFNTIAN
GENTIAN

Much interesting information about the autumn
flowers that grow in this locality, especially OF
those found in the marshes contained in a
recent lecture by Cornelius Van Brunt in the
lecture hall Of the Botanical Gardens Museum at
Bronx Park The address was accompanied by
stereopucon views which showed in pictures of
heroic size the wealth detail and coloring in the
wild products Of the swampy places Of New-JerSey
and Long Island. Sweeping salt meadows set
thick with cattails and streaked with brilliant
golden rod and rudy samphre were thrown on the
canvas. There also appeared old houses, long
since deserted by everything but weeds and blocked
to their very latches and keyhoIes by rank vege-
tation and country paths bordered by tangled
masses of fall plants and shrubs.
The tiny howerets of the composite family
thrown the screen in gigantic size, displayed
their exquisite grace and beauty The number Of
these blooms required to furnish the velvety spike
Of the cattats, said the speaker is beyond compu-
tatiOn. The loosestrife is abundant only here,
but all over the world, from Australia to Mexico
In Great Britain. where IT is known the long
purple" it is considered one Of the handsome
Wild flowers The plant IS especially interesting
botanists because Of the stamens and pistils, of
which there are three sets in varying sizes
The blue pickerel weed and snowy arrowhead
with its delicate markings of yellow We're next
shown Then a railroad track lined with glowing
masses of bloom appeared, and the yellow
coreopsis pointed out group Of cattatls
supporting the climbing hemp weeds afforded in
teresting observations The sneeze weed, or swamp
sundower, that gilds the river banks and waste
places the speaker explained, had merited its
name because Of the pungent quality of the flowers
md leaves, which formerly employed by the
Indians for snuff making. Then came the brilliant
cardinal flower. the bitteTsWeet berries and the
Jerusalem artichOke (Helianthus tuberosus) also
q swamp sunfower The tiny hooks Of the com
mon bu-dOck, which aid in its dissemination. were
pointed out. Then the motnerwOrt, the old time
cureaI for earthly Ills, introduced and I'M
doubtedly many of the audience surprised to
md so much beauty in the ragged. unkempt weed
that tnvades the gardens ana back yards.
The oatnip, Mr.. Van Brunt said. was worldwide
IN growth and q favorite Of all members OF the
cat family. In old times, he said, the leaves were
cheWed TO produce courage We all coura-
geous now, he added sententiously, that do
not need II.
The various golden rods, the knot weed the
crimson samphire, SABBATH, the purple Gerardia-
the large sunhower Of the marshes. the swamp
thistle. the camphor plant, blazing star American
molly. carriOn flower and the dOdder which is a
parasite and viii grow and thrive without roots,
peared II was applauded to the echo. Few people
Mr.. Van Brunt stated. knew how coax IL into
opening To do so. he said, Il should be put into
fresh water and be allowed to stand over night
In the dark Then, when placed in the quickly
the next morning, il would reward the care given
II by opening wide. Insects. he said. often bit
through the petals of this and the closed gentian
IN order 70 obtain the honey from its flowers The
iron weed, although beautiful. has Nj Van Brunt
said, no past history and romance. Yellow
flowers, he declared predominated in the land
golden rod and sunfowers exceeded them In ex-
uberance