Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1900-05-31
THE FLOWERS OF SPRING.
Useful as Well as beautiful blossoms
Which Attract the Botnnist and
the Lover of Nature.

Inc uOleS Oh the uiSt fODlu ana tne
sight of the first Mayhower. Of the
earlier floral visitors OF the wood and
meadow the list opens, not unattrsc-
lively, says the Brooklyn Eagle, with
a well-known plant under the malodor-
Gus name of Skunk Cabbage (symplo-
carpus faetidus), but whose flower is
by no means so familiar. save to the
observing botanist, and even he must
be on the alert to obtain the first sight
of this first gift of Flora, in full per-
lection of color and aroma. Early in
April or even in March, almost before
the ice is fairly melted, clumsy in form,
repulsive and snally in color. dark pur-
pie glowing blotches and disgusting in
| odor; soon to be followed by fleshy
leaves, conspicuous during the rest of
the summer.
Like Stramonium and the rest of the
other noxious and unsightly weeds, it
has been tried as remedy for asthama
and with about as much effect.
A very pleasing contrast comes next,
Epgoea repens, or as it is sometimes
miscalled, trailing arbutus, but in New
England better and more appropriate
ly known as the Mayfower. This
among the earliest, is also the choicest
gift that Flora has in this latitude to
offer us. Alike for it's beauty of form
and color, its delicious fragrance and
its charming habit of peeping out, al
most from the edge of the retreating
snowdrift. TO find the first bunch of
Mayflowers is the ambition of many
boys and girls. as we'll as not few
of larger growth. 1t has also been used
as a medicine. but with no better nor
worse results than many others. 1t is
true wild flower, resisting all the
attempts at domestication. Closely as
sociated with it is the Hepatica. in it's
two forms of triloba, and acutriloba,
one with rounded and the other with
pointed leaves, which are probably
| merely varieties. The little clump of
flowers pushes its way through the
ground in advance of the leaves and,
with the varying shades of pink, blue
and white seen, is welcome addition
to the spring bonnet, though lacking the
fragrance of the Mayflower.
About this time the southern aspect
of the rocky hillsides begin to whiten
with the cheerful, though not especial
ly graceful nor snowy, ff wers of the
early saNifrage, and in ths forests and
marshes the inconspicuous little gold
en- saNifrage, with a name much longer
than itself. Soon in the meadows and
the marshes the carpet of living green
is embroidered with the golden flowers
of caltha palustrs, or the English
marsh marlgold, improperly called
cowslip, and whether correctly or not,
associated with creamy milk and yell
low butter. 1t makes dish that ranks
next to spinach. A little later may be
seen, in the morning sun, the white
stars of the bloodrot, as fragrant as
they are beautiful, generally lasting
but for day. Its orange colored
juice is much used as medicine, as an
emetic, as expectorant and as a lini-.
ment. This plant readily bears trans
planting, increases in size under cult
walton and becomes one of the most
attractive ornaments of the early
flower border. In some parts of the
country is found a smaller flower, the
twin leaf or rheumatism root, also we'll
repaying cultivation.
Meanwhile the pastures begin to
whiten with the modest little hout
tonia or innocence, while host of viO-
let's are making their appearance.
Viola Blanda, a wee, white, sweet
scented flower. culcullata, with it's long
blue flowers and hood shaped leaves,
with their palmate variety; rootubdi-
folia, with yellow flowers and shiny
leaves, and on the hillsdes and in the
pastures the wildly varying sagittla,
the spring beauty, must not be neglect
ed in it's moist and generally shady bed.
Along streams and in open wood
lands is the spring cress, with long,
white flowers and just shooting up its
green stalk, is its first cousin, the win
ter cress.
Nor should the floral efforts of the
trees and the shrubs b. dsregarded.
Among the earliest Indications of
spring the hazlenut shakes its long
catkins along the roadside, before any
signs of swelling leaf buds are visible
The willows, whose name is legion,
begin to break their warm winter COW
ering at this time. The salvin is COW
cred with curious little flowers. The
hemlock is early in flower. as is also the
American yew. All this requires the
closest examination to detect this in
forescence, but will repay it, The two
mi {ha ell nd no ms n
hang out long, snowy pendants very
early. The sweet gale along the edges
of the swampI and the sweet fern,
whose dried leaves are the basis of ju
venile attempts at smoking, are now
in flavor, and the leatherwood, from
the marvellous toughness of it's bark,
such as is frequently used in default
of leather or Irvine in repairing broken
harnesses or sleds, hangs out its yellow
buds in advance of any leaves.
This list closes with the fragrant
sassafras. we'll known by its aromatic
bark and closely lobed leaves, not SO
we'll known by its early clusters OF yell
low flowers, somewhat resembling that
of the sugar maple. and the spicewood
or fever brush, also highly aromatic
and possessing, like the sassafras. med.
icinal value as an aromatic stimu-
liant.
Such are the earliest flowers. which |
in forest. field or fen. invite the search |
of the botanist and the lover of nature
Sick Of Seeing blood.
CupperS Ward ofthe eyenty-eiohth
battery. royal field artillery. writing OF