The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1900-04-30
THE FLOWERS OF SPRING.
Useful ms Well ns Beautiful Blossoms
Which Attract the Botnnist and
the Lover of Nature.

the notes of the first robin and the
sight of the first Mayfower. Of the
earlier floral visitors of the wood and
meadow the list opens, not .unattrac-
lively says the Brooklyn Eagle, with
a well-known plant under the malodor-
ons 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-
fection of color and aroma. Early in
April or even in March, almost before
the ice is fairly melted, clumsy in form,
repulsiye and snaky 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,
Epigoea repens, or as 1t is sometimes
misoalled, 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 its beauty Of form
and color, it's delicious fragrance and
it's 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 a few
Of larger growth. Tt has also been used
as a medicine, but with no better nor
worse results than many others. 1t is
a true wild flower, resisting all the
attempts at domestication. Closely as
sociated with it is the Hepatica, in its
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 a welcome addition
to the spring bonnet. thoughlacking the
fragrance of the AIayfower.
About this time the southern aspect
of the rocky hillsides begin to whiten
with the cheerful, though not especial
ly graceful nor showy, flowers of the
early saxifrage, and in the forests and
marshes the inconspicuous little gold
en- saxifrage, 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 palustris, or the English
marsh marigold, 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 a day. Its orange coloree
Juice is much used as medicine, as an
emetic, as expectorant and as lini-
ment This plant readily bears trans
planting, increases in size under culti-
vation 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 rheumatismr root, also well
repaying cultivation.
Meanwhile the pastures begin to
whiten with the modest little hout-
tonia or innocence, while host of vio-
lets 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 hillsides and in the
pastures the wildly varying sagittla,
the spring beauty. must not be neglect
ed in its 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 rs first cousin. the win
ter cress.
Nor should the foral efforts Of the
trees and tee shrubs be disregarded.
Among the earliest indications Of