The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-10-03
GOLDENROD In ITS GLORY.
Covers and Beauties Mountain and
Meadow.

WSduUWs.
Some years ago there was hot con-
troversy all over the country over the
question of a national flower or plant
for the United States. 1t was pointed
out that the rose stood for England
all the world over, as the thistle for
Scotland, the shamrock for Ireland,
and various other flowers for other
nations, and if was held that the
United States should also have rep
resentative flower. But the contro-
versy was so hot and so prolonged that
finally the contestants wore them
selves out and had to give it up with
out accomplishing anything except
to call general attention to the golden
rod, which had previously bloomed in
its own assertive way all over the
fields and on the mountains, covering
them with a golden glory that fairly
dazzled the eyes in many places with
out any especial or general apprecia-
ton. The advocates of the goldenrod
as the national flower pointed out
what distinctiyely American plant
it was, with its hardness, indepen-
dence and withal its grace and beauty.
People began to study it, to gather
it to decorate their houses and their
persons, and it really began to have
a sort OF national vogue, although it
did not receive official recognition.
This is the season when the golden
rod is at the height of its glory, and
there is no more beautiful sight than
a field full of this brilliant plant 1t
grows all over the northern part of
the country, and reaches luxuriant
Development Maryland. One of the
claims for it as the national flower was
that it was more distinctively an
American plant than almost any other
that grows in this country, and 1t is
far more common here than in any
other part of the world. There are
but two or three species native to
Europe, and these are rare, while out
of thehundred species that are known,
about ninety-five are indigenous to
American soil. 1t has, however, been
known for a long time, and received
its Latin name of Solidago, it is be-
lieved from Linnaeus. The one COM
mon British variety, solidago virgau-
rea, had at one time great reputation
as vulnerary, or remedy for external
wounds, and it was no doubt this re-
puted property that gained its name
from the Latin 'solidare," to unite.
The leaves of this and the American
odorous goldenrod, or solidago odora,
have been used as a substitute for tea,
being mildly astringent and tonic.
Most of the species of goldenrod have
their leaves with notched or toothed
edges, the varieties lanceolata and
odora being perhaps the most com
mon with smooth edged leaves. The
leaves Of the lanceolata are narrower
than those of the odora, and the latter
have more of a crinkled nature, by
which they may be recognized besides
by the shell. Both of these varieties
may be found in the open fields, to-
gether with the canadensis, the latter,
probably being the most common of
all varieties. Goldenrod is beautiful
when growing anywhere, but it i'm
proves greatly under cultivation, like
great many other plants which grow
wild and weedy. If they have good
soil and plenty of room to develop, the
sprays become compact and regular
instead of straggly, and with good
feeding and care it may be made a
very handsome plant, indeed, and is
especially suitable for decorative pur-
poses. In England the American varie-
ties are extensively cultivated, especi-
ally in wild gardens. Goldenrod does
not bloom in the spring or early sum-
mer. although some of the earlier speci-
mems may begin to show themselves in
the latter part of July. A few others
may bloom in August, but September
is the great month for the goldenrod
blossom, for then all of the species are
in full flower.