St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1913-10-08
MUSEUM NOTES
Late Flowers The Only Kind to be
Found Now

Among the latest blooming plants
are two of considerable interest, the
witch-hazel and the closed gentian.
The closed gentian is usually of a
deep blue color, although occasional
ly an albino variety is found. 1t has
a peculiar looking blossom. consist
ing of a cluster Of large buds which
never open, within a Whorl of green
| leaves. When mature the long, con-
ical seed-pod pushes it's way out of
the dried inflorescence. A first cous-
| in, the yellow gentian was formerly
cultivated as a medicinal plant.
! Along the roadsides, as the gen
tians are passing their prime, the
witch-hazel shrubs are beginning to
bloom. The flowers, although small,
| form quite conspicuous yellow clus-
tiers along the brown, woody stems.
Each has four narrow, strap-shaped
petals, often huted as they unfold
from the bud, and having the char
acteristic odor of hamamelis. The
last years seed capsules are matur-
ing at the same time with the open
ing of this years flowers, and some
frosty night, late in October, they
will snap open, discharge their seeds
with vigor, scattering them far and
wide.
The Indians, long ago, discovered
that the inner bark of this shrub has
medicinal value. 1t is utilized for
making the Well-knoWn extract. The
forked branches Of witch-hazel form
erly served as divining-rods in the
search for water and precious ores.
DR.. Prior says that the name should
be spelled "wych-hazel," as this wood
was used in the olden times for max
ing wyches or chests.
An interesting bird visitor during
the past week was the white-crown-
ed sparrow. This sparrow visits us
only during the spring and fall mi
grations. 1t is easily recognized by
a broad white stripe bordered by
black, running over the crown and
white line over the eye. The nape
is gray, the tail fuscous, and the
under parts grayish-white. 1t is one
of the largest sparroWs. 1t nests in
the higher mountain ranges and
north of the United States to Labra-
dor. It's winter home is in the
southern part of the United States
and in Mexico.
Robins, bluebirds, song sparrows
and juncos are still common and sing
nearly every day.
we still have a good
number of asters and goldenrods,
starved, arrow-leaved, pur-
and common blue wood
asters and blue-stemmed, bog gray
or field, white, zig-zag, late, Canada,
tall hairy and swamp goldenrods.
The ferns of Vermont are of per
ennial interest A good variety are
still to be found, including common
grape, cut-leaved grape, ternate
grape, Christmas. incised Christmas, |
maiden hair, GOldie's shield, spinu-
lose shield, crested shield, marginal
ebony spleenwort, brittle, |
common polypody, sensitive, and !
rusty woodsia.
Many of the wild fruits have been
touched by the frost, but we still !
have specimens of milkweed, noun
tain ash, jack-in-the-pulpit, wild |
rose, Solomon's seal, white bane- |
berry, false lily-of-the-valley, wild |
onion, barberry, cranberry tree, ar
Dor vitae, spotted ST. Johnswort, pip |
sissewa, dangleberry, bush honey |
suckle, asparagus, hop clover, agri-
mony, balsam apple, partridge berry, |
blue cohosh and bittersweet.
In connection with the nature
study lessons, specimens of simple |
and compound leaves and branches |
the arrangements of leaves
in relation to light are exhibited as
rose, locust, red elder, blue
vetch, maiden-hair fern, wild morn
ing glory, purple-flowering rasp-
berry, maple, oak, elm and cherry.