Part 21

The leaf is small, and oval, with an abruptly pointed tip, tapering to the base, the margin being finely toothed, with a smooth and shining surface. Its color is dark green. The leaves, on short stems, are placed alternately.

The 5 round petals of the flower have little claw-like bases, and are white in color; the many stamens are also white, with light red tips; the pistil is 5-parted. The flowers are set on light green foot-stems, and arranged in almost flat-topped clusters from the ends of the branches.

This neat and tidy looking leaf always shines as though just washed in dew. The pretty flower-clusters resemble plum blossoms.

*Wild Strawberry.* Fragaria Virginiana.

Found during May and June in pastures, and fields, and copse-borders.

The leaf and flower stems, from 6 to 8 inches high, spring from the root, with dry sheaths enclosing them at the ground.

The leaf is compound, the 8 leaflets wedge-shaped; the margin is deeply toothed, and the many ribs show plainly; loose of texture, and roughened underneath with hairs. In color a rich strong green, paler beneath, sometimes reddish, or pink. The stem is hairy; green, and reddish near the foot.

The flower has 5 rounded petals with pointed bases; its texture is thin; pure white in color; the stamens many and orange-yellow. The petals are set daintily around the base of the little green cone, that later becomes the berry, showing the 5 broad divisions of the calyx between; just beneath the calyx, and alternate with its tips, occur 5 narrow bracts which lie so tightly underneath as to appear to belong to it. The flowers, on short foot-stems, are placed in groups on larger leafy stems, these forming a loose terminal cluster set on the hairy stem which rises from the roots.

After the petals fall, the calyx turns up its tips to protect the fruit, which droops, as it reddens and becomes pulpy. The young leaf, as it rises from the ground, is close-folded like a delightful little green fan; the first leaves often lie flat upon the ground, and are rusty in color. The Strawberry has a pleasant way of bursting into a flurry of bloom late in August; along wood-paths and unfrequented lanes one comes upon it as a belated bit of spring. He who has smelled the exquisite fragrance of the field strawberry fruit will not soon forget its wild charm.

*Sweet-briar.* Rosa rubiginosa.

Found in pastures during June.

This lovely, branching, leafy bush grows to be 7 or 8 feet high under favoring conditions, but is most often about 3 or 5 feet in height; its stalks and branches are large and strong, round, firm-fibred, and smooth, with frequent slender thorns which curve backward. In color, a full clear green when young, only dashed with red-bronze, but becoming red-brown when old. The thorns are highly polished, and of a strong red color when old.

The little leaflets, of the 3- to 7-divided leaf, are oval, with a prominent midrib (upon which they are occasionally creased); the margin is doubly notched, the ribs and foot-stems hairy with little prickles; the upper surface is soft to the touch, while the under is slightly sticky with a resinous gum, which yields a delicious aromatic perfume. The color is a cool and beautiful green. The leaves clasp the stalk with a pair of small fine-pointed wings (“stipules”); they are placed alternately, either singly or in groups, and close together.

The flower is composed of 5 heart-shaped petals, curving like a shell, of an exquisitely delicate texture and smoothness; their color a lovely creamy-rose tint. The stamens are many, curling, and pale straw color. The calyx is 5-parted, the spreading tips notched 3 or 5 times; they are smooth, with a velvet lining which is tinted a very pale creamy-green, while the outside of the calyx is bright green. The flowers are set in groups on little twigs, and scattered profusely along the stalks.

When the flower opens, the calyx-tips turn back. The haws are large, and of a brilliant coral-red color which they retain through the winter. The sturdy young shoots, which grow rapidly, are thickly protected by long bristles of a rusty red color. An element of beauty, in the growth of this most perfect rose, exists in the free curve with which its branches bend downward their wreaths of bloom. The odor of the leaves is like that of green apples.

*Pasture Rose.* Rosa humilis.

Found on rocky hillsides, and in dry thickets, during June or July.

The branching, leafy stalk is rather slender, firm-fibred, and smooth, and grows about 2 or 3 feet high; its spines are occasional, short and fine, and either straight or slightly down-curved,--they occur also in pairs at the base of the leaf. In color green, with, or without, bronzy-red streaks.

The leaflets, 3 to 7 in number, are a long-oval shape,--frequently narrow,--sharp pointed, with an irregularly toothed margin, a thin, firm, close texture, the ribs bristly underneath. In color a fine rich green. The leaves are alternately placed, and clasp the stalk with a pair of flaring, narrow wings (“stipules”).

The petals are 5, heart-shaped, and shell-like, the texture is thin, showing the veins; color, a pure and delicate rose-pink. The stamens are short, many, and yellow; the pistils gathered in a small crimson center. The bright green calyx-divisions are 5, long and narrow, deeply and sharply cleft, covered with bristles. The flowers on leafy stems, are placed, terminally, or along the branches, in pairs, or singly.

The blossoms are odorous, and abundant,--their petals are beautifully curved. The plants grow in thick plantations, and are partial to upland pastures, where they contest their rights with the Hardhack, and Everlastings, and even crowd upon the red cedars and wild apple trees.

*Smooth Rose.* Rosa blanda. *Meadow Rose.*

Found near meadow walls, and along fences, in June.

The stout, rather large stalk, branches a great deal and is very leafy; it varies from 2 to 4 or more feet, and is generally quite without prickles. The new shoots are green, tinged with pink, and show a slight bloom; the old growths (they become woody-fibred) are dark red.

The leaflets are 3 to 7 in number, large and often blunt at the tip, many ribbed, with noticeably toothed margins usually, and a grooved mid-stem. The color is cool green, rather dark, underneath white or pale with bloom. The leaf is set on a short stem, scarcely longer than the conspicuous wings, with which it clasps the stalk; these have pointed tips and are finely toothed, and are green, with a dash of red in the stem. The leaves are close together.

The flower is large and odorous, the 5 petals being broad and curving; in color a glowing rich crimson, pale near the center. The stamens are many, and yellow; the pistils gathered in a flat disc are green or nearly yellow. The calyx is very smooth, the divisions shorter than the petals and downy within; it is a bright clear green. The flowers are set singly, or in groups. The foot-stem is short; midway it bears a pair of pointed leafkins, and at its junction with the stalk a pair of large, oval, toothed leaf-like wings occur.

For profusion of bloom this is a good variety in cultivation, to which it takes kindly, since it remains vigorous and free from blight when its paler sisters show their longing for their old wild life. The hips are large and red. Bristles are sometimes found on the new shoots.

*High-bush Blackberry.* Rubus villosus.