One of the first flowers I remember was the Lychnis Chalcedonica, Scarlet Lychnis, called in New England "Prince's Pride." In the West it is called "Bleed-hearts " and "Fire-ball." Chrysanthemums (C. lndica) were called "Fortune Plants." Tanacetum Balsamatea was "Patagon-ian Mint," in New England; at the West " Rosemary " and "Sweet Mary." One of the first house plants I remember was Saxafraga sarmentosa, and was called in New England " Strawberry Geranium," from the similarity of habit. In California this plant is "Beefsteak Geranium," and in Oregon simply "Beefsteak." In California this latter name was given to the beautiful Painted Cup (Castilleja coccinea). A beautiful Calochortus is called in California "Indian Potato;" in Oregon, "Cat's ear Lily." It is bright yellow, with densely bearded petals - the " cat's ears," I suppose.

In Pennsylvania and in the Western States generally, the low growing native Phloxes are known as "Wild Sweet Williams." Balsams are "Touch-me-nots," from the seed-pods. Asters are "Fall roses." Bachelor's buttons (Centaurea Cyanus) are known as "French Pinks," while the Globe Amaranth is "Bachelor's button," "French Clover," and "Winter Clover." Ixia Chinensis is " Blackberry Lily," - a good name.

The old single Zinnias are called in Iowa "Youth and Old Age," a very good name, as the flowers do not wither or drop their petals, but stand a long time unchanged, except the fading color. The Molucca Balm, or shell-flower, was called "Shaker bonnets." Nicandra physalioides was "Bluebells" in New England; Mertensia Virginica are " Blue Gentians " at the West.

Many plants are called Mies; Irises, Erythro-niums, and Trilliums are so called. In this region all kinds of Narcissus are known as "Easter Flowers." Polemonium cerulea is "Jacob's Ladder;" Mvosotis, "Blue-eyed Mary." Our "Barberry" is a tree with small white flowers and black berries, with hard bony seeds. It is also called " Bear berry" from the fondness of that animal for the berries. [Rhamnus Purshianus. - Ed].

Polypodium falcatuin is known here as "Wild Licorice" and used in medicine like the true licorice. Lomaria Spicant is known as "Deer Fern." Sometimes the nurserymen are caught napping. A friend in Iowa had "Rose of Circas-sia" piesented by a prominent dealer. It proved to be Rose Acacia; and a traveling agent in the same State, reading the names of the impossible fruits and flowers from his big picture book, gave "Glory of Moses" as the name of his best moss rose.

I suppose we all appreciate a pretty and appropriate English name. When quite small I heard some yellow Everlastings called "Golden Eternal Flowers," and the beautiful name impressed me, child as I was. I wish that all botanical names were descriptive of the most prominent characteristics of the plants or their habitats. Even we who can only pick up here and there a crumb of knowledge could learn a great deal about them. I wish, too, that we knew the Indian names and their meanings; I suppose they are all significant in some way. I have heard that the Indians of this coast call the common Plantain by a name meaning "White-man's-foot," saying that it always follows his coming; and this scrap of knowledge gives a touch of poetic interest to the common plant. Does not every new idea, in the words of an old poet, " Give the soul sweet sense of larger room?" La Centre, Wash. Ter.