Show lt S NATURE I L 4 c T e iJ Goldenrod and Ragweed Ragweed- GOLDEN ROD GAINS IN FAVOR By ARTHUR N PACK President American Nature Association When the shortening days of 01 summer merge gradually into those of ot early autumn and most mosto of the more showy flowers have dropped their ther withered petals and andare andare are ripening their seeds the gold golden en rod and ragweed have their ther day By Dy the dusty roadside along the edges of 01 fields where the crop of grain or forage orage has been gar garnered on the banks of ot the stream plYing Its course toward the river or even taking possession of ot the broad acres of o an abandoned stretch of ot hillside or valley slope the yellow-crowned yellow favorite and Its humbler associate fill their appointed ap appointed pointed destinies NATIONAL FLOWERS Few there will be to praise the ragweed and deservedly so BO forwe for forwe forwe we could well spare that trouble troublesome some plant with Its myriad seat scat scattering scat scattering seeds planting trouble for forthe forthe the gardener of ot next year Only the juncos and sparrows s 's from the north that hardy tribe whose boreal nesting races deign to visit us only in the winter months have cause to bless Its fecundity But Dut the golden rod who unless ho he be a martyr to hay fever hay fever and believes that this particular plant causes It ft does not love its be be- belated belated beauty So universally is It held in esteem that it has been seriously considered as a candi candi- candidate candidate candidate date for or tile the honor ot of o being the flower GAINING IN FAVOR With few exceptions the species are American and a majority ot of the odd hundred are North Korth Amer Amer- American Amerlean ican lean They vary much much In habito habit ot of growth some flowering In a simple spike while others branchIn branch branchIn branchIn In various ways Though golden rods have been little appreciated as garden plants it t Is believed that they are gain gain- gaining In lug ing In favor They Improve by cultivation the plants growing and more shapely and the blooms fuller and more richly col col- colored colored ored They are easily transplanted and may thus be arranged to give the most pleasing effect especial especial- especially especially ly It if combined with a hedge or group of ot some showy shrubs which develop bright contrasting as autumn approaches O- O |