The principal genera of flowers appearing in Iowa, from the middle of May till the last of August, are the following: Potentilla and Oxalis, common in the Eastern states, but more abundant here; and their bright little faces are welcomed by the emigrant from Atlantic states, as early friends.

Ceanothus Americanos

Ceanothus Americanos, common name Red-Root, which I understand grows east of the Alleghany Mountains, but was to me a stranger, is a small shrub, bearing crowded panicles of small white flowers, springing from the axis of the upper leaves. It is very abundant, quite pretty, and on a bright dewy morning recommends itself to our olfactories by its fragrance. It is a hardy perennial; and I am inclined to invite, or rather encourage its growth around our dwelling as an ornamental shrub. I have never seen it more than from one to two feet high, but think it will attain a much greater height when protected from the annual fires which sweep over the prairie; and in a cold, bleak climate like this, where rare shrubbery is liable to winter-kill, it seems especially important to cultivate and improve our own natives, many of which, with half the care bestowed upon foreign plants, will no doubt rival them in loveliness. The Geanothus is not* however, looked upon with much favor by the farmer, on account of its many thick stout roots, which break his plow-shares, and render it exceedingly difficult to till the new soil.

Aquilegia Canadensis

Aquilegia Canadensis, with its nodding head of chrome yellow petals, and bright crimson spurs, although possessing poisonous properties, as do all the Ranunculaceae, would make a lively and graceful ornament to the parterre.

Baptisia Leucophea

Baptisia Leucophea, bearing long racemes of pale straw-colored papilionaceous flowers, is an ornament to the lawn or the prairie.

B. Lencantha

B. Lencantha, coming several weeks later, is much more ragged in appearance; rather a disgrace to its pretty sister.

Asclepias Obtusifolia

Asclepias Obtusifolia, A. pauperculia, and A. tuberosa, the latter of which is gayly colored, very showy, and a great bloomer.

Coreopsis Triptera

Coreopsis Triptera, abundant, but not attractive.

Organum Majorana, Pionanthemum Lanceolatum

Organum Majorana, Pionanthemum Lanceolatum, and several other labiates, are here, which, as Hugh Miller says, " though unfashionable even in the days of Shenstone, who calls them plants of grey renown, still have their products favorably received in the very best society," and " which appear to have been specially created for the gratification of human sense".

The Rosaceae

The Rosaceae, too, we have; a "great family of plants," as Miller says, "of the very first importance to our race; created late in the tertiary ages, only a short time previous to the appearance of man upon the earth." From this great natural order we are furnished with the important genera, Prunus, giving us two or three species of wild plum, one of which, even in its wild state, is really a delicious fruit; Cerasus serotina, a very fine species of wild cherry; Pyrus, with its crab-apple, not pleasant to eat it is true, except when preserved, but a beautiful tree, lovely in its bloom and fragrance; Rubus, with its delicious blackberry and raspberry; Fragaria, with several varieties of strawberry; Rosa, with its beautiful wild prairie roses, which decorate our landscape for two or three months in summer with their lovely flowers, and in autumn with their bright red seed-cups; and the Euphorbia corolata, blooming from May to September, very delicate, and the umbels becoming more forked, and flowering more profusely, by cultivation.

No bouquet of wild summer flowers is complete without having this added as a finish.

Cassia Chamaechrista

Cassia Chamaechrista, flower yellow, with dark brown centre, leaves pinnate and quite sensitive, height twelve to eighteen inches. It should find a place in every flower-garden.

Gentiana Crinita

Gentiana Crinita, beautiful. CEnothera parviflora, and another, probably a variety of fruticosa, with pubescence soft as the finest silk velvet covering stem and leaves.

Petalostemum Candidam, And P. Violaceum

Petalostemum Candidam, And P. Violaceum, both species of which are abundant on the prairie,. and wholly Western; growth from one to one foot and a half high; the head somewhat resembling clover, but longer, and not so thick; foliage delicate; whole plant pretty; one species is white, the other a lively violet purple; continues in blow through July and August.

Physalis Viscosa

Physalis Viscosa, with fruit somewhat resembling small tomatoes.

Lilium

Lilium, one species more like the Philadelphicum than any other de-scribed, yet not wholly agreeing with it.

One Iris

One Iris, two Cypripediums; Achillea millefolium; Echinacea angustifo-lia, rough and ugly; and Sylphium laciniatum.

Echinocystis Lobata

Echinocystis Lobata, a climbing plant, with branched tendrils and inflated fruit vessels; has small white flowers, very numerous, in axillary racemes, sometimes a foot long, and always turning toward the sun; bears cultivation; would probably be improved by it; is a fine twining annual for a lattice.

Dysodia Chrysanthemoides

Dysodia Chrysanthemoides is abundant along old Indian trails, and wherever a beaten track or road is made. When crushed by the passing wheels it sends forth a perfume much like wild, chamomile, (Anthemis cotula, which also grows here in abundance,) only much stronger, and in warm days the atmosphere becomes so freighted with it that one feels oppressed and faint from its inhalation.

My list is becoming long, and I fear tedious, so I will enumerate no more at present.