Page:Hugh Pendexter--The young timber-cruisers.djvu/352

, which may be nothing more or less than this little Canadian snake root, which finds a ready market.” And he pulled up a small plant and held it at arm’s length. “Back there at the swamp we made our way through the northern scouring rush, those three and four-footers you got so impatient with. A city chap coming up here to camp out would probably bring along soaps and scouring powders, not knowing that that rush is one of the best scourers and polishers you can find or buy. Why Stanley, the woods and fields are just filled with plants and herbs that will cure you of sickness or keep you from starving. We used beech leaves for your sprain after using the professor’s liniment. The leaves alone would have fixed you all right. Now say you had inﬂammation; then we’d used that plant over there. It’s nothing but common mullen, and you can always find it in an open spot. Noisy Charlie could doctor you for almost any illness just from what he knows of plants.”

“I take off my hat to the Maine woods,” humbly declared Stanley. “Instead of being a play-ground, or a lumber center I can now appreciate they are the backbone of the state. Everything depends upon them; water, food and clothing. But while I’ve been