Article May 2, 1901 Issue

Popular Names and State Flowers

Boston Herald

THE popular names of the states are as follows:—
Alabama—Cotton state.
Arkansas—Bear state.
California—Golden State.
Colorado—Centennial state.
Connecticut—Nutmeg State, Freestone State, and State of Steady Habits.
Delaware—Diamond State (on account of its size), and Blue Hen State.
Florida—Peninsula State, Everglade State, and the Florida State.
Georgia—Empire State of the South.
Idaho—Gem of the Mountains.
Illinois—Prairie State and Sucker State.
Indiana—Hoosier State, a corruption of brusher or bully.
Iowa—Hawkeye State.
Kansas—Sunflower State and Garden of the West
. Kentuky—Blue Grass State and Corn-Cracker State.
Louisiana—Creole State and Pelican State.
Maine—Lumber, or Pine Tree State.
Maryland—Monumental State.
Massachusetts—Old Bay State.
Michigan—Lake State and Wolverine State.
Minnesota—Gopher State.
Mississippi—Bayou State and Eagle State.
Missouri—The Iron State.
Montana—Stub-toe State.
Nebraska—Sage Hen State.
Nevada—Silver State.
New Hampshire—Granite State.
New Jersey—Jersey Blue.
New York—Empire, or Excelsior State.
North Carolina—Old North State, Tar State, or Turpentine State.
North Dakota—Flickertale State.
Ohio—Buckeye State.
Oregon—Beaver State.
Pennsylvania—Keystone State.
Rhode Island—Little Rhody.
South Carolina—Palmetto State.
South Dakota—Singed Cat State.
Tennessee—Big Bend State and the Volunteer State.
Texas—Lone Star State.
Utah—Mormon State.
Vermont—Green Mountain State.
Virginia—Old Dominion and Mother of Presidents.
Washington—Chinook State.
West Virginia—Pan Handle State.
Wisconsin—Badger State.
About half of the states have chosen a state flower.

The choice is determined either by an act of the Legislature or the vote of the schoolchildren, and in a few cases by a general ballot.

New York chose the rose; Alabama the golden rod; Colorado, the columbine; Delaware, the peach blossom; Idaho, the syringa; Iowa, the rose; Maince, the pine cone and tassel; Minnesota, the moccasin flower; Montana, the bitter root; Nebraska, the golden rod; North Dakota, the wild rose; Oregon, the golden rod; Utah, the sego lily; Vermont, the red clover; Michigan, the apple blossom; California, the poppy; Kansas, the sunflower; Nevada, the sage brush; and Washington, the rhododendron. These are the only states that have adopted a floral emblem, though the partiality for certain flowers in various states has been closely indicated. The Cherokee rose is Georgia's favorite flower; the schoolchildren of Illinois are divided in their preferences between the rose and the violet; the latter flower is the favorite of Rhode Island, and it is supposed that the trailing arbutus would, on a vote, be accepted as the favorite flower of Massachusetts. Oklahoma Territory has adopted as its favorite the mistletoe, and if New Mexico took any vote on the subject, its preference would probably be given to the cactus,—Boston Herald.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

The Law of Interstellar Measurements