24 NATURE-STUDY REVIEW [12:1— Jan., 1916 



siderable training in aesthetic appreciation. From co-operation 

 it is not a long step to a generosity which includes others besides 

 the immediate group, and the children may soon learn to share 

 the brightness of their gardens with others. To the sick and shut- 

 ins or those who cannot have gardens of their own, no gift is more 

 welcome than a bunch of flowers, and there is added a peculiar 

 charm and sweetness when the gift comes from a child. This 

 finds its reaction in the young lives and they soon find their own 

 happiness in making that of others. 



Another outgrowth from a garden of any sort is a proper respect 

 for the property rights of others. This can be inculcated in no 

 better way than by finding out through one's own experience 

 what it means to possess and care for something quite entirely 

 one's own. 



The crops to be raised need careful consideration if any degree 

 of success is to be attained. If flowers are to occupy our attention 

 we must consider, (i) color. Flowers which in themselves 

 may be very beautiful lose their charm when placed beside others 

 which are inharmonious. Reds, because of their intensity and 

 variety, need very careful handling. They invariably dominate 

 the landscape wherever they are placed, especially if of the more 

 brilliant tones. They are usually best set by themselves or with 

 only white in the immediate surrounding. I well remember seeing 

 a perfectly beautiful mass of bougainvillea its wealth of violet-red 

 bloom completely spoiled by being directly beside a magnificent 

 growth of poinsettia. Each in itself was gorgeous but together 

 were most displeasing. If one wishes to separate masses of 

 color or make borders for the beds, white sweet alyssum, candy 

 tuft, and mignonette are especially good for this purpose. (2) 

 Ease of cultivation should also be considered by the inexperienced 

 gardener, for it is a bit discouraging to have many hours of 

 labor rewarded by only a scanty supply of flowers, or to find that 

 plants need such constant attention to produce satisfactory 

 results that one's pleasure is materially lessened. A disheartened 

 looking garden is very likely to engender the same spirit in its 

 owner. Many of the flowers which are desirable from this point 

 of view may be obtained in a great variety of color so that our color 

 design need not be interfered with. Zinnias, verbenas, asters, 

 portulaca and sweet peas offer almost every color, while phlox, 



