Native Foliage Plants and Vines. 19 



may be turned and make a splendid bed for Ricinus, Caladiums, 

 Cannas and other subtropical plants. It may follow early annuals, 

 or spring flowering bulbs, and should be sown early in September; 

 such a rotation is very beneficial to flowers that delight in a rich 

 soil. 



Mention was made of some native or naturalized plants which 

 on account of contrasting shades of green are useful for bedding 

 with each other. Compass plant — Sylphium lacinialum — makes 

 a fine contrast with common mullen, which is different as possible 

 from common thistle, that may be used to form the next circle, 

 and this may be surrounded by motherwort, completing the bed 

 with an outer circle of yarrow. A few of our wild plants, in the 

 experience of the speaker and some of his friends, have shown 

 themselves very pleasant company during the winter, bringing 

 with their greenness the freshness of summer woods to grace our 

 homes in winter. Our little trailing Partridgeberry, if carefully 

 removed, will retain its beautiful leaves and bright berries through 

 the winter. Bedstraw grows with almost summer luxuriance, and 

 suggests many a fragrant woodland breeze. Mouse-ear chick- 

 weed makes a beautiful basket plant for winter. Our smaller 

 ferns with a great variety of mosses, rattlesnake plaintain, Adam 

 and Eve — Aplectrum hyemale — Liverleaf rue anemone, that beau- 

 tiful little club moss — Lycopodium luckhdum — and many others 

 to choose from, will make a beautiful wild garden if planted in a 

 shallow rustic box with sufficient woods earth. They should be 

 kept in a cold, shady place, with a limited supply of water for a 

 month or more, that they may go through the required ripening 

 process which seems to render some substitute for winter neces- 

 sary. When brought forth to grace the living room, they should 

 have a cool situation and not a very dry atmosphere. Among a 

 large collection of plants, to me the most interesting, was a lux- 

 uriant tuft of blue grass, growing in a box, a few winters ago, at 

 the home of one who has since become famous for her skill in the 

 dairy. 



As a decorative green the Smilax was warmly commended. 

 Those who desire to commence with the seeds, should pour hot 

 water on them, and let them soak about twelve hours before 



