174 



EDITORIAL. 



One of the results of the last census seems to be a conclusive 

 demonstration of the fact that an increased, proportion of those having 

 business interests in cities are going to the country for homes. Modern 

 rapid transit places suburban points within easy reach of these busi- 

 ness centers, and many a person is thus enabled to own a home sur- 

 rounded often by a consideral)le plot of land, and this leads us to our 

 thesis, namely: a plea for the use of native plants in the beautifying of 

 the home grounds. We have in mind such a home, the residence of one 

 of our most distinguished ornithologists, that is a delight, not only to 

 the owner, but to his friends and neighbors. On a piece of ground 

 only 300 feet square over one hundred and fifty species of North 

 American plants are growing under conditions as nearly natural a-s 

 possible. They comprise trees, shrubs, and perennial and annual herbs, 

 the whole forming in effect a miniature botanical garden, but without 

 the stiffness and formality usually seen in such gardens. In one corner 

 for instance, is a tangle of cat-briars, l)lackberry vines and wild grapes. 

 In another corner are various species of Cornus, flanked by Vibur- 

 nums, Ilexes and Rhododendrons, which furnish shade suitable for 

 Cypripediums, Trillums, Blood-roots and ferns. Trumpet creeper, 

 Virginia creeper and Decumaria clamber up the trunks of tall pines, 

 and magnolias of several species, silver-bell trees and Gordonias are 

 covered with blossoms. Individual examples of not a few forest trees 

 are also in evidence. With larger pieces of ground the possibilities for 

 landscape effect are of course greatly increased, and while we do not 

 argue for the exclusion of all exotic forms, we do urge the employ- 

 ment of our native plants. They have been too long neglected. 



