46 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. 



ture for she varies the arrangements of growth, as if to show us 

 that she will be " fettered by no rule." The Galium, bed straw, or 

 goose grass is spied nestling down among her more cultivated com- 

 panions. Let us listen to her rustic story. " My home is in the 

 wild woods, and I delight in cool, shady spots. If you wish me to 

 climb to the top of the basket just give me a slight support, and 

 train me upright; if over the side, to cover the basket, just divert 

 me downwards; either way I am content. My leaves grow in 

 whorls and are very rough; if you examine the end of the leaf you 

 will find there a sharp curve or hook; by these I climb. My jointed, 

 four cornered, rough stalk, also assists me as I rise. My very 

 small white flowers are borne in clusters, and if you will arrange 

 them with showy companions, like water lilies, I am sure you will 

 be pleased with me, for at a distance I resemble mist. Many, many 

 years ago, thrifty matrons and blooming maidens perfumed straw 

 beds with me, therefore the name bed straw which is commonly 

 given me." Over the side of the basket the striped, purple and 

 green-jointed Tradescantia is hanging. Let us examine it critically. 

 We first discern that the stem is hollow, and that it is filled with 

 water. This enables the plant to live months without soil or moist- 

 ure. It is in fact almost an air plant. The purple in the leaf uncon- 

 sciously discloses the color of the flower, telling its own little secret, 

 as the majority of plants are doing each day, and what a pleasure 

 to discover these precious little secrets. 



We regretfully leave the lovely vines, climbing up or creeping 

 down, as inclination and habit dictate, and pursue our studies. 



Hark! I hear a feeble voice saying, "Brethren, whatsoever 

 things are true, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are 

 of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, 

 think of these things, and remember that God made nothing by 

 accident or in vain; everything is made and controlled by fixed 

 laws, and there is good in all things. Look at me as I grow in the 

 gravelly walk under your feet. I am meek and lowly, but useful. 

 I have some characteristics that my showy neighbors envy me. I 

 can foretell what the weather of the day will be, and I have many 

 pleasant visits and chats with the merry school girls. When you 

 see my blossoms fully expanded, you may be certain of a sunshiny 

 day; but if in the morning I hold down my head, and refuse to 

 open my eyes, defer the picnic until another day, and take the 



