42 STATE B3ARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



At one time. I grew the worst weeds, a hundred or more of them, in 

 patches five to six feet in diameter, each sjjecies by itself, but recently the 

 weeds are grown with others of the family to which they resjiectively be- 

 long, where any one may see at a glance what are the weed-families, and 

 what families supply ]ilants that are ornamental. 



The tool house is a little north of the pond, and is partially screened by 

 evergreen trees. It is made of logs, with the bark remaining, neatly put 

 together. Back of this house, are stored, under shelter, the numerous 

 stakes used for supporting plants during the summer. 



At long intervals, we have freshets, that cause the river to (tAcrllow its 

 banks, covering portions of the garden. If a freshet comes in the growing 

 season, and covers plants for a few days, many of them perish outright. A 

 freshet coming at the time when the plants are at rest causes no injury, 

 except as it washes some of them out by the roots. "When the snow went 

 off a year ago this spring, the water was nearly two feet higher than I liad 

 ever seen it before, comjjletely covering all the flats of the river and the 

 brook. As noticed elsewhere, the lower portion of the garden within the 

 past two years, has been much raised by abiding dirt. In the lower part 

 of the garden, three years ago, in a space about three by four rods, I set 

 posts extending over six feet above the ground, and on the tops of these 

 were nailed horizontal poles over which were spread small brush, and brush 

 was put about the sides, making a very good imitation of a forest under 

 which to grow plants impatient of shade. The stmcture is not ornamental, 

 but evergreens on the north conceal it from view. Seedlings, as well as 

 certain other plants thrive much better under such an arbor, than in the 

 forest, because there are no woody plants to i-ol) them of nourishment. 



Under this brush arbor are grown small quantities of many choice things 

 usuallv of little interest to most visitors. Here srows some ginseng, con- 

 cerning which recently many are beginning to seek information. Here 

 grow some orchids, Shortia, Cialax, wintergreen, violets, columbo, pip- 

 sisewa, Trillium, wild ginger. Dutchman's breeches, squirrel corn, holly, 

 pinweed, louseAvort, strawberry blite, firepink. lop-seed, enchanter's night- 

 shade, tick trefoils, wild blue phlox, and its white variety, leaf-cups, and 

 many others. 



A A'ery few have criticised the arrangement of the families as neither 

 following DeCandolle, nor Englor and Prantl.. but I do not think they real- 

 ized the difficulties that must Ijc overcome to perfect such an arrangement. 

 So far as I thought practicable, plants are grown, each family by itself, 

 though there are exceptional species which must be grown in shade, in bog 

 or pond, or in dry sand. I selected a spot with suitable shade, light, size 

 and soil to accommodate a family: for examj^le, there was only one spot 

 suitable for growing ferns where they would be sufficiently shaded and 

 screened from wind. The ferns went into that spot and have thrivetl. A 

 sunny, sandy slojie facing the south is used for cacti, species of semj^ervivum, 

 Sedum, and plants liking such a j^lace. By these illustrations, you will see 

 that no two areas for two families are of the same size or exactly the same 

 shape. In this way, monotony of shape and size is avoided. 



In a few instances, a family Avas located, as now to be seen in the garden, 

 for the following reason: The cherries and plums, Drupaccac, were so 

 placed as to include a large black cherry as one of the species already in 

 place; another spot was devoted to the apples, Pomaceae, Ijecause a good- 

 sized tree of Juneberry occuj^ied a place there. The sumachs were placed 



