646 Home Nature-Study Course. 



In my directions for planting trees and shrubs I spoke of digging 

 holes in which to plant them. For perennials the soil should be spaded, 

 pulverized and otherwise given the same good tillage as for planting 

 annuals. If the soil seems hard and lumpy, having an over proportion 

 of stone flour and an under proportion of humus the latter should be 

 added (See page 35, New Series, Xo. 3). If stable fertilizer is not 

 available use rotted leaves. These may be made the means of a vivid 

 lesson on Nature's methods of making soils. The gathering of leaves 

 in the autumn and spreading them around all plantings, there to remain 

 to rot has a threefold use ; that of getting rid of the litter on the lawn, 

 protecting the plants, and giving fertility. Be it understood that stable 

 fertilizer gives quicker results and bulk for bulk is stronger than rotted 

 leaves. Taking a period of five years the custom of piling leaves as 

 spoken of above will put the soil in an ideal condition. The leaves when 

 dry should be spread a foot deep. 



PERENNIALS FOR SCFIOOL GROUND 



Sweet William is the first that I would mention. It belongs to the 

 pink family. It may be propagated from seed or by division. If the 

 children bring a supply from their homes, they will probably bring a 

 division of an old plant or perhaps a self-sown seedling. 



By " seedling " I mean young plants produced from seeds and not by 

 division of roots or by cutting. I once received a letter from a boy who 

 called them " veal plants." Another boy asked me if seedlings were 

 plants just weaned from the lunch of starch found in the seed and now 

 beginning to make their own living from the soil, sunshine and air. 



The seedlings would be the better, for Sweet William feels its years 

 sooner than many other perennials. If a border of perennials is already 

 established on the school ground seed of the Sweet William ma}^ be scat- 

 tered in some friable soil beneath some of the shrubs and later when 

 they are an inch or more high can be removed to a permanent place. In 

 my experience some bloom appears the spring following the planting of 

 seed and an abundance of bloom the second spring. The colors com- 

 prise many tints of red. The stems are stiff and for bouquets at a dis- 

 tance, say from desk to seats in the school room the effect is good, 

 particularly when mixed liberally with green. It is important that the 

 blossoms be picked and no seed allowed to form. 



AouiLEGiA OR CoLUMBiXE is another si)ring bloomer. My collection 

 of this perennial T have obtained by sowing seed in September and re- 

 planting the youngsters the following spring in permanent places. As 



