For June, 1921 



609 



is a good hedge shrub, since it may be pruned closely for 

 shape and yet retain its flowering habit. It cannot, how- 

 ever, be as closely planted to form a hedge as Privet, 

 Tamarisk, Spircea and evergreens, and hedges of Rose 

 of Sharon are more open at the bottom than those of 

 other shrubs. Individual specimens of the shrub are very 



effective and are an artistic feature in any planting. 

 In the conclusion of this article, which will appear in 

 our July issue, other cultivated and native deciduous 

 shrubs will be considered, and besides these the dwarf 

 evergreen trees, often looked upon as shrubs, and also 

 vines, trailers and ramblers. 



The Growing of Wild Flowers 



BERTHA BERBERT-HAMMOND 



THE indiscriminate digging of wild flowers foi the 

 purpose of transplanting them to the home grounds 

 is a practice that should not be encouraged. Only 

 those who can supply suitable environment and the condi- 

 tions favorable for success should attempt removing rare 

 wildlings from their habitat. In the hands of persons 

 who understand the needs and care of nature plants, the 

 making of a wild garden may prove a means of protect- 

 ing and perpetuating some species mitil public sentiment 

 aroused against the wilful destruction and waste of the 

 wild flowers, decreases to a considerable extent the danger 

 of their being exterminated by thoughtless or selfish 

 persons. 



Perhaps with the reforesting of devasted woodlands 

 which our Govermnent begins to realize is so essential 

 to our national welfare, and which our own State ( Ne»v 

 York) is endeavoring to foster by a provision to exempt 

 from taxation for thirty-five years, land reforested ac- 

 cording to the law, there may follow an opportunity and 

 a plan to restock these newly created woodlands with 

 plants once borrowed from the forest that have been 

 sheltered and given a chance to propagate in private wild 

 gardens and rockeries. 



Many of our wild flowers do well under cultivation 

 and most of them improve in size and in other qualities. 

 It is better not to molest those that are so thoroughl) 

 the children of the forest that they seem not only out of 

 place with other surroundings, but to pine unhappily in 

 captivity. In "The Exile Flower," Alice i\Iay Douglass 

 voices the sentiment thus : 

 Stray child of woodland, thou modest exile, 

 'Midst my garden flowers how sad is thy smile. 

 So far from thy home 'midst the fern-scented bowers. 

 Does naught bring thee joy midst my rare-colored 



flowers ? 

 Must thou fade? I but stole for thy winsome face, 

 And hoped that thy beauty my garden would grace. 



Before transplanting wild flowers, the subject should 

 be given careful consideration, and provision made for 

 promptly setting out the wildings in localities where the 

 plants are likely to find the conditions re(|uisite for their 

 best development. While some kinds will grow under 

 rather adverse conditions, there are others that require 

 careful lifting and conditions almost similar to those of 

 their native habitat. 



The delicate, fragrant, three-lobed Hepatica (liver- 

 wort) which blooms as early and is quite as beautiful 

 as the much adnn'red Trailing Arbutus, may be trans- 

 planted with the assurance that the chances for success 

 are favorable, for the dainty Hepatica adapts itself grace- 

 fully to garden culture, blooming freely and forming in 

 a short time a vigorous growth. This plant, attractive 

 both in leaf and flower, and for which there is a con- 

 siderable demand, is kept in stock by some commercial 

 growers, and not only the ordinary pink, blue and white 

 varieties, but also double introductions are obtainable. 

 With the increasing popularity of the wild garden and 



rockery on large estates, the far-sighted, progressive 

 grower might readily establish on a paying basis, the in- 

 dustry of propagating wild plants suitable for this special 

 purpose. 



Another plant that may be easily domesticated is the 

 Indian Paint or Blood-root (Sangiiinaria canadensis). 

 It delights in rich, moist, well-drained soil, and will rapid- 

 ly develop into a thrifty plant. Its large, white flower 

 with golden center, though exceedingly beautiful, is rather 

 perishable, lasting only a short time, but even when the 

 plant is not in bloom, it forms an attractive garden clump 

 with its large, prominently veined leaves. 



Under cultivation the various sorts of trilliums im- 

 prove in size of flower and spread out into fine large 

 clumps. A distinguishing feature of the trilliums (im- 

 plied by trl in the name) is the arrangement on a plan 

 of three of the leaves and flower parts. The Painted Tril- 

 lium (T. tindidatum) one of the best known of this family 

 with the A shaped purplish crimson markings seemingly 

 painted on its white waxy petals, is an especially attrac- 

 tive flower. 



Despite the fact that in its native haunt, the wild cokun- 

 bine (Aquilcgia canadensis) seems to have a penchant 

 for perilous positions among crannied ledges and cragged 

 rocks, under cultivation it becomes quite tame and a most 

 satisfactory, desirable and graceful member of the garden 

 family. 



When cultivated, the common blue violet waxes luxuri- 

 antly (spreading all too rapidly if space is limited) and 

 develops a surprising length of stem and size of flower, 

 that is hardly surpassed by the commercial varieties. 



The wild iris (/. versicolor), the blue flag of childhood 

 days, generally found in low, wet places, will accommo- 

 date itself most obligingly to a much drier location, and 

 with its variegated violet-blue blossoms and sword-shaped 

 leaves make an attractive and desirable plant. 



The various species of Cypripedium, members of the 

 aristocratic orchid family, possessing exceptional distinc- 

 tion of form and coloring, are considered by many the 

 most beautiful of our wild flowers. The yellow Lady's 

 Slipper (C. paniflorunt) with its gold slipper-shaped 

 lips is a dainty fragrant flower. The Moccasin-Flower 

 (C. acatde) or pink Lady's Slipper bears a solitary flower 

 of larger size and great beauty. These varieties thrive 

 and improve under cultivation, but while once fairly 

 abundant, they have become difficult to find. 



Given a rather moist situation, the Cardinal Flower 

 (Lobelia cardinali-s) will thrive and produce spikes of 

 flaming bloom from July to September. The intense!)'' 

 vivid coloring designed by Nature as an aid in fertiliza- 

 tion and reproduction, has by an irony of fate proved 

 the leading factor in the threatened extinction of the 

 plant, for the brilliancy of coloring which has served to 

 attract the friendly ruby-throated humming bird, also 

 caught the covetous eye of the vandal, who has nearly 

 exterminated the most gorgeously colored flower in 

 Nature's own garden. 



