130 TRANSACTIONS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTR. [ Vo. we 
with the soil a supply of peaty loam and sphagnum, they can be grown 
with most gratifying success. They endure any amount of cold, but 
perish if subjected to severe drouth. Once started they will take care 
of themselves, yearly increasing in strength and beauty. To the student 
of nature they are all exceedingly interesting, especially in contrivances 
found in many to secure cross-fertilization. The following are named as 
being the most interesting to the decorative gardener: Orchzs spectabzlts, 
flowers pink purple, undivided lip white, in May. AHabenarza ciliaris, 
bright orange yellow, bordered with a long copious fringe, July to Sep- 
tember ; //. dlephariglottzs, flowers white and also fringed, July; HY. fem- 
briata, flowers purple, fringed, June. Cypripedium candidum, flower 
small, white, May or June; C. parviforum, flowers about an inch long, 
bright yellow and fragrant, June; C. spectabzle, the most showy of them 
all, about two feet high, flowers two inches long, three or more ona stalk, 
white, marked with purplish pink, and last a long time in perfection. 
The foregoing will suffice to indicate that we have native plants worthy 
of a place in ornamental gardening. It is necessarily very incomplete. 
We have but touched the hem of our Flora’s robe. Intentionally only 
those have been mentioned that seemed most likely to interest those who 
plant for ornament, and of such only a small part, and that part wholly 
confined to the flowering plants. Yet, planting for ornament in the cye 
of one who is a true lover of nature, will not be confined to these. There 
is marvelous beauty to be found among the flowerless plants. In many 
of the lawns are to be found places just the thing for ferns. Can any- 
thing be prettier than a well arranged fern-border? and we have not far 
to seek in order to fill such a border with Canadian ferns of graceful 
form and charming beauty. Can we not do something to quicken into 
action the love of nature that all possess in greater or less degree, so that 
the beautiful things indigenous to our climate shall be cherished, not 
neglected because they are Canadian ? 
