166 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
be Red Astrachan, and I do not think it isa good plan to let those 
fellows put in anything they please. 
Mr. Hawkins: Speaking of the Virginia crab, I think the con- 
ditions surrounding the tree have a great dealto do withit. In my 
county the Virginia is subject to tree blight, and the Hibernal is 
exempt,on the same ground. In regard to this grafting, I never 
started until I was over sixty years old,and I have been able to make 
almost every graft grow. It is only necessary to make them air 
tight. I have a little granddaughter that can make whip grafts and 
make them yrow every time. 
ie See ee ee Z 
OUR NATIVE FLOWERS WORTHY OF CULTIVATION. 
MISS SARA M. MANNING, LAKE CITY.§ 
Possibly the experience of an amateur in transplanting some of 
the native ferns and flowers from the meadows, woods and bluffs, 
may be of interest to others who enjoy removing bits of woodland 
beauty to their homes. 
For this purpose the first requirement was a place where they 
would live and thrive, which was provided ina simple way. For 
one bed, a large shady corner, formed by two parts of the house, 
was filled in about a foot deep with rich mould from the woods, just 
the soil in which the plants grow naturally; and many came up of 
themselves. This bed was designed for plants from deep woods 
and northern bluffsides. Another long bed prepared in well fer- 
tilized garden soil was for those species which love the sunshine. 
Then, each excursion to the woods resulted in the capture of rare 
trophies borne homeward in triumph. Sometimes all the available 
space in the carriage was filled with mossy rocks, from some cool 
ravine, which were made into mimic ledges, where dainty little 
ferns flourished; tiny Pilea seemed as much at home as onits 
native cliffs and Walking-Leaf took graceful steps, rooting at each 
point of rest, thus forming another minute plant, 
Maidenhair, taken up with large balls of earth about the roots, 
grew luxuriently without discovering that it had been placedin 
less congenial surroundings, and Cystopteris tangled its long 
fronds with everything near. Woodsia,with deeply cut fronds, grew 
in masses, while the Sensitive Fern came up singly. Polypody, 
found on rocks at the summit of the bluffs, made evergreen mats. 
Another species which is extremely pleasing, though not common 
in our state, is Christmas Fern, which also has fronds of bright ever- 
green. Of taller species which formed a beautiful background for 
more delicate plants were Shield Fern of the marshes, strong grow- 
ing Ostrich Fern and the two flowering ferns, also the Brake and 
elegant Lady Fern. 
In this bed were also placed many of the plants which have these 
ferns for neighbors in the woods or on the bluffs: as starry Wood 
Anemone; pure white Bloodroot; lavender-tinted Hepatica, both 
the acute and round leaved species; Wild Ginger, more noticeable 
for its two large leaves than for the one dark flower hidden beneath 
them; False Solomon’s Seal, with shining leaves and feathery 
