168 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
Wild Lupine, Azure Larkspur, Starry Campion, Partridge Pea, 
Prairie Clover, Butterfly Weed and Three-Flowered Avena, known 
as Apache’s Plume because of its waving fruit. 
In some out of the way place, where the powers that be will not 
say that they are too common and coarse to have around, one may 
find much of interest in a collection of compositae, as, Thorough- 
worts, Cone Flowers, Sunflowers, Blazing Stars, Coreopsis, Boltonia, 
Asters and Golden Rods. 
Though other species might be named, the list is doubtless long 
enough to prove that even an amateur, without much knowledge of 
matters horticultural,may spend many pleasant hours experiment- 
ing with our native plants. 
Before leaving the subject, honesty requires the writer to admit 
that there were many failures, owing to the perversity of certain 
rebellious species which refused to live anywhere in her vicinity, 
and what caused perhapsa greater disappointment was the fact that 
frequently in the spring some little favorites were found to be 
missing. This need not be discouraging, for there is an added en- 
joyment in seeking them again in their native haunts, of seeing the 
endless variety of lovely kindred among which they live, and then 
the beautiful setting of grand hills or stately trees. 
The beds at home are an unceasing delight from the time the ten- 
der green leaves begin to peep through the dark soil in the spring- 
time until the frost comes and lays all low. One becomes doubly 
familiar with plants in this way, and as we care for and learn to love 
these beautiful creations, so they in turn help to cheer us when the 
days are dreary. 
“ Your voiceless lips, O Flowers, are living preachers, 
Each cup a pulpit, and each leaf a book, 
Supplying to my fancy numerous teachers 
From loveliest nook. 
“Floral Apostles! that in dewy splendor 
‘Weep without woe, and blush without a crime,’ 
O may I deeply learn, and ne’er surrender, 
Your love sublime.” 
Mr. C. L. Smith: The fact that we overlook the little things 
within our reach that do not cost anything and go to the nursery 
and florist’s catalogues for the same thing and pay a big price 
therefor, is exemplified in this paper, and it has brought to 
mind a little experience I had here last summer, and I believe 
there are many of you who could take advantage of it as you 
may have similar situations. A friend of mine had purchased 
a place here in the city. There was a porch on the southeast 
corner; then a large bay window of a neighbor’s house came up 
so close on the west that it shaded a good deal of the space 
around the porch on his lawn so that grass would not grow. I 
was up there last spring, and he asked me if there was any- 
