204 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE FARM 



II. The program of work may better consist in the gather- 

 ing of wild stuff and the setting of it in permanent plantings 

 where such are needed, and where the beautiful wild things, 

 so rapidly disappearing, may be preserved for future genera- 

 tions. Something more educational than the ordinary "ivy 

 day" and "arbor day" performances is here proposed, tho it 

 should have the same patriotic significance. If the school 

 have a ground-plan, let some bit of ground, some bank or 

 border, be assigned to the class for planting. Let the 

 teacher have a planting-plan of the usual sort, but lacking the 

 names of exotic plants, with only the size and character of 

 the plants indicated. Let teacher and class together seek 

 out, gather and plant suitable wild things. For the sake of 

 acquaintance with the plant characters, all should participate 

 in the digging of the stock. The resetting may often better 

 be done by division of labor. Wild plants should be obtained 

 where overcrowded or where in danger of extermination, and 

 those that are flourishing in suitable places should be let 

 alone. Otherwise, ill-considered and unsuccessful efforts at 

 transplanting may only hasten their extermination. The 

 best success with trees and shrubs will lie in taking them 

 when little and setting them first in a nursery and giving them 

 time to grow. 



The record of this work may consist in: 



1. A diagram of the area planted, with plants named in 

 the diagram. 



2. A table of characters of the plants used, such as is 

 indicated under 3 above. 



