230 LANDSCAPE-GARDENING 



ern states, in marshy places far below the tracks, 

 the ground will be covered very early in the season 

 with the yellow flowers of marsh marigold, and later 

 with the leaves and flowers of wild iris. Perhaps 

 a few of our native lilies will show their heads in 

 midsummer. Along certain lines near the sand 

 dunes of Indiana, the land is sometimes covered 

 with the white, blue, and purple flowers of lupine. 

 Wild roses, ironweed, wild asters, goldenrod, black- 

 eyed Susans, sunflowers, dewberries, and hundreds 

 of other attractive plants will decorate the land seen 

 from the window of a railway coach if they are 

 only given an opportunity. The railway right of 

 way might indeed become a great botanic garden 

 where plants take care of themselves and select the 

 situations best adapted to their growth. Often 

 they serve this purpose at the present time, but 

 they might do so to a greater extent if the matter 

 were given a little thoughtful consideration. 



To be sure, one must consider the fact that sparks 

 will fly from locomotives and will sometimes start 

 fires. Much, however, can be done or left undone 

 to encourage the wild garden or botanic garden that 

 has been mentioned without increasing the fire 

 risk. The wild gardens should exist along all rights 



