'f'lobo^r (iapdco ar)d IgaLci). ^ 



CULTIVATION OF NATIVE PLANTS. 



^TT^HE cultivation of our native 

 plants is a matter that has re- 

 ceived little attention, and it is 

 doubtful if there is to be found 

 growing anywhere in Canada, a respect- 

 able or representative collection. In 

 our city parks and squares, large num- 

 bers of bedding and other plants are 

 grown, often at considerable expense, 

 and needing to be renewed every year ; 

 while our Canadian wild flowers, which 

 could be procured with a little time 

 and trouble and not much expense, and 

 could easily be maintained permanently, 

 are never seen except occasionally in 

 wooded parks left in the natural state, 

 and then only to a very limited extent. 



If some of our Horticultural Socie- 

 ties, in the cities and towns where they 

 are fortunate enough to have public 

 parks, were to devote a part of their 

 energies for a few seasons to making a 

 collection of native plants, they would 

 be both pleased and surprised at the 

 result of their efforts. Such a collection 

 properly cared for, with the plants well 

 arranged and plainly and correctly la- 

 belled, would constitute objects of con- 

 stant interest and of undoubted educa- 

 tional value. It is not contended that 

 native flowers should be grown to the 

 exclusion of other ornamental plants. 

 Even in Florida, the wild flowers are 

 few in number compared with the many 



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that are cultivated there, and so it would 

 be here. But a small space in the park 

 or in the private garden, might well be 

 given to them, which they would fill 

 with beauty and interest, and where 

 they would contribute to the popular 

 knowledge of some of our indigenous 

 beauties, which, in the older portions of 

 the country at least, are in danger of 

 disappearing. 



The individual collector will find in 

 the culture of our native plants, very 

 pleasant and interesting recreation, aid 

 in botanical study, general enlargement 

 of knowledge, and that truest and best 

 culture which is to be found in the sym- 

 pathetic study of the wonderful works 

 of God. 



A minister who had to give up his 

 charge on account of ill-health, com- 

 menced late in the season last year, to 

 take up and bring home and plant, 

 flowers he met with in his walks, that 

 seemed to him worth cultivation. He 

 found health and pleasure in the task, 

 studied his Botany anew, and, with an 

 interest he had never fell before, and 

 made a very interesting and creditable 

 collection of plants, and not a very small 

 one either, for he had, over thirty good 

 varieties in fine growing condition. 



The flower lover, no matter how poor, 

 if he can make excursions to the woods, 

 may have flowers that will satisfy the 



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