A WEEDLAND BORDER 147 



more than a bushel of potatoes. These plants 

 have been lifted from the fields in the most care- 

 less fashion. A noble plant of the pink -hearted 

 Spiraea lobata was pulled from a swamp in July 

 when it was in full bloom; the bluebells have 

 been stolen from cliffs without regard to time or 

 season; some of the roots were carried in the 

 pocket for hours before the opportunity came for 

 planting, and this, too, in the height of summer. 

 Of course, some plants have resented this treat- 

 ment, but the border is a happy family, and it is 

 all the better and more personal because it is the 

 result of moments of relaxation. Such a border 

 has something new and interesting every month 

 of the growing season; and even in the winter 

 the tall clumps of grasses and aster -stems wave 

 their plumes above the snow and are a source of 

 delight to every frolicksome bevy of snowbirds. 



I have spoken of this choice little weedland to 

 show how simple and easy a thing it is to make 

 an attractive mass -plantation. Set aside a bit of 

 ground in the right place. Make the most of a 

 rock (Fig. 136), or bank, or other undesirable 

 feature of the place. Spade up the ground and 

 make it rich, and then set plants in it. That is 

 all there is of it. You will not get it to suit you 

 the first year, and perhaps not the second or 

 the third one. You can always pull out plants 

 and put more in. I should be sorry if it did 

 perfectly suit you, for I should then feel that you 



