THE LARKSPUR 231 



other flower garden in the world, should give 

 the pursuit of the amateur florist unique interest. 



SOME INTERESTING NATIVES 



More than once the possibility has been sug- 

 gested of introducing to the garden species of 

 plants that grow in the wilds and that offer inter- 

 esting possibilities of development. Two or three 

 other tribes of these interesting wildlings may be 

 here referred to. To name all that are worthy 

 of consideration would take many volumes, for 

 there are more than ten thousand species of 

 flowers indigenous to the United States, and of 

 these only something like fifteen hundred have 

 at one time or another been placed under 

 cultivation. 



Two or three familiar ones may be named, in 

 addition to those that have already been referred 

 to, as offering exceptional attractions. 



There are, for example, the Gilias, repre- 

 sented by many species. I have cultivated 

 twenty or more wild ones at one time, selecting 

 for brilliancy of color, for size of flower, for 

 compactness of growth, or for some other desired 

 quality. 



On occasion I have carefully examined at least 

 ten thousand different plants in order to select 

 the individual with which to begin improvements. 



