THE SCOPE OF NATURE-STUDY 33 



of a plant's ambition in the wild state. Even where the want of the 

 gardener and the need of the plant meet in the same thing, as in 

 the seed, in some underground forms, and in many flowers, these 

 parts are forced by the tricks of cultivation to a point in size and 

 number that the plants could not sustain for a single season if they 

 were left to battle alone with the elements and their natural enemies. 

 Thus the potato, as well as the turnip, parsnip, and other roots ; 

 the cabbage, kale, kohlrabi, and other leaves and stems ; the peas, 

 beans, and other seeds, in their present marketable form, represent 

 the ambition of the gardener rather than the needs of the plants 

 themselves. The distortion and exaggeration of the normal form 

 found in the majority of cultivated plants represent with fair direct- 

 ness the modification of the natural conditions under which these 

 plants are produced. If members of the vegetable world were 

 endowed with reflective powers, they would certainly view some of 

 the results obtained by the gardener with alarm ; as, for example, 

 the production of the '* seedless fruit " and the double flower, 

 in which the original purpose of this particular part is entirely 

 defeated. 



Again, it should be remembered that cultivated plants are not 

 only herded together without much regard for their natural affini- 

 ties, but they are set down in a place which in most cases was 

 pre-empted ages ago by other plants that have learned thoroughly, 

 how to take care of themselves on that particular spot. It has been 

 part of the business of these plants to kill ofif without mercy all 

 members of any weakling tribe that might appear among them. 

 The enormous strength with which these '^ natives " literally hold 

 their ground is evidenced by the fact that the gardener's favorites 

 must be aided and protected by the active and vigilant use of the 

 best instruments yet devised for the extermination of weeds in order 

 to carry the cultivated crop to a successful issue. There is no more 

 striking illustration than this of the trouble one may expect, if he 

 interferes with one of nature's established ways. 



In designing a garden in connection with an ordinary school, 

 therefore, three things should be observed : ( i ) select plants which 

 do not represent a wide diversity of habit, unless the garden will 

 lend itself to a variety of conditions as to water, sunshine, and soil ; 

 (2) select plants which represent fairly well-established stages of 

 cultivation ; that is, avoid the so-called novelties, unless there is 



