IN THE FRONT YARD. 21 



the characteristics of the parents. A lady not long 

 ago saved some dahlia seeds and was amazed to find 

 an immense, symmetrical double white, which she nam- 

 ed Surprise. 



Last spring I sowed a lot of seeds of choice cannas, 

 and was delighted to fine some of rare merit — fully 

 equal to many of the finest named ones. 



I keep about fifty kinds of mixed columbines ; and 

 their product gives an almost endless permutation of 

 form and color, and I note many far superior to the 

 old named varieties. There is this about the colum- 

 bine family, — they use all the prismatic rays in mak- 

 ing their garments of loveliness. 



Take the phloxes developed from our wild prairie 

 flowers. They have pushed ahead and branched out 

 into so many varieties their mother would not know 

 them. 



This summer I have raised from seed of the best 

 some twenty new sorts — surpassing most of our im- 

 ported ones. 



E'ow remember ! these gems are not like the precious 

 jewels which never multiply. You can increase them 

 rapidly and you can have a garden of delight all your 

 own; and standing there like a god among your new 

 creations, you can explain the petition, ^'Let the beauty 

 of the Lord, our God, be upon us." 



It is delightful to stand as an interpreter to unfold 

 the divine plans and uncover His munificence to an 

 admiring world — to introduce God to men. 



