IN THE FRONT YARD. 79 



There are many things inanimate which appear to be 

 of a social nature, and they love company of their o^vn 

 kind. So now these are set out mostly in clumps of 

 from six to twelve, and you have a perfect bank of 

 flowers. If the ground is good, and they have the best 

 of care, the flowers will sometimes be as large as a 

 man's head. They are white at first, and, as they get 

 age, they put on a slightly reddish tint. They seem 

 to know how to continue in bloom a long time, and then 

 die gracefully. 



They are usually propagated in the hot-house from 

 green cuttings. They can be increased, however, by 

 layers. 



You can take quite a branching bush and plant it 

 deep so the branches will be under ground, and they 

 will all take root, when they can be cut off and planted 

 by themselves. They are generally propagated on a 

 large scale in France and sent from there in immense 

 lots when they are small. I have often used these im- 

 ported ones. There will be some loss, and it takes time. 

 It is better to get good strong bushes from your nursery- 

 man. 



The Sambucus or Elder. If we had to import our 

 Elder from Europe, and pay a high price for it, with 

 its great, massive blooms in spring time and flat masses 

 of dark berries in the fall, almost as large as dinner 

 plates, we would think a good deal of it; but as it is, 

 it is generally neglected. If, however, you have room 

 enough and wish a large wild garden, then you will 

 have a place for it. There are twelve varieties of 



