182 THE GOLD MINE 



plods along. Often for years they must bear neglect 

 in grass, or the hard earth tramped solid about them. 

 And yet they hang on, doing the best they can. Yet 

 while they patiently endure so much, there is nothing 

 that responds with more grateful alacrity to generous 

 treatment. A neighbor had an Alba Sulphuria, which 

 had bloomed in utter neglect for twenty-five years. I 

 bought the clump, he retaining a couple of roots. He 

 planted his in the grass and hard earth, digging but 

 a little space for them. In four years they have not 

 bloomed or grown. They could not. They could only 

 live. I planted my part in. the richest ground, and 

 how they increased and blossomed. In about four 

 years I had nearly one hundred plants. 



All the great West and E"orthwest are well adapted 

 to them, and, it should be a rnatter of encouragement 

 that the finest flower that blooms will give its cheer 

 to a vast region VN^here other flowers cannot grow. They 

 are hardier than the pieplant. We pay out millions 

 for choice roses, and other things which cannot endure 

 our winters. It is much better to plant an absolute 

 success than a sure failure. 



Possessed of sn marvelous patience, this plant will 

 often bide its time, and seem dead, when it is only gath- 

 ering its forces for a vigorous push. 



One fall I planted quite a row of the splendid Prin- 

 ceps. l^exi spring not one of them came up, nor did 

 they show any signs of life during the summer. I was 



