A FEW OLD FAVORITES 139 



ing — the goldenrod, and the aster. These plants 

 are almost universally associated when growing 

 wild in the field, and their blossoms form so 

 beautiful a contrast that the two may very well 

 be transplanted to the garden together. 



I have experimented extensively with the 

 goldenrods, as well as with a collection of the na- 

 tive asters. And while the two plants are so very 

 different, the fact that they blossom together late 

 in the fall and harmonize so beautifully in the 

 landscape, makes it worth while to work on the 

 two in combination. 



The goldenrods are of so many species and so 

 variable that they tax the skill of the botanist. 

 To differentiate between them accurately is a 

 task lying far beyond the skill of most amateurs 

 But, for that matter, it is my observation that the 

 different species hybridize so freely when grow- 

 ing wild that the specific lines are thoroughly 

 broken down. 



Any botanist who pretends to fix hard and fast 

 lines beween the different species of goldenrods, 

 and does not take account of the hybrids, which 

 are even more numerous in many localities than 

 the parent forms, will not gain a very adequate 

 idea of the goldenrods as they actually grow. 



Any species of goldenrod will serve the pur- 

 pose of the experimenter. But, of course, it is 



