2o8 BEACH GFIASS 



to the beauty and interest of my forest, which 

 will be as an open book. What better way to 

 learn the ferns, for example, than by collecting 

 and introducing as many different kinds as possi- 

 ble and watching them as they become established. 

 Fortunately the character of the ground varies 

 from dry gravel to clay subsoil, and to spring}^ 

 ground at the foot of the hill near the salt marsh. 

 I already have a few lady's slippers and rattle- 

 snake plantains in my forest. The possibility of 

 a considerable collection of wild flowers there as 

 well as of ferns is an inspiring thought. 



An unexpected source of profit and pleasure 

 ensued from the forest. When I planted and 

 tenderly brooded over the delicate seedlings on 

 the hillside, the use of an axe on them was far 

 from my thoughts. Yet a time came when an 

 axe was very necessary. I had planted them near 

 together for protection from the rough winds. 

 Many of them were nurses, and it is well to elim- 

 inate nurses when the child outgrows the apron- 

 strings. Elms and ashes had been sprinkled in 

 liberally, but, although I was glad to grow a 

 thicket for birds, I found these nurses were push- 



