84 THE SCHOOL GARDEN. 



ABOUT. 



Every one knows that there is danger of the total 

 rooting out of wild flowers, and ferns, in the vicinity 

 of most of our cities, and even towns. To perpetuate 

 and improve them in gardens is quite a new idea, 

 and worthy of being cherished. Let us try it, and no 

 longer be dependent upon seeds that bid us farewell 

 when they are put into the ground, as most of our pur- 

 chased seeds do. Those who have hoped for better 

 things from the distribution of seeds from the patent 

 office have been doomed to specially bitter disappoint- 

 ments, as the writer can testify, whose hope is well-nigh 

 immortal, and who has tried them for nearly sixty years ! 

 Even the lawn-seed, that the seed-men assure us to be 

 good, sometimes- comes up chickweed ! A few hardy 

 things come up, perhaps perhaps not. They more 

 frequently disappoint hope. 



A bright farmer is reported in the New York Tribune 

 to test his seeds by fitting and covering a dinner-plate 

 with fine flannel, keeping it wet, and laying his fine 

 seeds upon it. All that are genuine will throw up white 

 shoots ; and he thus judges how much waste he is to 

 allow for in planting. It is well said that the best way 

 to get good seeds is to raise them. Dr. Schwab speaks 

 of seed-nurseries as one of the indispensable things in a 

 school garden that is not too cramped in size. The 

 seed should be gathered from the main stocks of the 

 plants, rather than from laterals. In gardens that are 

 merely ornamental, plants are not allowed to go to 

 seed, because the process of ripening injures the comeli- 

 ness of the plant ; and, where the plant is perennial, 

 that is to be considered, and many annuals are very 



