sweet bay {Magnolia virginiana, or M. glauca as it is sometimes 

 called), itself an inhabitant of swamps, should not be forgotten in 

 making our selection. Its flowers are of waxy whiteness and 

 sweet-scented. The button-bush {Cephalanthus occidental), 

 bearing its white flowers in ball-like masses, may be desired by 

 some. The American holly {Ilex opaca), with its dark evergreen 

 foliage and bright-red berries, will add much to the effect. There 

 are, of course, many other shrubs which may be used, but from 

 these a good selection may be made, or they may serve to sug- 

 gest others. 



It may be desirable to use a few trees, if the effect seems to 

 require them. The sweet gum {Liquidambar Styraciflua), the 

 leaves of which are 5-7-pointed and turn a deep crimson in 

 autumn, is a favorite. The pepperidge or sour gum {Nyssa 

 sylvatica), the swamp oak {Quercus palustris), and the red maple 

 {Acer rubrum) suggest themselves here. The weeping willow 

 {Salix babylonica) is effective where a tree with pendant branches 



Of herbaceous plants there are many which may be used in 

 the composition of this frame. Any swamp or lowland will fur- 

 nish a host of native species which will lend themselves admir- 

 ably to the purpose. With our wealth of wild asters and golden- 

 rods, sunflowers and daisies, tickseeds and coreopsis, an abundance 

 of material is at our hand for the mere transplanting. Among 

 others of our native plants may be mentioned our two common 

 blue flags {Iris versicolor and I. prismatica) ; the pickerel weed 

 {Pontederia cordata), that picturesque inhabitants of the swamps 

 and river margins, often giving a blue tinge to the shore vegetation 

 with its spikes of flowers ; the lizard's-tail {Saururus cermius), in 

 contrast with the last with nodding spikes of white flowers ; the 

 marsh mallow {Caltha palustris) with its bright yellow starry 

 flowers ; the American white hellebore ( Veratnim viride) with its 

 stately stalks of green, adding a touch of variety ; the swamp 

 loosestrife or willow herb {Decodon verticiltatus or Nesaea vcrticil- 

 latd), a rampant grower, and especially well adapted to conceal 

 an artificial margin ; and last, but not least, the swamp rose 

 mallow {Hibiscus Moscheutos), sending forth its bright pink bios- 



