202 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE FARM 



Suggestions as to the natural functions of such materials in 

 the beautifying of our environment will be found in 

 Chapters 16, 32, and 48. In the unmutilated wildwood one 

 may see what elements of grace or of beauty each species 

 may lend to a landscape. Let no one despair of having 

 his place well planted for lack of means: there is little 

 relation between money-cost and real beauty. Many of 

 the most beautiful things require only to be planted in 

 suitable places. Good taste is what is needed, and an appreci- 

 ation of the requirements of the plants as to food, water and 

 sunlight. Beautiful plantings consist only of plants well 

 placed and well grown; and many wild things, that are to 

 be had for the digging of them, will grow better and fit 

 better than will any costly exotics. 



Study 27. Wild Perennials for Spring Planting 



Two alternative lines of work are suggested for this exer- 

 cise. For either, individual digging tools will be needed. 



I . The program of work may consist of a search in woods and 

 fence-rows for wild things for ornamental plantings — trees and 

 shrubs and herbaceous perennials. These should be dug up 

 and examined, root and branch. Their soil preferences and 

 moisture and light requirements should be carefully noted. 

 Their relations to parent plants and to the conditions under 

 which they have grown should be observed. And then, being 

 things of value, they should be replanted properly in suitable 

 places; if not needed elsewhere, roadside waste places may 

 be beautified with them. 



