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NATURE STUDY AND AGRICULTURE 



feet wide in front of the fence. Close to the fence plant 

 seeds that produce high plants, such as cosmos or tall 

 nasturtiums that will run up over the fence, golden glow, 

 princess feather, or four-o'clock. In front of the tall plants 

 put in several rows of lower plants, and in front of this a 

 low border plant. 



Hardy plants that can stand drought fairly well should 

 be chosen. Nothing makes a prettier border plant than 

 sweet alyssum. It requires little care and continues to 

 bloom until after heavy frosts. Other good border plants 

 are portulaca, California poppy, and candytuft. For the 

 middle portion of the bed, sweet scabious, gaillardia, 

 phlox, cornflower, ageratum, low nasturtium, petunia, 

 marigold, larkspur, and balsam are all good. 



Some attention should be given to harmony of color. 

 If the tall plants are yellow, such as golden glow or nas- 

 turtiums, then for the lower plants forms should be chosen 

 that harmonize with yellow. Golden glow, low nastur- 

 tiums, and California poppy or portulaca, make a good 

 color scheme. Another scheme is, princess feather or 

 gaillardia, sweet scabious, sweet alyssum or candytuft. 

 The children should help to decide what colors will look 

 well together. 



Besides the flowering annuals, vines of various kinds 

 will add greatly to the beauty of the school grounds. Plant 

 vines to run up over the coal sheds and other outbuildings. 

 Of the annual vines the wild cucumber is a good one. The 

 seeds of this should be planted in the fall or early in March 

 so they may be frosted. The morning-glory is a beautiful 

 annual vine and a rapid grower. The principal objection 

 to it is the rankness of its growth. 



