282 NATURE-STUDY 



less molested and trampled, and will look better. They 

 should be selected so that some of them will be in flower at 

 different times throughout the season. 



In this hst may be placed many autumn wild flowers. 

 Clumps of goldenrod, wild asters, coneflowers, etc., are very 

 ornamental and appropriate in our gardens. 



Wild Flower Garden: (See hst, page 297.) The wild 

 flowers can give as great pleasure as the more aristocratic 

 and costly cultivated kinds. In shady situations, on the 

 north side of houses or fences, wild flowers may be grown 

 where most of the cultivated kinds cannot. To do well 

 they need, however, rich wood soil, and a mulching of leaves 

 or straw in the winter. Bring them in from the collecting 

 trips. They make a very useful botanical garden for lessons 

 on plants. 



Fernery: A plant need not have flowers to be called 

 beautiful. Every one would class the ferns with the beauti- 

 ful plants. Their lacy fronds, curious crozier buds, woodsy 

 fragrance, and somewhat tropical effects make- them ad- 

 mirable for decorative borders. They will grow in shady 

 or damp places where other plants will not. Get ferns 

 from the woods and cliffs, in the dryer situations. Dig up 

 with abundant roots the imderground stems of the bracken 

 fern, ostrich and cinnamon fern, cliff brake, and the maiden- 

 hair. Place them in a deep bed of rich wood soil, with pieces 

 of decaying logs, sawdust, peat, etc., well mixed with the soil. 

 It is well to dig deep first, and provide drainage with broken 

 brick, tile, cans, etc. Ferns look very well around the 

 school entrance, in corners, and among shrubbery. In the\ 

 fall they need some protecting litter, such as wood soil or 

 leaves. 



