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 asearchin 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. 
