THE GENERAL PLAN OR THEORY OF THE PLACE 35 
many of the native herbs of woods and glades are more attract- 
ive than some of the most prized garden flowers. The greater 
part of these native flowers grow readily in cultivation, some- 
times even in places which, in soil and exposure, are much un- 
like their native haunts. Many of them make thickened roots, 
and they may be safely transplanted at any time after the 
flowers have passed. To most persons the wild flowers are 
less known than many exotics that have smaller merit, and 
the extension of cultivation is constantly tending to annihilate 
them. Here, then, in the informal flower-border, is an oppor- 
tunity to rescue them. Then one may sow in freely of easy- 
growing annuals, as marigolds, China asters, petunias and 
phloxes, and sweet peas. 
One of the advantages of these borders lying at the boundary 
is that they are always ready to receive more plants, unless 
they are full. That is, their symmetry is not marred if some 
plants are pulled out and others are put in. And if the weeds 
now and then get a start, very little harm is done. Such a 
border half full of weeds is handsomer than the average hole-in- 
the-lawn geranium bed. An ample border may receive wild 
plants every month in the year when the frost is out of the 
ground. Plants are dug in the woods or fields, whenever one 
is on an excursion, even if in July. The tops are cut off, the 
roots kept moist until they are placed in the border; most of 
these much-abused plants will grow. To besure, one will secure 
some weeds; but then, the weeds are a part of the collection! Of 
course, some plants will resent this treatment, but the border 
may be ahappy family, and be all the better and more personal 
because it is the result of moments of relaxation. Such a border 
has something new and interesting every month of the growing 
season; and even in the winter the tall clumps of grasses and 
aster-stems hold their banners above the snow and are a source 
of delight to every frolicsome bevy of snowbirds. 
I have spoken of a weedland to suggest how simple and easy 
