THE WILD GARDEN 



that the interest of the masses in whatever is 

 beautiful is steadily increasing. The people are 

 being educated to a keener appreciation of 

 beauty than ever before. It is encouraging to 

 know that a demand has sprung up for shrubs 

 and plants of American origin — a demand so 

 large, already, that many nurserymen advertise 

 collections of native plants, some of them quite 

 extensive. Appreciation of true beauty is put- 

 ting a value into things which have heretofore had 

 no idea of value connected with them. 



The dominant idea I had in mind, when this 

 chapter was planned, was that of enlisting the 

 boys and girls in the work of making a collection 

 of native plants. I would have them make what 

 might properly be called a wild garden. But I 

 would not confine the undertaking to the boys 

 and girls. I would interest the man or woman 

 who has a home to make beautiful in the material 

 that is to be found on every hand, waiting to be 

 utilized. Such a garden can be made of great 

 educational value, and, at the same time, quite 

 as ornamental as the garden that contains noth- 

 ing but foreign plants. It can be made to assist 

 in the development of patriotic as well as sesthetic 

 ideas. It can be made to stimulate a healthy 

 rivalry among the boys and girls, as well as the 



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