The Home-Grounds- 



evidently be American gardens, just as those 

 in the valley of the Thames must be English, 

 and those on the southern shore of France 

 must have the mixed, semi-tropical character 

 peculiar to the Mediterranean coast. To 

 secure this local character, local plants are 

 essential as a foundation ; and then, to give 

 variety, interest, and the true garden-like air 

 and charm, exotics should be mingled xvith 

 them. But these exotics should never be 

 chosen for their rarity or novelty alone, or 

 even for their intrinsic beauty ; and still 

 less, as is too commonly the case, should 

 they be chosen for their mere conspicuous- 

 ness. First of all they should harmonize 

 with the other plants about them, and there- 

 fore the novice may well hesitate before 

 dipping deeply into those stores of foreign 

 plants which are now so vast and varied and 

 accessible. His choice will not be narrow, 

 if, in addition to native plants, he selects 

 such as have come from lands with climates 

 akin to our own. 



In using these last he will be following 

 Nature's own example. Here in America 

 she does not confine herself to growing plants 



59 



