THE POINT OF VIEW 



5 



remonstrated, he declared that it was nothing but burdock ; 

 but I insisted that, so far from being burdock, it was really 

 Lappa major, since which time the plant and its offspring have 

 enjoyed his utmost respect. And I find that most of my friends 

 reserve their appreciation of a plant until they have learned 

 its name and its family connections. 



The dump-place that I mentioned has a surface area of nearly 

 one hundred and fifty square feet, and I find that it has grown 

 over two hundred good plants of one kind or another this year. 

 This is more than my gardener accomplished on an equal area, 

 with manure and water and a man to help. The difference 

 was that the plants on the dump wanted to grow, and the 

 imported plants in the garden did not want to grow. It was 

 the difference between a willing horse and a balky horse. If 

 a person wants to show his skill, he may choose the balky 

 plant; but if he wants fun and comfort in gardening, he would 

 better choose the willing one. 



I have never been able to find out when the burdocks and 

 mustard were planted on the dump; and I am sure that they 

 were never hoed or watered. Nature practices a wonderfully 

 rigid economy. For nearly half the summer she even refused 

 rain to the plants, but still they thrived; yet I staid home 

 from a vacation one summer that I might keep my plants from 

 dying. I have since learned that if the plants in my hardy 

 borders cannot take care of themselves for a time, they are 

 little comfort to me. 



The joy of garden-making lies in the mental attitude and in 

 the sentiments. 



