SPRING BUDS AND BLOOMS 75 



turesque low-growing American yew, that one of 

 my mountain friends calls the "fruiting hemlock" 

 because of its clear carmine berries — came to me 

 on a forlorn hope with some rhododendrons, and 

 it is flourishing in the proper shady spot. 



For three years I have been trying to make 

 comfortable several clumps of the checkerberry, 

 or Mitchella, so common in Pennsylvania forests, 

 but nearly as hard to successfully naturalize as 

 the trailing arbutus. I had it actually growing and 

 blooming in a certain spot, until an Italian laborer 

 with more muscle than mind weeded it out one 

 day. I weeded him out in a hurry, and then 

 rescued the Mitchella; but neither that nor other 

 clumps have seemed really satisfied. 



A great advantage of this old place in which I 

 am growing a garden is its variety of exposures 

 and facings, as well as its interesting vistas. I 

 have previously mentioned the potential bigness 

 of this two acres, and I am realizing it more all the 

 planting and growing time. Does a shrub or plant 

 need full sunshine to the east, to the south, to the 

 west? It can be accommodated. Is a cool, northern 

 shaded corner requisite.^ It is here. Must the 

 plant have shelter from the wind.^ We have it. Is 

 a half -shaded warm southern exposure desirable? 

 No trouble at all ! 



