being subjected to a dark, cool place. Mertensia virginica or Vir- 
ginia Cowslip, found often in large beds of purple, blue or even white 
along the flood plains of our streams is a seeming waste of beauty. 
Where we transplanted it several years ago to a high and even dry 
soil in a half-shaded spot it has come forth promptly with the month 
of May, has bloomed in all its deHcate tints, soon to disappear again, 
leaving not a visible trace of its existence. It is hardly necessary 
to recommend closer relations with Mertensia. Dancus carota or Wild 
Carrot — Queen's Lace Handkerchief — is another so-called weed of 
rather usurping tendencies but offering a bloom of striking beauty 
when seen from the right point of view — that is by close inspection. 
If offered a few square feet in the garden where it may be watched 
and made bushy by judicious trimming the time will not be ill spent. 
A purpHsh variation is sometimes seen. Cichorium intybus or Chicory 
is all too common along the roadside. As to its foKage, there is 
nothing to commend, but the pecuHar quahty of its blue flowers is 
apt to make one wish for a few plants within the garden walls. 
Asclepias tuber osa or Butterfly Weed speaks for itself wherever 
found, by means of its bright orange colored umbels — a color so 
peculiar as to demand nice discrimination in selecting its garden 
associates. Lobelia cardinalis or Cardinal Flower with its intensely 
red bloom will gladly take a place near a trickling hydrant or any 
soggy spot not otherwise in use. Mitchella repens or Partridge 
Berry forms a dense evergreen carpet over rocks and about the base 
of trees hghted up by scarlet berries, some of which seem to be ever 
present. Asters of many species cover our territory at this season 
of autumn and one may take one's choice without the risk of drawing 
a blank. The usual rough unkempt situation of most of these 
beautiful little flowers in the tangle of hardy weeds, rocks and briars 
might be taken as a hint that they are cleverly availing themselves 
of contrast for making their loveliness the more pronounced. Among 
woody plants that we have brought under cultivation or threatened 
to do so, because of desirable characters, may be named: Asimina 
triloba or Papaw, a straggling, ill-favored small tree with not very 
much to commend it. Its curious dark purple flowers, however, that 
appear with the leaves and its banana-Hke fruit give it a certain 
interest. If favorably placed and properly trimmed, it is quite sure 
to respond promptly and to furnish one more object for observation 
in the grounds round about the country house. Menispermum cana- 
densis or Moon Seed is far too handsome a hardy vine to be wasted 
on the outer world. It looks, indeed, as if it had escaped at some 
time from cultivation and would gladly return to grace an arbor or 
lattice. Celastrus scandens or Chmbing Bitter-Sweet is a woody 
vine of such hardiness and vigor as to grow within two or three 
years into an excellent screen against winds from the northwest or 
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