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ALBERT R. MANN 
LIBRARY 


AT 
CORNELL UNIVERSITY 


The wiid garden; or, Our groves and garde 


Thin 


Cornell University 


Library 


The original of this book is in 
the Cornell University Library. 


There are no known copyright restrictions in 
the United States on the use of the text. 


http :/Awww.archive.org/details/cu31924002830150 


THE WILD GARDEN 


Colonies of Poct's Nareiss1 and Broad-leaved Saxifrage, ete Frontispiece. 


The 


WILD GARDEN 


Or our Groves and Gardens made beautiful 
by the Naturalisation of Hardy Exotic 
Plants ; being one way onwards from the 
Dark Ages of Flower Gardening, with 
suggestions for the Regeneration of the 
Bare Borders of the London Parks. 


per 
J 
By W. ROBINSON, F.LS. 


THIRD EDITION 


Illustrated by Alfred Parsons 


LONDON 
JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET 
NEW YORK: SCRIBNER AND WELFORD 
1883 


By the same Author. 


THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN: ITS STYLE 
AND ARRANGEMENT. Followed by an ALPHABETICAL 
DESCRIPTION oF att THE PLANTS BEST SUITED FOR 
ITS EMBELLISHMENT, THEIR CULTURE, anp POSITION. 
With numerous Illustrations. Medium 8vo. 158. 


THE PARKS AND GARDENS OF PARIS, coNsIDERED 


iN RELATION TO THE WANTS OF OTHER CITIES AND OF PuBLIC 
AND PrivaTE Garpens. Third Edition. With 350 Illustrations. 
8vo. 18s. 


ALPINE FLOWERS FOR ENGLISH GARDENS. How 
THEY MAY BE GROWN IN ALL ParTS OF THE BritisH IsLANDs. 
With Illustrations of Rock-gardens, Natural and Artificial. Third 
Edition. With Woodcuts. Crown 8vo. 7s. 6d. 


THE SUB-TROPICAL GARDEN; or, Beauty oF Form 
IN THE FLoweR GarDEN; with Illustrations of all the finer Plants used 
for this purpose. Second Edition. With Illustrations. Small 8vo. ss. 


HARDY FLOWERS. DescripTIoNs OF UPWARDS OF 1300 


OF THE MOST ORNAMENTAL SPECIES; with Directions for their Cul- 
ture, &c. Fourth Edition. Post 8vo. 3s. 6d. 


GOD’S ACRE BEAUTIFUL; or, THE CEMETERIES OF 
THE Future. Yhird Edition. With Illustrations. 8vo. 7s. 6d. 


PREFACE. 


WuEN I began, some years ago, to plead the cause of the in- 
numerable hardy flowers against the few tender ones, put out 
at that time in a formal way, the answer frequently was, “We 
cannot go back to the mixed border ”—that is to say, the old 
way of arranging flowers in borders. Knowing, then, a little 
of the vast world of plant beauty quite shut out of our 
gardens by the “system,” in vogue, I was led to consider the 
ways in which it might be introduced to our gardens; and, 
among various ideas that then occurred to me, was the name 
and scope of the “wild garden.” I was led to think of the 
enormous number of beautiful hardy plants from other 
countries which might be naturalised, with a very slight 


amount of trouble, in many situations in our gardens and 


vi PREFACE. 


woods—a world of delightful plant beauty that we might in 
this er make happy around us, in places now weedy, or half 
bare, or useless. I saw that we could not only grow thus a . 
thousandfold more lovely flowers than are commonly seen in 
what is called the flower garden, but also a number which, 
by any other plan, have no chance whatever of being seen 
around us. This is a system which will give us more 
beauty than ever was dreamt of in gardens, without interfer- 
ing with formal gardening in any way. 

In this illustrated edition, by the aid of careful drawings, 
I have endeavoured to suggest in what the system consists; 
but if I were to write a book for every page that this contains, 
I could not hope to suggest the many beautiful aspects of 
vegetation which the wild garden will enable us to enjoy at 
our doors. 

The illustrations are, with a few slight exceptions, the 
work of Mr. Alfred Parsons, and the drawing and engraving 
have been several years in execution. They are after 
nature, in places where the ideas expressed in the first small 
edition of the book had been carried out, or where accident, 
as in the case of the beautiful group of Myrrh and white 
Harebells, had given rise to the combinations or aspects of 
vegetation sought. I cannot too heartily acknowledge the 
skill and pains which Mr. Parsons devoted to the drawings, 
and to the success which he has attained in illustrating the 
motive of the book, and such good effects as have already 


been obtained where the idea has been intelligently carried out. 


PREFACE. vii 


There has been some misunderstanding as to the term 
“Wild Garden.” It is applied essentially to the placing of 
perfectly hardy exotic plants in places and under conditions 
where they will become established and take care of them- 
selves. It has nothing to do with the old idea of the 
“ wilderness,” though it may be carried out in connection 
with that. It does not necessarily mean the picturesque 
garden, for a garden may. be highly picturesque, and yet in 
every part the result of ceaseless care. What it does mean 
is best explained by the winter Aconite flowéring under 
a grove of naked trees in February; by the Snowflake 
growing abundantly in meadows by the Thames side; by the 
perennial Lupine dyeing an islet with its purple in a Scotch 
river; and by the Apennine Anemone staining an English 
wood blue before the blooming of our blue bells. Multiply 
these instances a thousandfold, illustrated by many different 
types of plants and hardy climbers, from countries as cold 
or colder than our own, and one may get a just idea 
of the wild garden. Some have erroneously represented 
it as allowing a garden to run wild, or sowing annuals 
promiscuously ; whereas it studiously avoids meddling with 
the garden proper at all, except in attempting the improve- 
ments of bare shrubbery borders in the London parks and 
elsewhere ; but these are waste spaces, not gardens. 

I wish it to be kept distinct in the mind from the various 
important phases of hardy plant growth in groups, beds, and 


borders, in which good culture and good ‘taste may produce 


viii PREFACE. 


many happy effects; distinct from the rock garden or the 
borders reserved for choice hardy flowers of all kinds; from 
the best phase of the sub-tropical garden—that of growing 
hardy plants of fine form; from the ordinary type of spring 
garden; and from the gardens, so to say, of our own beautiful 
native flowers in our woods and wilds. How far the wild 
garden may be carried-out as an aid to, or in connection with, 
any of the above in the smaller class of gardens, can be best 
decided on the spot in each case. In the larger gardens, 
where, on the outer fringes of the lawn, in grove, park, copse, 
or by woodland walks or drives, there is often ample room, 
fair gardens and wholly new and beautiful aspects of vege- - 


tation may be created by its means, 


May 28, 188]. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER I. 
PAG 
EXPLANATORY : é ‘ % : : : 1 
CHAPTER II. 
EXaMPLE FROM THE ForGET-ME-NoT FaMILy z . i 9 


CHAPTER IIL 


ExampLe rrom Harpy Buies ann Tupers IN Grass P 15 
CHAPTER IV. 

EXAMPLE FROM THE GLoBE FLoweR ORDER d s , 21 
CHAPTER V. 

PLANTS CHIEFLY FITTED FOR THE WILD GARDEN 2 ‘ 32 
CHAPTER VI. 


DircHES AND NARROW sHADY Lanes, Corpses, HEepGERows, 
AND THICKETS . . , 5 . i i F 36 


CHAPTER VIL. 


Drarery Fork Trees AND BusHEs . i F ‘ 3 43 


x CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER VIII. 


Tur comMMoN SHRUBBERY, Woops AND WoopLanp Drives . 


CHAPTER IX. 


Tuer Broox-sipE, WATER-SIDE, AND Bog GARDENS 


CHAPTER X. 


Roses FoR THE WILD GARDEN, AND For HEDGEROWS, FENCES, 


AND GROUPS 


CHAPTER XI. 


WIiLp GarDENING ON WALLS oR RUINS 


CHAPTER XIL 


Some Resutts 


CHAPTER XIII 
A PLAN FOR THE EMBELLISHMENT OF THE SHRUBBERY 


Borpers 1n Lonpon Parks 


CHAPTER XIV. 


Taz PrincipaL Types or Harpy Exotic FLowrerine Piants 
FOR THE WILD GARDEN 


CHAPTER XV. 


SeLections or Harpy Exotic Pants ror VARIOUS Postr1ions 
IN THE WILD GARDEN 


PAGE 


51 


67 


81 


88 


92 


163 


LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PAGE 
Colonies of Poet’s Narcissus and Broad-leaved Saxifrage, ete. 


Frontispiece 
Columbine and Geraniums in meadow-grass . ‘ Vv 
Large flowered Meadow Rue in the Wild Garden, type of sae 
mostly excluded from the Garden . ‘ 4 1 
Night effect of large evening Primrose in the wila Garden 
(Ginothera Lamarkiana) F : i , To face page 4 


A “mixed border” with tile edging, the way in which the 
beautiful hardy flowers of the world have been grown in 
gardens hitherto, when grown at all. (Sketched in a large 
garden, 1878). : ‘ : 7 Z , 5 

Blue flowered Composite plant ; fine foliage and habit ; type 
of noble plants excluded from Gardens. (Mulgedium 


Plumieri) . z : : : . : . : 6 
Wood Anemone . ; : 
Caucasian Comfrey in shrubbery . , : ° ; ‘ 9 
The Cretan Borage (Borago cretica) P ‘ F ‘4 ‘ 13 
Flowers of Geneva Bugle (Ajuga geneveusis), Dwarf Boragewort 14 
Star of Bethlehem in Grass . : . . ; ‘ : 15 


The association of exotic and British wild flowers in the Wild 
Garden.—The Bell-flowered Scilla, naturalised with our 


own Wood Hyacinth . . 5 17 
The Turk’s Cap Lily, naturalised in fie grass + rat wri 4 19 
Crocuses in turf, in grove of Summer leafing trees . i 20 


Group of Globe flowers (Trollius) in marshy place; type of 
the nobler Northern flowers little cultivated in gardens . 21 


xii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PAGE 

The Mountain Clematis (C. montana) . i : . . 22 

The White Japan Anemone in the Wild Garden . ‘ ‘ 23 
Anemones in the Riviera. Thrive equally well in any open 

soil here, only flowering later 5 7 . To face page 24 

The Green Hellebore in the Wild Garden. ‘ F 26 

Tall perennial Larkspurs, naturalised in Shrubbery (srs) ‘ 28 

Double Crimson Paonies in grass . , 5 c : , 30 

Eupatorium purpureum : . se oe : : 32 


The Giant Scabious (8 feet high). (Cephalaria procera) . 4 33 
Giant Cow parsnip. Type of Great Siberian herbaceous vegeta- 


tion. For rough places only ‘ ; : . - 35 
Foliage of Dipsacus, on hedge-bank in spring ; 36 
The large white Bindweed, type of nobler climbing ee with 

annual stems. For copses, hedgerows, and shrubberies . 39 
The Nootka Bramble; type of free-growing flowering shrub. 

For copses and woods . ‘ ‘ : : : 40 
The Yellow Allium (A. Moly) sidered : : 5 7 42 
Periploca greeca (climber)  . : : ; ; : . 43 


Large White Clematis on Yew tree at Great Tew. (C. montana 
grandiflora) ; 3 : : : ‘ ‘ , 44 
The way the climbing plants of the world are crucified in 
gardens—winter effect (a faithful sketch) . : F a 45 
Climbing shrub (Celastrus), isolated on the grass ; way of grow- 
ing woody Climbers away from walls or other supports . 46 
A Liane in the North. Aristolochia and Deciduous Cypress . 49 
A beautiful accident.—A colony of Myrrhis odorata, established 


in shrubbery, with white Harebells here and there . : 51 
Large White Achilleas spread into wide masses under shade of 

trees in shrubbery i : ‘ ‘ 4 : ; 53 
Lilies coming up through earpet of White Arahis . i : 55 
Colony of Narcissus in properly spaced shrubbery . : 57 
The American White Wood-Lily (Crillium grandiflorum) in 

Wild Garden, in wood bottom in leaf-mould . To fuce page 58 
The Lily of the Valley in a copse . : : : H 63 


Solomon’s Seal and Herb Paris, in cupse by streamlet ‘ 67 


LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. xiii 


Colony of hardy exotic Flowers, naturalised by brook-side . “69 
Valley in Somersetshire, with Narcissi, Marsh Marigolds, and 
Primroses : é F j To face page 70 
Cyperus longus F ‘ ‘ 73 
The Cape Pond Weed in an 1 English aiteh j in winter 75 
Day Lily by margin of water i. : : 2 76 
Marsh Marigold and Iris in early spring : x F : 78 
The same spot as in previous sketch, with aftergrowth of Iris, 
Meadow Sweet, and Bindweed .. 3 : ‘ . 79 
Partridge Berry (Gaultheria) ‘ : ; ‘ 80 
Wild Rose growing on a Pollard Ash in Orehardleigh Park, 
Somerset . 3 ‘ 5 ‘ : : , 83 


White Climbing Rose scrambling over old Catalpa Tree 
To face paye 84 


Climbing Rose isolated on grass. i < ‘ ‘ F 87 
Arenaria balearica, in a hole in wall at Great Tew ‘ . 88 
Cheddar Pink, Saxifrage, and Ferns, on cottage wall at Mells . 89 


The Yellow Fumitory on wall (Corydalis lutea) . : ‘ 91 
Large Japan Sedum (8. spectabile) and Autumn Crocuses in the 


Wild Garden : : q j : : , 92 
Crane’s Bill, wild, in grass. ‘ : é 94 
Large-leafed Saxifrage in the Wild Garden ; : : : 97 
Tiger Lilies in Wild Garden at Great Tew. . To face page 98 
Large-flowered Clematis F ‘ ‘ 3 ’ : . 101 
Sun Roses (Cistus) and other exotie hardy plants among heather, 

on sandy slope. ; ‘ . To face page 104 
Wood and herbaceous Meadow-sweets grouped together in Mr. 

Hewittson’s garden é : ; 3 » 105 
Woodruff and Ivy ; : ‘ : , é . 108 
Tailpiece. : : 110 
Dug and mutilated Shrubbery in St. Jaines's Park. Sketched iu 

winter of 1879. : ‘ . : : . All 


Colony of the Snowdrop-Anemone in Shrubbery not dug. 
Anemone taking the place of weeds or bare earth . . 115 
Colony of the Summer Snowflake, on margin of shrubbery . 119 


xiv LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 


The Monkshood, naturalised by wet ditch in wood . 

The white Narcissus-like Allium, in the orchards of Provence : 
type of family receiving little place in gardens which may 
be beautiful for a season in wild places . 

The Alpine Windflower (Anemone alpina) 

Siberian Columbine in rocky place 

Tall Asphodel in copse ‘ 

The foliage of the Meadow Saffron in Spring 

The White-flowered European Clematis (C. erecta) 

Cyclamens in the Wild Garden ; from nature 

A South European Bindweed creeping up the stems of an Iris 
in an English garden . 

A Sea Holly ; Eryngium 

Groups of Funkia Sieboldi 

A hardy Geranium 3 

Snowdrops, wild, by streamlet in alte 

Sun Rose on limestone rocks 

White Lily in Wild Garden : . 

Everlasting Pea, creeping up stem in shrubbery 

Type of fine-leaved umbellate plants seldom grown in gardens 

The Bee Balm, Monarda, American wood plant . ‘ 

The Great Japan Knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum). (Show- 
ing the plant in flower) ‘ : 

Phlomis. Type of handsome Labiates ; aitentveitg stu ihe 
the Wild Garden 

The tall Ox-eye daisy pel gedlioned ee 

The Great Reed of Southern Europe (Arundo Donax) 

Telekia. Type of the Larger Composites, excluded from gardens 
proper 

Group of Tritoma, in grass 

A tall Mullein . 

Ophrys in grass 

Rock steps with Ciiaptattoies 

Butterbur and Double Furze on margin of lake 


PAGE 


121 


123 
124 
126 
127 
132 
133 
134 


135 
138 
140 
141 
142 
144 
146 
148 
149 
150 


152 


153 
154 
155 


159 
160 
161 
163 
175 
176 


THE WILD GARDEN. 


ONE WAY ONWARDS FROM THE DARK AGES OF 
FLOWER-GARDENING. 


CHAPTER I. 
EXPLANATORY. 


AnOUT a generation ago a taste began to be 


manifested for placing a number of tender 
plants in the open air in summer, with a 
view to the production of showy masses 
of decided colour, The subjects selected 
were mostly from sub-tropical climates 
and of free erowth; placed annually in 
the open air of our genial early sum- 
mer, and in fresh rich earth, every year 
they grew rapidly and flowered abun- 
dantly dming the summer and early 
autumn months, and 
until cut down 
by the first frosts. 
_ The showy colour 
~ » of this system was 


very attractive, 


Large-flowered Meadow Rue in the Wild Garden, type of 
plant mostly excluded from the Garden. 


B 


and since its intro- 


2 THE WILD GARDEN. 


duction there has been a gradual rooting out of all the old 
favourites in favour of this “bedding” system. This was 
carried to such an extent that it was not uncommon, indeed 
it has been the rule, to find the largest gardens in the country 
without a single hardy flower, all energy and expense being 
devoted to the production of the few exotics required for the 
summer decoration. It should be distinctly borne in mind 
that the expense for this system is an annual one; that no 
matter what amount of money may be spent in this way, or 
how many years may be devoted to perfecting it, the first 
sharp frost of November announces a yet further expense 
and labour, usually more heavy than the preceding. 

Its highest results need hardly be described; they are 
seen in all our great public gardens; our London and many 
other city parks show them in the shape of beds filled with 
vast quantities of flowers, covering the ground frequently in 
a showy way, or in a repulsively gaudy manner : nearly every 
private garden is taken possession of by the same things. I 
will not here enter into the question of the merits of this 
system; it is enough to state that even on its votaries it is 
beginning to pall. Some are looking back with regret to the 
old mixed-border gardens ; others are endeavouring to soften 
the harshness of the bedding system by the introduction of 
fine-leaved plants, but all are agreed that a great mistake has 
been made in destroying all our old flowers, from Lilies to 
Hepaticas, though very few persons indeed have any idea of 
the numbers of beautiful subjects in this way which we may 
gather from every northern and temperate clime to adorn our 
gardens under a more artistic system.. 


My object in the Wild Garden is now to show how we 


EXPLANATORY. 3 


may have more of the varied beauty of hardy flowers than 
the most ardent admirer of the old style of garden ever dreams 
of, by naturalising innumerable beautiful natives of many 
regions of the earth in our woods and copses, rougher parts 
of pleasure grounds, and in unoccupied places in almost every 
kind of garden. 

I allude not to the wood and brake flora of any one 
country, but to that which finds its home in the vast fields of 
the whole northern world, and that of the hill-ground that 
falls in furrowed folds from beneath the hoary heads of all 
the great mountain chains of the world, whether they rise 
from hot Indian plains or green European pastures. The 
Palm and sacred Fig, as well as the Wheat and the Vine, are 
separated from the stemless plants that cushion under the 
snow for half the year, by a zone of hardier and not less 
beautiful life, varied as the breezes that whisper on the 
mountain sides, and as the rills that seam them. They are 
the Lilies, and Bluebells, and Foxgloves, and Irises, and 
Windflowers, and Columbines, and Rock-roses, and Violets, 
and Cranesbills, and countless Pea-flowers, and mountain 
Avens, and Brambles, and Cinquefoils, and Evening Prim- 
roses, and Clematis, and Honeysuckles, and Michaelmas 
Daisies, and Wood-hyacinths, and Daffodils, and Bindweeds, 
and Forget-me-nots, and blue-eyed Omphalodes, and Prim- 
roses, and Day Lilies, and Asphodels, and St. Bruno’s Lilies, 
and the almost innumerable plants which form the flora of 
the northern and temperate portions of vast continents. 

It is beyond the power of pen or pencil to picture the 
beauty of these plants. Innumerable and infinitely varied 
scenes occur in the wilder parts of all northern and temperate 


4 THE WILD GARDEN. 


regions, at many different elevations. The loveliness and 
ceaselessly varying charms of such scenes are indeed difficult 
to describe or imagine; the essential thing to bear in mind is 
that the plants that go to form them are hardy, and will thrive 
in our climate as well as native plants. 

Such beauty may be realised in every wood and copse 
and shrubbery that screens our “trim gardens.” Naturally 
our woods and wilds have no little loveliness in spring; we 
have here and there the Lily-of-the-valley and the Snowdrop, 
and everywhere the Primrose and Cowslip; the Bluebell and 
the Foxglove sometimes take nearly complete possession of 
whole woods; but, with all our treasures in this way, we have 
no attractions in or near our gardens compared to what it is 
within our power to create. There are many countries with 
winters as cold as, or colder than, our. own, possessing a rich 
flora; and by taking the best hardy exotics and establishing 
them in wild’ or half-wild spots, we may produce beauti- 
ful pictures in such places. To most people a pretty 
plant in a free state is more attractive than any garden 
denizen. It is taking care of itself; and, moreover, it is 
usually surrounded by some degree of graceful wild spray— 
the green above, and the moss and brambles and grass around. 

By the means presently to be explained, numbers of plants 
of the highest order of beauty and fragrance, and clothed with 
pleasant associations, may be seen perfectly at home in the 
spaces now devoted to rank grass and weeds, and by wood 
walks in our shrubberies and ornamental plantations. 

Among my reasons for advocating this system are the 
following :— ; 


First, because hundreds of the finest hardy flowers will . 


Night effect of large evening Primrose in the Wild Garden (GEnothera Lamarkiana). 


EXPLANATORY. 5 


thrive much better in rough and wild places than ever they 
did in the old-fashioned border. Even comparatively small 
ones, like the ivy-leaved Cyclamen, a beautiful plant that we 
rarely find in perfection in gardens, I have seen perfectly 
naturalised and spread all over the mossy surface of a thin 
wood. 

Secondly, because they will look infinitely better than ever 


they did in gardens, in consequence i 


of fine-leaved plant, fern, anid tower, 
and climber, grass 
and trailing shrub, 
relieving each other 
in ways innumerable 
and delightful. Any 
one of a thousand 
combinations will 4 RSa cm Sl 9 ad 
prove as far superior —— 
to any aspect of the 
old mixed border, or 
the ordinary type of 


-oar- 
modern flower gar A “mixed border” with tile edging, the way in which the 


7] beautiful hardy flowers of the world have been grown in 
den, Hes # lovely gardens hitherto, when grown at all. (Sketched in a 


mountain valley to = /*s¢ sarden, 3878.) 
a piece of the “ black country.” 

Thirdly, because, arranged as I propose, no disagreeable 
effects result from decay. The raggedness of the old mixed 
border after the first flush of spring and early summer bloom 
had passed was intolerable, bundles of decayed stems tied to 
sticks, making the place look like the parade-ground of a 
number of crossing -sweepers. When Lilies are sparsely 


6 THE WILD GARDEN. 


dotted through massesof.shrubs, their flowers _are lowers are admired 


more than if they were in 1 isolate showy masses ; sitsseetrs wren Eli they 
ee of bloom they are rived AITET_ TS Vegetation 
and not eyesores, as when in rigid unrelieved tufts in borders, 
In a wild or semi-wild state the beauty of individual 
species will proclaim itself when at its height; and when out 
of bloom they will be succeeded by other kinds, or lost 
among the numerous objects around. 
Fourthly, because it will enable us to grow many plants 
that have never yet obtained a place in 


our “trim gardens.” I allude to the 
multitudes of plants which, not being 
so showy as those usually considered 
worthy of a place in gardens, are never 
seen therein. The flowers of many of 
these’are of the highest order _ 
“of beauty, especially when 
seen in numbers. An 
isolated tuft of one of 
these, seen in a formal 
border, may not be con- 
sidered worthy of its 
place, while in some, 
Blue flowered Composite plant ; fine foliage and habit ; ws . 
type of noble plants excluded from gardens. wild glade, in a wood. 


(Mulgedium Plumieri.) — 
ulgedium umiueri, > 7 
a little colony, grouped’ 


naturally, or associated with like subjects, its effect_may be 


exquisite. Among the subjects usually considered unfit for 
‘garden cultivation may be included a goodly number that, 
grown in gardens, are no addition to them; subjects like the 
American Asters, Golden Rods, and like plants, which merely 


EXPLANATORY. 7 


overrun the choicer and more beautiful border-flowers when 
planted amongst them. These coarse subjects would be quite 
at home in copses and woody places, where their blossoms 
might be seen or gathered in due season, and their vigorous 
vegetation form a covert welcome to the game-preserver. To 
these two groups might be added subjects like the winter 
Heliotrope, the handsome British Willow herb, and many 
other plants which, while attractive in the garden, are apt to 
spread about so rapidly as to become a nuisance there. 
Clearly these should only be planted in wild and semi-wild 
places. 

Fifthly, because we may in this way settle also the 
question of spring flowers, and the spring garden, as well as 
that of hardy flowers generally. In the way I suggest, many 
parts of every country garden, and many suburban ones, may 
be made alive with spring flowers, without interfering at 
least with the geometrical beds that have been the worthless 
stock -in-trade of the so-called landscape - gardener for 
centuries. The Sea AUN pi ae 
seen to greater ¢ advantage “ wild,” in sha y or half-shady bare 

laces, under trees, than in any conceivable formal arrange- 
ment, and itis but one of hundreds of sweet spring flowers 
that will succeed perfectly in the way I propose. 

Sixthly, because there can be few more agreeable phases of 
communion with nature than naturalising the natives of 
countries in which we are infinitely more interested than in 
those of which greenhouse or stove plants are native. From 
the Roman ruin—home of many flowers, the prairies of the 
New World, the woods and meadows of all the great moun- 
tains of Europe; from Greece and Italy and Spain, from the 


8 THE WILD GARDEN. 


sunny hills of Asia Minor; from the alpine regions of the 
great continents—in a word, from almost every interesting 
region the traveller may bring seeds or plants, and establish 
near his home the pleasantest souvenirs of the various scenes 
he has visited. 

Moreover, the great merit of permanence belongs to this 
delightful phase of gardening. Select a wild rough slope, 
and embellish it with the handsomest and hardiest climbing 
plants,—say the noble mountain Clematis from Nepal, the 
sweet C. Flammula from Southern Europe, “ Virginian 
creepers” in variety, the Nootka Bramble (Rubus nutkanus 
and R. odoratus), various species of hardy vines, Jasmines, 
Honeysuckles — British and European, and wild Roses. 
Arranged with some judgment at first, such a colony might 
be left to take care of itself; time would but add to its 
attractions, and the happy owner might go away for years, 
and find it beautiful on his return. 


CHAPTER IL. 


EXAMPLE FROM THE FORGET-ME-NOT FAMILY. 


I WILL now 
endeavour to 
illustrate my 
ay Ineaning by 


WE 


Caucasian Comfrey in shrubbery. may be done 


showing what 


with one type of northern vegetation— 
that of the Forget-me-not order, one far from being as rich 
as others in subjects suited for the wild garden. Through 
considering its capabilities in this way, the reader may be 
able to form some idea of what we may do by selecting from 
the numerous plants that grow in the meadows and moun- 
tain-woods of Europe, Asia, and America. 

The Forget-me-not or Borage family is a well-marked 
and well-known one, containing a great number of coarse 
weeds, but which, if it possessed only the common Forget-me- 
not, would have some claims on us. Many persons are not 
acquainted with more than the Forget-me-nots; but what 
lovely exotic plants there are in this order that would afford 
delight if met with creeping about along our wood and 


10 THE WILD GARDEN. 


shrubbery walks! Nature, say some, is sparing of her deep 
true blues; but there are obscure plants in this order that 
possess the truest, deepest, and most delicate of blues, and 
which will thrive as well in the wild garden as common weeds. — 
The creeping Omphalodes verna even surpasses the Forget- 
me-not in the depth and beauty of its blue and its other 
good qualities, and runs about quite freely in any shady or 
half-shady shrubbery or open wood, or even in turf in moist 
soil not very frequently mown. Its proper home is the wood 
or semi-wild spot, where it takes care of itself. Put it ina 
garden, and probably, unless the soil and region be moist, it 
soon perishes. Besides, in the border, it would be a not very 
agreeable object when once the sweet spring bloom had passed ; 
whereas, in the positions spoken of, in consequence of the 
predominance of trees, shrubs, and tall herbs, the low plants 
are not noticed when out of flower, but crawl about unob- 
served till returning spring reminds those fortunate enough | 
to see them how superior is the inexpensive and natural kind 

of gardening here advocated. 

Another plant of the order is so suitable and useful for this 
purpose, that if a root or two of it be planted in any shrubbery, 
it will soon run about, exterminate the weeds, and prove 
quite a lesson in wild gardening. I allude to the Caucasian 
Comfrey (Symphytum caucasicum), which grows about twenty - 
inches high, and bears quantities of the loveliest blue pen- 
dulous flowers. It, like many others, does much better in 
a wood, grove, or any kind of shrubbery, than in any other 
position, filling in the naked spaces between the trees and 
shrubs, and has a quick-growing and spreading tendency, but 
never becomes weedy or objectionable. As if to contrast 


EXAMPLE FROM THE FORGET-ME-NOT FAMILY. 11 


with it, there is the deep crimson Bohemian Comfrey (8. 
bohemicum), which is sometimes startling from the depth of 
its vivid colouring ; and the white Comfrey (8. orientale), quite 
a vigorous-growing kind, blooming early in April and May, 
with the blue Caucasian C. 

These Comfreys, indeed, are admirable plants for rough 
places—the tall and vigorous ones thriving in a ditch or any 
similar place, and flowering much better and longer than 
they ever did in the garden proper, in prim borders. There 
are about twenty species, mostly from Southern and Central 
Europe, Asia, and Siberia. 

I purposely omit the British Forget-me-nots, wishing yow 
chiefly to show what we may do with exotics quite as hardy 
as our own wildlings; and we have another Forget-me-not, 
not British, which surpasses them all—the early Myosotis 
dissitiflora. This is like a patch of the bluest sky settled 
down among the moist stones of a rockwork or any similar 
spot, before our own Forget-me-not has opened its blue eyes, 
and is admirable for glades or banks in wood or shrubbery, 
especially in moist districts. 

For rocky bare places and sunny sandy banks we have 
the spreading Gromwell (Lithospermum prostratum), which, 
when in flower, looks just as if some exquisite alpine Gentian 
had assumed the form of a low bush, to enable it to hold its 
own among creeping things and stouter herbs than accompany 
it on the Alps. The Gromwells are a large and important 
genus but little known in gardens, some of them, like our 
native kind, being handsome plants. 

Among the fairest plants we have are the Lungworts, 
Pulmonaria, too seldom seen, and partly destroyed through 


12 THE WILD GARDEN. 


exposure on bare dug and often dry border. The old 
Pulmonaria (Mertensia virginica) is one of the loveliest spring 
flowers ever introduced. It is very rare in gardens, but if 
placed in a moist place near a stream, or in a peat bottom, it 
will live; whereas it frequently dies in a garden. The newer 
and more easily grown Mertensia sibirica is a lovely plant, 
taller and flowering longer. These two plants alone would 
repay any one for a trial of the wild garden, and will illus- 
trate the fact that for the sake of culture alone (apart from 
art, beauty, or arrangement) the wild-garden idea is worth 
carrying out. 

,Among the many plants suitable for the wild garden none: 
look more at home than Borage, a few seeds of which scattered 
over fresh dry ground soon germinate, and form fine patches 
that will flower during the summer. Although only an 
annual, once it is introduced there is no fear of losing it, as it 
comes up somewhere near the same spot each succeeding 
year, and when in bloom the peculiar Solanum-like shape 
of the blossoms, and their rich blue colour, make it beautiful. 

The Cretan Borage is a curious old perennial, seldom seen 
in gardens; and deservedly so, for its growth is robust and 
its habit coarse. It is, however, a capital plant for the wild 
garden, or for rough places—in copse, or shrubbery, or lane, 
where the ample room which it requires would not be be- 
.grudged, and where it may take care of itself from year to 
year, showing among the boldest and the hardiest of the 
early spring flowers. 

Thus, though I say little of the Alkanet (Anchusa) tribe, 
‘several of which could be found worth a place with our own 
handsome Evergreen Alkanet, and do not mention other im- 


EXAMPLE FROM THE FORGET-ME-NOT FAMILY, 13 


portant genera, it will be seen that a whole garden of beauty 
may be reaped from this tribe alone. Any one who doubts 
the advantages of carrying out the idea of the wild garden 
could settle the matter to his satisfaction in a couple of years 
with these plants alone, in a shrubbery, ditch, lane, copse, or 


renee 
dl 


The Cretan Borage (Borago Cretica). 


wood, always providing that he takes care to adapt each kind 
to the position and the soil. For instance, the Giant Comfrey 
will grow six feet high in rich or moist soil in a partially 
shaded ditch, and therefore, once fairly started, might be 
trusted to take care of itself in any position. The Caucasian 
Comfrey, on the other hand, grows from eighteen inches to 
two feet high, and is at home in the spaces in a copse or 


14 THE WILD GARDEN. 


shrubbery. The creeping Forget-me-not (Ompalodes verna) 
is a little plant that creeps about in grass or among vegetation, 
not over a span high, or forms a carpet of its own—these 
points must be considered, and then the rest is gardening of 
the happiest kind only. These Borageworts, richer in blue 
flowers than even the gentians, are usually poor rusty things 
in exposed sunny borders, and also much in the way when 
out of flower, whereas in shady lanes, copses, open parts of 
not too dry or impoverished shrubberies, in hedgerow-banks, — 
or ditches, we only notice them in their beautiful bloom. 


Flowers of Geneva Bugle 
(Ajuga genevensis), Dwarf Boragewort. 


Star of Bethlehem in Grass. 


CHAPTER IIL. 


EXAMPLE FROM HARDY BULBS AND TUBERS IN GRASS. 


WE will now turn from the Forget-me-not order to a very 
different type of vegetation—hardy bulbs and other plants 
dying down after flowering early in the year, like the Winter 
Aconite and the Blood-root (Sanguinaria). How many of us 
really enjoy the beauty which a judicious use of a profusion 
of hardy Spring-flowering Bulbs affords? How many get 
beyond the miserable conventionalities of the flower-garden, 
with its edgings and patchings, and taking up, and drying, 
and mere playing with our beautiful Spring Bulbs? How 
many enjoy the exquisite beauty afforded by flowers of this 
class, established naturally, without troubling us for attention 
atany time? The subject of decorating with Spring-flowering 
Bulbs is merely in its infancy; at present we merely place a 
few of the showiest of them in geometrical lines. The little 
we do leads to such a very poor result, that numbers of people, 


16 THE WILD GARDEN. 


alive to the real charms of a garden too, scarcely notice Spring 
Bulbs at all, regarding them as things which require endless 
trouble, as interfering with the “bedding-out ;” and in fact, as 
not worth the pains they occasion. This is likely to be the 
case so long as the most effective and satisfactory of all 
modes of arranging them is unused ; that way is the placing 
of them in wild and semi-wild parts of country seats, and in 
the rougher parts of a garden, no matter where it may be 
situated or how it may be arranged. This way will yield 
more real interest and beauty than any other. 

Look, for instance, at the wide anid bare belts of grass 
that wind in and around the” shrubberies in nearly every 
country place; frequently, they never display a particle of 
plant-beauty, and are merely places to be roughly mown now 
and then. But if planted here and there with the Snowdrop, 
the blue Anemone, the Crovus, Scillas, and Winter Aconite, 
they would in spring surpass in attractiveness the gayest of 
spring gardens. Cushioned among the grass, these would 
have a more congenial medium in which to unfold than is 
offered by the beaten sticky earth of a border; in the grass of 
spring, their natural bed, they would look far better than ever 
they do when arranged on the bare earth of a garden. Once 
carefully planted, they—while an annual source of the 
ereatest interest—occasion no trouble whatever. 

Their leaves die down so early in spring that they would 
scarcely interfere with the mowing of the grass, if that were 
desired, but I should not attempt to mow the grass in such 
places till the season of vernal beauty had quite passed by. 
Surely it is enough to have a portion of lawn as smooth as a 
carpet at all times, without sending the mower to shave the 


EXAMPLE FROM HARDY BULBS AND TUBERS. 17 


“Jong and pleasant grass” of the other parts of the grounds. 
It would indeed be worth while to leave many parts of the 
grass unmown for the sake of growing many beautiful plants 
init. If in some spot where a wide fringe of grass spreads 
out in the bay of a shrubbery or plantation, and upon this 
carpet of rising and unshaven verdure there be dotted, in 
addition to the few pretty natural 
flowers that happened to take pos- 
session of it, the blue Apennine 
Anemone, the Snowdrop, the Snow- 
flake, Crocuses” in variety, Scillas, 
Grape-Hyacinths, earlier and smaller ; 
Narcissi, the Wood Anemone, and — 
any other pretty Spring flowers that 
were suitable to the soil and position, 
we should have a glimpse of the 
vernal beauty of temperate and - 
northern climes, every flower re- | 
lieved by grass blades and green | 


leaves, the whole devoid of any 


‘The association of exotic and British 


trace of man, or his exceeding weak- wild flowers in the Wild Garden. 
, —tThe Bell-flowered Scilla, nat- 
ness for tracing wall-paper pat- uralised with our own Wood 


. Hyacinth. 
terns, where everything should be 


varied, indefinite, and changeful. In such a garden it 
would be evident that the artist had caught the true mean- 
ing of nature in her disposition of vegetation, without 
sacrificing one jot of anything of value in the garden, 
but, on the contrary, adding the highest beauty to spots 
devoid of the slightest interest. In connection with this 


matter I may as well say here that mowing the grass once 
c 


18 THE WILD GARDEN. 


a fortnight in pleasure grounds, as now practised, is a great 
and costly mistake. We want shaven carpets of grass here 
and there, but what cruel nonsense both to men and grass it 
is to shave as many foolish men shave their faces! There 
are indeed places where they boast of mowing forty acres! 
Who would not rather see the waving grass with ae . 
flowers than a close shaven surface without a blossom? 
Imagine the labour wasted in this ridiculous labour of cutting 
the heads off flowers and grass. Let the grass grow till fit to 
cut for hay, and we may enjoy in it a world of lovely flowers 
that will blossom and perfect their growth before the grass 
has to be mown; more than one person who has carried out 
the ideas expressed in this book has waving lawns of feathery. 
grass where he used to shave the grass every ten days; a 
prairie of flowers where a daisy was not allowed to peep; and 
some addition to his hay crop as he allows the grass to 
grow till it is fit for that purpose. 

It is not only to places in which shrubberies, and planta- 
tions, and belts of grass in the rougher parts of the pleasure- 
ground, and shady moss-bordered wood-walks occur that these 
remarks apply. The suburban garden, with its single fringe 
of planting, may show like beauty, to some extent. It may 
have the Solomon’s Seal arching forth from a shady recess, 
behind tufts of the sweet-scented Narcissus, while in every 
case there may be wild fringes of strong and hardy flowers in 
the spring sun, and they cannot be cut off by harsh winds as 
when exposed in the open garden. What has already been 
stated is, I hope, sufficient to show to everybody the kind of © 
place that may be used for their culture. Wild and semi-wild 
places, rough banks in or near the pleasure-ground or flower- 


EXAMPLE FROM HARDY BULBS AND TUBERS. 19 


garden, such spots as perhaps at present contain nothing but 
weeds, or any naturally rough or unused spot about a garden 
—such are the places for them. Even where all the lawn 
must be mown the Snowdrop may be enjoyed in early spring, 
for its leaves die down, or at all events ripen sufficiently before 
there is any occasion to mow the grass. 

But the prettiest results are only attainable where the 


The ‘T'urk’s Cap Lily, naturalised in the grass by wood-walk. 


grass need not be mown till nearly the time the meadows are 
mown, Then we may have gardens of Narcissi, such as men 
never dared to dream about a dozen years ago; such as no 
one ever thought possible in a garden. In grass not mown 
at all we may even enjoy many of the Lilies, and all the 
lovelier and more stately bulbous flowers of the meadows and 
mountain lawns of Europe, Asia, and America. 

On a stretch of good grass which need not be mown, and 


ou fairly good soil in any part of our country, beauty may be 


20 THE WILD GARDEN. 


enjoyed such as has hitherto only gladdened the heart of the 
rare wanderer on the high mountain lawns and copses, in 
May when the earth children laugh in multitudes on their 
mother’s breast. 

All planting in the grass should be in natural groups or 
prettily fringed colonies, growing to and fro as they like after 
planting. Lessons in this grouping are to be had in woods, 
copses, heaths, and meadows, by those who look about them 
as they go. At first many will find it difficult to get out of 
formal masses, but that may be got over by studying natural 
groupings of wild flowers. Once established, the plants soon 
begin to group themselves in a way that leaves nothing to 


desire. 


Crocuses in turf, in grove of Summer leafing trees.~ 


Group of Globe flowers (Trollius) in marshy place ; type of the nobler 
Northern flowers little cultivated in gardens. 


CHAPTER IV. 
EXAMPLE FROM THE GLOBE FLOWER ORDER. 


Let us next see what may be done with the Buttercup 
order of plants. It embraces many things widely diverse 
in aspect from these burnished ornaments of northern 
meadows and mountains. The first thing I should take 
from it to embellish the wild wood is the sweet-scented 
Virgin’s Bower (Clematis flammula), a native of the south 
of Europe, but as hardy and free in all parts of Britain 
as the common Hawthorn. And as the Hawthorn sweetens 
the breath of early summer, so will this add fragrance 
to the autumnal months. -It is never to be seen half so 
beautiful as when crawling over some tree or decayed stump ; 
and if its profuse masses of white bloom do not attract, its 
fragrance is sure to do so. An open glade in a wood, or open 
spaces on banks near a wood or shrubbery, would be charming 
for it, while in the garden or pleasure-ground it may be used 


22 THE WILD GARDEN. 


as a creeper over old stumps, trellising, or the like. Cle- 
matis campaniflora, with flowers like a campanula, and of a 
pale purplish hue, and the beautiful white Clematis montana 
grandiflora, a native of Nepaul, are almost equally beautiful, 
and many others of the family are worthy of a place, rambling 
over old trees, bushes, hedgerows, or tang- 
ling over banks. These single wild species 
of Clematis are more graceful than the 
large Hybrids now common; they are 
very hardy and free. In mild and sea- 
shore districts a beautiful kind, common 
in Algeria, and in the islands on and the 
shores of the Mediterranean (Clematis 
cirrhosa), will be found most valuable— 
being nearly evergreen, and flowering very 
early in spring—even in winter in the 
South of England. 

Next in this order we come to the 
Wind Flowers, or Anemones, and here 


we must pause to select, for more beauti- 


The Mountain Clematis ful flowers do not adorn this world of 
(C. montana), 
" 


mown? If so, the beautiful downy white and vellow 


flowers. Have we a bit of rich grass not 


Anemones of the Alps (A. alpina and A. sulphurea) may be 
grown there. Any sunny bushy bank or southern slope 
_ which we wish to embellish with vernal beauty? Then 
select Anemone blanda, a small but lovely blue kind; place 
it in open bare spots to begin with, as it is very dwarf, and 
it will at Christmas, and from that time onward through 
the spring, open its large flowers of the deepest sky blue. 


EXAMPLE FROM GLOBE FLOWER ORDER. 23 


The common garden Anemone (A. Coronaria) will not be 
fastidious, but had better be placed in open bare sandy places ; 
and the splendid Anemone fulgens will prove most attractive, 
as it glows with fiery scarlet. Of other Anemones, hardy, 
free, and beautiful enough to be made wild in our shrubberies, 


pleasure-grounds, and wilds, the Japan Anemone (A. japonica) 


The White Japan Anemone in the Wild Garden. 


te 


and its white varieties, A. trifolia and A. sylvestris, are the 
best of the exotic species. The Japan Anemones grow so 
strongly that they will take care of themselves even among 
stiff brushwood, brambles, etc.; and they are beautifully 
fitted for scattering along the low, half-wild margins of shrub- 
beries and groups. The interesting little A. trifolia is not 
unlike our own wood Anemone, and will grow in similar 


places. 


24 THE WILD GARDEN. 


Few plants are more lovely in the wild garden than the 
White Japan Anemone. The idea of the wild garden first 
arose in the writer's mind as a home for a numerous class 
of coarse-growing plants, to which people begrudge room 
in their borders, such as the Golden Rods, Michaelinas Daisies, 
Compass plants, and a host of others, which are beautiful for 
a season only, or perhaps too rampant for what are called 
choice borders and beds. This Anemone is one of the most 
beautiful of garden flowers, and one which is as well 
suited for the wild garden as the kinds alluded to. It 
grows well in any good soil in copse or shrubbery, and 
increases rapidly. Partial shade seems to suit it; and in any 
case the effect of the large white flowers is, if anything, more 
beautiful in half-shady places. The flowers, too, are more 
lasting here than where they are fully exposed. 

As for the Apennine Anemone (the white as well as the 
blue variety), it is one of the loveliest spring flowers of any 
clime, and should be in every garden, in the borders, and 
scattered thinly here and there in woods and shrubberies, so 
that it may become “naturalised.” It is scarcely a British 
flower, being a native of the south of Europe; but having 
strayed into our wilds and plantations occasionally, it is 
now included in most books on British plants. The yellow 
A. ranunculoides, a doubtful native, found in one or two spots, 
but not really British, is well worth growing, thriving well 
on the chalk, and being very beautiful. 

The large Hepatica angulosa will grow almost as 
freely as Celandine among shrubs and in half-shady spots, 
and we all know how readily the old kinds grow on all 
garden soils of ordinary quality. There are about ten or 


sit 


‘ig ATH 


alt H 
i i i 
wr 


(( i 
il ( ih A 


Thrive equally well in any open soil here, only flowering later. 


Anemones in the Riviera. 


EXAMPLE FROM GLOBE FLOWER ORDER. 25 


twelve varieties of the common Hepatica (Anemone Hepatica) 
grown in British nurseries and gardens, and all the colours 
of the species should be represented in every collection of 
spring flowers. 

There are many of the Ranunculi, not natives of Britain, 
which would grow as freely as our native kinds. Many will 
doubtless remember with pleasure the pretty button-like 
white flowers of the Fair Maids of France (Ranunculus 
aconitifolius fl. pl.), a frequent ornament of the old mixed 
border. This, and the wild form from which it comes—a 
frequent plant in alpine meadows—may also be enjoyed in 
our wild garden. Quite distinct from all these, and of chastest 
beauty when well grown, is R. amplexicaulis, with flowers of 
pure white, and simple leaves of a dark glaucous green and 
flowing graceful outline; a hardy and charming plant on 
almost any soil. This is one of the elegant exotic forms of a 
family well represented in the golden type in our meadows, 
and therefore it is welcome as giving us a strange form 
Such a plant deserves that pains be taken to establish it in 
good soil, in spots where a rank vegetation may not weaken 
or destroy it. 

Of the Globe Flowers (Trollius), there are various kinds 
apart from our own, all rich in colour, fragrant, and hardy 
in a remarkable degree. These are among the noblest wild- 
garden plants—quite hardy, free of growth in the heaviest of 
soil and wettest of climates, affording a lovely type of early 
summer flower-life, and one distinct from any usually seen 
in our fields or gardens; for these handsome Globe flowers 
are among the many flowers that for years have found no 
place in the garden proper. They are lovely in groups or 


26 THE WILD GARDEN. 


colonies, in cold grassy places, where many other plants 
would perish. 

The Winter Aconite (Eranthis hyemalis) should be 
naturalised in every country seat in Britain—it is as easy to 
do so as to introduce the thistle. It may be placed quite 
under the branches of deciduous trees, will come up and 
flower when the trees are naked, will have its foliage developed 


before the leaves come on . 


the trees, and be afterwards 
hidden from sight. Thus 
masses of this earliest flower 
may be grown with- 
out the slightest - 
sacrifice of space, 
and only be noticed 
when bearing a 
bloom oneverylittle igs 
stem. That fine old 
plant, the Christmas 
Rose (Helleborus 
niger), likes partial 


The Green Hellebore in the Wild Garden. 


shade better than full exposure, and should be used abun- 
dantly, giving it rather snug and warm positions, so that its 
flowers may be encouraged to open well and fully. Any 
other kinds might also be used. Recently many kinds of 
Helleborus have been added to our gardens, not all of them 
so conspicuous at first sight as the Christmas Rose, yet they 
are of remarkable beauty of foliage and habit as well as of 
blossom, and they flower in the spring. These, too, show the 


advantage of the wild garden as regards cultivation. They 


EXAMPLE FROM GLOBE FLOWER ORDER. 27 


will thrive much better in any bushy places, or copses, or in 
mutually sheltering groups on warm banks and slopes, even in 
hedge banks, old quarries, or rough mounds, than in the ordinary 
garden border. Of the difference in the effect in the two 
cases it is needless to speak. 

Some of the Monkshoods are very handsome, but all of 
them virulent poisons; and, bearing in mind what fatal 
accidents have arisen from their use, they are better not 
used at all in the garden proper. Amongst tall and 
vigorous herbaceous plants few are more suitable for wild 
and semi-wild places. They are hardy and robust enough 
to grow anywhere in shady or half-shady spots; and their 
tall spikes, loaded with blue flowers, are very beautiful. 
An illustration in the chapter on the plants suited for the 
wild garden shows the common Aconite in a Somersetshire 
valley in company with the Butterbur and the Hemlock. 
Tn such a place its beauty is very striking. The larger rich 
blue kinds, and the blue and white one, are very showy 
grown in deep soils, in which they attain a great height. 
When out of flower, like many other stately Perennials, they 
were often stiff and ugly in the old borders and beds. In the 
wild garden their stately beauty will be more remarkable 
than ever under the green leaves in copses and hy streams. 
And when flower-time is gone, their stems, no longer tied into 
bundles or cut in by the knife, will group finely with other 
vigorous herbaceous vegetation. 

The Delphiniums, or tall Perennial Larkspurs, are amongst 
the most beautiful of all flowers. They embrace almost every 
shade of blue, from the rich dark tone of D. grandiflora to the 


28 THE WILD GARDEN. 


charming cerulean tints of such as D. Belladonna ; and being 
usually of a tall and strong type, will make way among long 
grasses and vigorous weeds, unlike many things for which we 
have to recommend an open space, or a wood with nothing 
but a carpet of moss under the trees. 
One of the prettiest effects which 


I have ever seen was a colony of tall 
Larkspurs. Portions of old roots of 
several species and varieties had been 
chopped off when a 
bed of these plants 
was dug in the autumn. 
For convenience sake 
the refuse had been 
thrown into the neigh- 
bouring shrubbery, far 
in among the shrubs 
and trees. Here they 
grew in _half-open 
aay’ oe spaces, which were so 
Tall Peveonial Lavkapurs, matoralied in ShosbberyGSr) pd pe the 
margin that they were not dug and were not seen. When I 
saw the Larkspurs in flower they were certainly the loveliest 
things that one could see. They were more beautiful than they 
are in borders or beds, not growing in such close stiff tufts, but 
mingling with and relieved by the trees above and the shrubs 
around. Little more need be said to any one who knows and 
cares about such plants, and has an opportunity of planting 
in such neglected places. This case points out that one might 


make wild gardens from the mere parings and thinnings of 


EXAMPLE FROM GLOBE FLOWER ORDER. 29 


the beds and borders in autumn in any place where there is 
a collection of good hardy plants. 

The engraving on the next page represents one of the most 
beautiful effects obtained in his wild garden by an acquaintance 
of mine who began when he knew very little of plants and 
their favoured haunts, and succeeded well in a not very 
favourable site. Herbaceous Peonies were amongst those 
that succeeded best. The effect was very beautiful, either 
close at hand or seen at a considerable distance off. Herb- 
aceous Ponies are amongst the most free, vigorous, and hardy 
of perennial plants, and with them alone most novel and 
beautiful effects may be carried out in most places where there 
is room. Even in comparatively small gardens, a group or 
two outside the margin of a shrubbery would be desirable. 
The effect of the blooms amongst the long grass of the wild 
garden is finer than any they present in borders, and when 
out of flower they do not seem to be in the way, as they often 
are thought to be when in borders and beds. It is almost 
needless to speak here of the great variety of forms now 
obtainable amongst these herbaceous Peeonies, many of which 
are agreeably scented. The older forms were not remarkable 
in that respect, but rather the contrary. In addition to the 
splendour of colour for which Peonies are long and well 
known, there are now many delicately-coloured and tinted 
varieties. The whole race is undeservedly neglected. People 
spend plenty of money on greenhouses which will never pro- 
duce anything so handsome as a well-grown group of herba- 
ceous Ponies in the open garden; yet when they are grown 
they are often begrudged a few feet of good soil, though that 
is all they would require for years at a time. My friend’s 


30 THE WILD GARDEN. 


Peeonies formed a group that could be seen from a distance; 
when I saw them they were surrounded by long and waving 
grass. I cannot give any idea of the fine effect. 

The Clematis-like Atragene alpina is one of my favourite 
flowers—seldom seen now-a-days, or indeed at any time, out 
of a botanical garden, and till lately not often seen in one. 
It likes to trail over an old stump, or through a thin 1 


ow bush, 


Double Crimson Pzeonies in grass. 


or over a rocky bank, and it is a perfectly hardy plant. Speak- 
ing of such plants as this, one would like to draw a sharp 
distinction between them and the various weedy and indistinct 
subjects which are now creeping into cultivation owing to 
the revival of interest in hardy plants. Many of these ee 
some botanical interest, but they can be only useless in the 
garden. Our chief danger now is getting plants into cultiva- 
tion which are neither very distinct nor very beautiful, while 
perhaps we neglect many of the really fine kinds. This 


EXAMPLE FROM GLOBE FLOWER ORDER. 31 


Atragene is a precious plant for low bush and bank wild 
garden. 

Among plants which one never sees, and which, indeed, 
one never ought to see, in a flower garden, are the Meadow 
Rues; and yet there is a quiet beauty and grace about these 
plants which entitle them to some consideration ; and the 
flowers, too, of certain species, particularly the one here 
shown in the illustration on page 1, are of singular beauty. 
When it is considered that all the species will grow anywhere 
—in any hedgerow or lane or byeway, or among coarse grass, 
or in a copse, or under the shrubs, in places usually abandoned 
to common weeds, there is no reason why numbers of them 
should not be rescued from the oblivion of the botanic 


garden. 


CHAPTER V. 
PLANTS CHIEFLY FITTED FOR THE WILD GARDEN. 


WHAT first suggested the idea of the wild 
garden, and even the name to me, 


was the desire to provide a home 
for a great number of exotic plants 
that are unfitted for garden culture 
in the old sense. Many of these 
plants have great beauty when in flower, 
and perhaps at other seasons, but they are 
frequently so free and vigorous in growth 
ihat they overrun and destroy all their more 
delicate neighbours. Many, too, are so coarse 
that they are objectionable in choice borders, 
and after flowering they leave a blank ora 
inass of unsightly stems. These plants are 
y unsightly in gardens, and the main cause of 
the eons of hardy flowers; yet many are beautiful at certain 
stages. A tall Harebell, for example, stiffly tied up in a 
garden border, as has been the fashion where plants of this 
kind have been grown at all, is at best of times an unsightly 
object; but the same plant growing amongst the long 


PLANTS FITTED FOR THE 


grass in a thin wood is lovely. | 


The Golden-rods and Michaelmas 
Daisies used to overrun the old 
mixed border, and were with it 
abolished. But even the poorest of 
these seen together in a New England 
wood in autumn form a picture. So 


also there are numerous exotic plants 


of which the individual flowers may > 


not be so striking, but which, grown 
in groups and colonies, and seen at 
some little distance off, afford beauti- 


WILD GARDEN. 33 


ful aspects of vegetation, and quite |/\' 


new so far as gardens are concerned. <\ 


When I first wrote this book, not //* 


one of these plants was in cultiva- ~~ 


tion outside botanic gardens. It was | 


even considered by the best friends A 


of hardy flowers a mistake to recom- 


mend one of them, for they knew "a, 


that it was the predominance of these 
weedy vigorous subjects that made 


people give up hardy flowers for the 


sake of the glare of bedding plants; | 


therefore, the wild garden in the case 
of these particular plants opens up to 
us a new world of infinite and strange 


beauty. In it every plant vigorous 


enough not to require the care of the ©” 


cultivator or a choice place in the 


D 


The Giant Scabious (8 feet high). 
(Cephalaria procera.) 


34 THE WILD GARDEN. 


mixed border will find a home. Of such plants there are 
numbers in every northern and mountainous country, which 
travellers may gather and afterwards grow in their own 
gardens. The taller Achilleas, the stately Aconites, 
the seldom-seen Actas, the huge and vigorous, but at 
certain seasons handsome, Althzas, Angelica with its fine 
foliage, the herbaceous kinds of Aralia from the American 
woods, also with fine foliage, the Wormwood family 
(Artemisia), the stronger kinds of American cotton-weed 
(Asclepias), certain of the vigorous species of Asparagus, 
Asters and their allies in great variety, the larger and more 
vigorous species of Astragalus, certain of the larger species of 
Betonica, pretty, and with delicate flowers, but hardly fit for 
the mixed border, various free and vigorous exotic Grasses, 
large and showy Bupthalmums, the handsome creeping Bind- 
weeds, too free in a garden, the most vigorous Campanulas, 
exotic Thistles (Carduus) and their allies, the more remark- 
able kinds of Carex, numerous Centaureas, somewhat too 
coarse for the garden; and among other strong and hardy 
genera, the following are chiefly suitable for the wild garden: 


Crambe, Galega. Rhaponticum., 
Digitalis, Helenium. Rheum. 
Dipsacus, Helianthus. Rudbeckia. 
Doronicum. Heracleum. Scolymus. 
Echinacea. Inula. Senecio, 
Echinops. Kitaibelia, Sida. 
Elymus, Lavatera. Silphium. 
Epilobium, Ligularia. Solidago. 
Eryngium. Ligusticum., Sonchus. 
Eupatorium. Mulgedium. Symphytum. 
Euphorbia. Onopordon. Veratrum. 
Ferula. Phytolacea, Verbascum. 


Funkia. Polygonum. Vernonia, 


PLANTS FITTED FOR THE WILD GARDEN. 35 


Giant Cow Parsnip. Type of Great Siberian herbaceous vegetation. 
For rough places only. 


CHAPTER VL. 


DITCHES AND NARROW SHADY LANES, COPSES, HEDGEROWS, 


AND THICKETS. 


MeN usually seek sunny positions for 


their gardens, so that even 
those obliged to be con- 
tented with the north side 


_. of the hill would scarcely 


appreciate some of the 
above-named positions. 


Hl. _ What, the gloomy and 


Foliage of Dipsacus, on hedge-bank in spring. 


weedy dyke as a garden! 
Yes, there are ditches, dry 


- and wet, in every district, 


that may readily be made 
more beautiful than many 
a “ modern flower-garden.” 
But what would grow in 


them? Many of the beautiful wood and shade-loving plants 
of our own and similar latitudes—things that love not the 


open sunny hillsides or wide meadows, but take shelter in the 


stillness of deep woods or in dark valleys, are happy deep 


DITCHES AND NARROW SHADY LANES. 37 


between riven rocks, and gaily occupy the little dark caves 
beneath the great boulders on many a horror-stricken moun- 
tain gorge, and which garland with inimitable grace the vast 
flanks of rock that guard the dark courses of the rivers on 
their paths through the hills. And as these dark walls, 
ruined by ceaseless pulse of the torrent, are beautiful 
exceedingly, how much more may we make all the shady 
dykes and narrow lanes that occur everywhere! For while 
the nymph-gardener of the ravine may depend for her novel- 
ties on the stray grains of seeds brought in the moss by the 
robin when building her nest, or on the mercy of the hurrying 
wave, we may place side by side the snowy white wood lily 
(Trillium grandiflorum), whose home is in the shades of the 
American woods, with the twin flower of Scotland and northern 
Europe, and find both thrive on the same spot in happy com- 
panionship. And so in innumerable instances. And not only 
may we be assured of numbers of the most beautiful plants of 
other countries thriving in deep ditches and in like positions, 
but also that not a few of them, like the white wood lily, will 
thrive much better in them than in any position in garden 
borders. This plant, when in perfection, has a flower as fair 
as any white lily, while it is seldom a foot high; but, in con- 
sequence of being a shade-loving and wood plant, it usually 
perishes in the ordinary garden bed or border, while in a 
shady dyke or any like position it will be found to thrive as 
well as in its native woods; and if in deep, free, sandy, or 
vegetable soil, to grow so as not to be surpassed in loveliness 
by anything seen in our stoves or greenhouses. 

Our wild flowers take possession of the stiff, formal, and 


\ 
38 THE WILD GARDEN, 


shorn hedges that seam the land, often draping them with 
such inimitable grace that half the conservatories in the 
country, with their collections of small red pots and small 
mean plants are stiff and poor compared with a few yards’ 
length of their blossomy verdure. The Wild Roses, Purple 
Vetch, Honeysuckle, and the Virgin’s Bower, clamber above 
smaller, but not less pretty, wildlings, and throw a veil of 
graceful life over the mutilated shrubs, reminding us of the 
plant-life in the nest-like thickets of dwarf shrubs that one 
often meets on the high Alpine meadows. In these islets of 
bushes in a sea of grass one may gather flowers after they 
have been all browsed down on the turf. Next to the most 
interesting aspects of Alpine vegetation, there is perhaps 
nothing in the world of plant-life more lovely than the delicate 
tracery of low-climbing things wedded to the bushes in all 
northern and temperate regions of the earth. Perishing like the 
grass, they are happy and safe in the earth’s bosom in winter; 
in spring they come up as the buds swell, and soon after, 
finding the bushes once more enjoyable, rush over them as 
joyously as children from school over a meadow of cowslips. 
Over bush, over brake, on mountain or lowland copse, holding 
on with delicate but unyielding grasp, they engrave themselves 
on the mind as the central type of grace, In addition to 
climbing Pea-flowers, Convolvuluses, etc., of which the stems 
perish in winter, we have the great tribes of wild vines, noble 
in foliage and often in fruit, the numerous Honeysuckles, 
from coral red to pale yellow, all beautiful; and the Clema- 
tide, rich, varied, and lovely beyond description, from those 
of which each petal reminds one of the wing of some huge 


DITCHES AND NARROW SHADY LANES. 39 


tropical butterfly, to those with small flowers borne in showers 

like drops from a fountain jet, and often sweet as Hawthorn 
blossoms. 

This climbing’ of oa 

: K me | 

be trained and ae cy 

in gardens, but 


vegetation may 


tortured into forms 


will its beauty ~ 
until we entrust 

it to the garland- 
ing of shrub, and 
copse, or hedge- 
row, fringes of ¢ 
dwarf plantation, 

or groups of 
shrubs and _ trees. 
All to be done is to 
put in a few tufts of 

any desired kind, and leave them 
alone, adapting the kind to the 
position. The large, flesh-coloured 
Bindweed, for example, would be best in 
rough places, out of the pale of the pleasure- 
ground or garden, so that its roots would 
not spread where they could do harm, 

while a delicate Clematis might be placed a Panis 
beneath the choicest specimen Conifer, and ap ee ric 
allowed to paint its rich green with fair 24 *hebberies 
flowers. In nature we frequently see a Honeysuckle clamber- 
ing up through an old Hawthorn tree, and then struggling 
with it as to which should produce the greatest profusion 


40 THE WILD GARDEN. 


of blossoms—but in gardens not yet. Some may say that 
this cannot be done in gardens; but it can be done infinitely 
better in gardens than it has ever been done in nature; because, f 
for gardens we can select plants from many countries. We 
can effect contrasts, in which nature is poor in any one place 
in consequence of the comparatively few plants that naturally’ 
inhabit one spot of ground. People seldom remember that “ the 
art itself is nature;” and foolish old laws laid down by land- 
scape-gardeners are yet fertile in perpetuating the 
notion that a garden is a “ work of art, and there- 


fore we must not attempt in it to 
imitate nature.” 

Sometimes, where there are 
large and bare slopes, an excellent 
effect may be obtained by planting 
the stouter climbers, such as the 
Vines, Mountain Clematis, and 

_ Honeysuckles, in groups or masses 
on the grass, away from shrubs or 
low trees; while, when the banks 
are precipitous or the rocks crop 
forth, we may allow a curtain of 
climbers to fall over them. 


The Nootka Bramble; type of free- * i 3 
SioWInE Rowerlne sini Fer Endless charming combinations 


ee as may be made in this way in many 
spots near most country houses. The following genera 
are among the climbing and clinging hardy plants most 
suitable for garlanding copses, hedges, and thickets :—Ever- 
lasting Peas (many kinds), the hardy exotic Honeysuckles, 


Clematis (wild species mainly), the common Jasmine, 


DITCHES AND NARROW SHADY LANES. 41 


the double Bramble, Vines (American and the common 
varieties), single Roses, the Virginian creepers (Ampelopsis), 
the large Bindweed (Calystegia dahurica), Aristolochia Sipho, 
and A. tomentosa, and several of the perennial Tropzolums, 
T. pentaphyllum, speciosum, and tuberosum. The hardy 
Smilax, too, are very handsome, and the Canadian Moonsecd, 
only suitable for this kind of gardening. 

Among the families of plants that are suitable for the 
various positions enumerated at the head of this chapter 
may be named — Acanthus, any variety, Viola, both the 
sweet varieties and some of the large scentless kinds, the 
Periwinkle, Speedwells, Globe Flowers, Trilliums, Plume 
Ferns (Struthiopteris), and many other kinds, the Lily of 
the Valley and its many varieties and allies, the Canadian 
Bloodwort, the Winter Greens (Pyrola), Solomon’s Seal, and 
allied exotic species, the May Apple, Orobus in variety, 
Narcissi, many, the Common Myrrh, the perennial Lupin, 
hardy common Lilies, the Snowflakes, all kinds of Everlasting 
Peas and allied plants, admirable for scrambling through low 
hedges and over bushes, Windflowers, the taller and stronger 
kinds in lanes and hedgerows, the various Christmas Roses 
which will repay for shelter, the European kinds of Gladiolus, 
such as segetum and Colvilli, the taller and more vigorous 
Cranes Bills (Geranium), the Snake’s Head (Fritillaria) in 
variety, Strawberries of any variety or species, the beautiful 
Plume-leaved Giant Fennel, Dog’s Tooth Violets in bare spots 
or spots bare in spring, the Winter Aconite, the Barren Worts, 
for peaty spots or leaf soil, the May Flower, for sandy poor 
soil under trees, the Dentaria, the coloured and showier forms 
of Primroses, Oxslips, Polyanthus, the hardy European Cycla- 


42 THE WILD GARDEN. 


mens in carefully chosen ‘spots, Crocuses in places under 
branches and trees not bearing leaves in Spring, the yellow 
and pink Coronilla (C. montana and C. varia), the larger 
forms of Bindweed, many of the taller and finer Harebells, 
Starworts (Aster), for hedgerows, and among the taller plants 
the Italian Cuckoo Pint (Arum), and also the Dragons, for 
warm sandy soils, the Monkshoods which people fear in gar- 
dens and which do admirably in many positions ; the different 
species of Onion, also unwelcome in gardens, some of which 
are very beautiful, as, for example, the White Provence 
kind and the old yellow garden Allium (Moly). With the 
‘above almost exclusively exotic things and our own wild 
flowers and ferns beautiful colonies may be made. 


The Yellow Allium (A. Moly) naturalised. 


CHAPTER VII. 
DRAPERY FOR TREES AND BUSHES. 


THE numerous hardy climbers which we pos- 
sess are very rarely seen to advantage, owing 
to their being stiffly trained against walls. 
Indeed, the greater number of hardy climbers 
have gone out of cultivation mainly for this 
reason. One of the happiest of all ways of 
using them is that of training them in a free 
manner over trees ; in this way many beautiful 
effects may be secured. Established trees 
have usually exhausted the ground near their 
base, which may, however, afford nutriment 


to a hardy climbing shrub. In some low trees 


the graceful companion may garland their heads; in tall ones 
the. stem only may at first be adorned. But some vigorous 
climbers could in time ascend the tallest trees, and there can be 
nothing more beautiful than a veil of such a one as Clematis 
montana suspended from the branch of a tall tree. A whole 
host of lovely plants may be seen to great advantage in this 
way, apart from the well-known and popular climbing plants. 
There are, for example, many species of Clematis which 


44 THE WILD GARDEN. 


have never come into cultivation, but which are quite as 
beautiful as any climbers. The same may be said of the 
Honeysuckles, wild Vines, and various other families of which 


Large White Clematis on Yew tree at Great Tew. (C. montana grandiflora.) 


the names may be found in catalogues. Much of the northern 
tree and shrub world is garlanded with creepers, which may 
be grown in similar ways, as, for example, on banks and 
in hedgerows. The trees in our pleasure-grounds, however, 
have the first claim on our attention in planting garlands. 


DRAPERY FOR TREES AND BUSHES, 45 


There would seldom be need to fear injury to established 
trees. 

Some time ago I saw a Weeping Willow, on the margin of 
a lake, that had its trunk clothed with Virginian Creeper, and 
the effect in autumn, when 
the sun shone through the 
drooping branches of the 
Willow—whose leaves were 
just becoming tinged with 
gold—upon the crimson of 
the creeper-covered trunk by 
was very fine. The Hop is :7% 
a very effective plant for 
draping a thin specimen 
Arbor-vite, or Yew tree, but 
the shoots should be thinned 
out in spring, and not more 
than three or four allowed 


to climb up to the tree. 
When the leader emerges 
The way the climbing plants of the world are 
from the top of the bush, crucified in gardens—winter effect (a faith- 
5 Sul sketch). 
and throws its long, graceful 
wreaths of Hops over the dark green foliage, the contrast 
is most effective. The Wistaria, if planted before its support 
has become old, will combine with excellent effect with any 
single specimen of not too dense a habit. 
A correspondent, who has added largely to the charms of 
a place in Suffolk by means of the wild garden, writes as 
follows :—“ Some time ago I discovered and had removed from 


the woods to the pleasure-grounds a robust round-headed 


46 THE WILD GARDEN. 


Holly tree, which had been taken entire possession of by a 
wild Honeysuckle, which, originating at the root of the tree, 
had scrambled up through the branches to the top, and there, 
extending itself in all directions, had formed a large head and 
hung in festoons all round—a highly ornamental object 
indeed. The Holly had endured the subjection for many 

years, and still 


seemed to put forth 
sufficient shoots and 
leaves annually to 
ensure a steady sup- 
port to its climbing 
companion. The 
birds also had dis- 
covered that the 
dense and tangled 
thicket created by 
the Honeysuckle was 
a suitable home for 


their young, for in- 


side of it wasaregular 
rete eCimteetenimedsacom, settlement of nest 
acme of various kinds; 
and, since the tree has been moved it has been taken 
complete possession of again by the bird tribe.” The 
Honeysuckle in question is an example of what might 
be done with such handsome and free growing climbers 
and scrambling Roses. What could be more effective, for 
instance, than a lofty tree-like mass of the purple and 


white Clematis mixed, or either of these alone, or, better 


DRAPERY FOR TREES AND BUSHES, 47 


still, a gigantic head of Roses? I throw out these hints 
for those who choose to act upon them. Draped trees, 
such as I have described, may soon be had. I do not know 
that a better tree than the Holly could be selected for a 
support. Where the trees are not in the place in which they 
are wanted, they should be moved about the end of August 
to the desired situation, and if some good rich soil—loam and 
decayed manure—is furnished to the roots at the same time, 
it will be in proper condition for climbers in spring. The 
latter should be planted pretty closely to the stem of the tree, 
and a start should be made with good vigorous plants, whether 
of Honeysuckle, Roses, or Clematis. The Roses and other 
things will want a little leading off at first till they get hold 
of their supporters, but afterwards no pruning or interference 
should be attempted. 

Mr. Hovey, in a letter from Boston, Mass., wrote as 
follows, on certain interesting aspects of tree drapery :— 

Some ten or fifteen years ago we had occasion to plant three or 
four rows of popular climbers in nursery rows, about 100 feet long ; 
these consisted of the Virginian creeper, the Moonseed (Menispermum), 
Periploca greca, and Celastrus scandens ; subsequently, it happened 
accidentally that four rows of rather large Tartarian (so-called) Arbor- 
vitees were planted on one side, and about the same number of rows 
of Smoke trees, Philadelphus, and Cornus florida, on the other. For 
three or four years many of these climbers were taken up annually 
until rather too old to remove, and year by year the Arbor-vites and 
shrubs were thinned out until what were too large to safely transplant 
remained. But the land was not wanted then, and the few scattered 
trees aud climbers grew on while cultivation was partially neglected, a 
large specimen being occasionally taken out until the climbers had 
fairly taken possession of the trees, and are now too beautiful to 
disturb. It forms the most unique specimen of tree drapery I have 


ever seen, Some of the Arbor-vites are entirely overrun with the 
Moonseed (Menispermum), whose large, slightly-scalloped leaves over- 


48 THE WILD GARDEN. 


lap one another from the ground to the top like slates on a roof, 
Over others, the gloomy leaves of the Periploca scramble, and also the 
Celastrus, and on still others the deep green leaves of the Ampelopsis: 
completely festoon the tree ; of some trees all four and other climbers 
have taken possession ; and from among the tops of the Sumach the 
feathery tendrils of the Ampelopsis, and, just now, its deep blue berries 
hold full sway. And these are not all. The Apios tuberosa is 
indigenous, and springs up everywhere as soon as our land is neglected. 
This has also overrun several trees, and coils up and wreaths each out- 
stretching branch with its little bunches of fragrant brownish coloured 
flowers, It is the Arbor-vitees which give the peculiar beauty of this 
description of tree drapery. On the deciduous trees the new growth 
lengthens rapidly, and the branches soon get far apart; but with 
Arbor-vites, which always present a round compact head, the effect 
is entirely different ; they are covered so densely that it is impossible, 
in some instances, to say what the tree is that supports the climbers, 
One Hemlock Spruce (Abies canadensis) has every branch loaded with 
the Apios and profuse with blossoms; but this one sees happen with 
other trees. The Smoke tree looks interesting just now, while its 
flowers are fresh, but soon they will fade, and the dry tops will be a 
disadvantage ; but the Arbor-vite will remain clothed with the 
foliage, flowers, and berries too, of the Celastrus until the autumn 
frosts have shorn them of their beauty, and no falling leaves are 
scattered around. The Arbor-vitee is the tree I would recommend 
when it is desirable to produce such effects as I have described. When 
such strong-growing climbers as Begonias and Wistarias take possession 
of a shrub they generally injure it; but the very slender stems of 
Menispermum and Apios die entirely to the ground after the first sharp 
frost,and the slender stems of the others do not appear to arrest the growth 
of the Arbor-vites, which are restored when the climbers are down, and, 
after full eight months’ rest, are again ready to aid in sustaining their 
more dependent companions. The Honeysuckle, the Clematis, and 
similar plants might, no doubt, be added to the list, and give more 
variety, as well as fragrance and beauty, but I have only detailed the 
effects of what has been done, leaving what might be effected for some 
future trial. 


But the noblest kind of climbers forming drapery for trees 
are not so often seen as some of the general favourites men- 
tioned above. A neglected group are the wild Vines, plants 


DRAPERY FOR TREES AND BUSHES. 49 


of the highest 
beauty, and 
which, if al- 
lowed to spring 
through the tall 
which 
would 


trees, 
they 
quickly do, 
would soon 
charm by their 
bold 


Some of them 


grace. 


are fine in colour 
of foliage in 
autumn. With 
these 
be associated, 


might 


though not . so 
fine in form, cer- 
tain free- grow - 
ing species 
of Ampelopsis, 
grown in some 


The 


Wistaria is also 


nurseries. 
well worth 
growing on 
trees, in dis- 
tricts where it 


flowers freely 


A Liane in the North, 
E 


Aristolochia and Deciduous Cypress. 


50 THE WILD GARDEN. 


away from walls. In visiting the garden of MM. Van Eden, 
at; Haarlem, I was surprised to see a Liane, in the shape of the 
well-known - Aristolochia or Dutchman’s Pipe, which had 
clambered high into a fine old deciduous Cypress. Being 
much interested in this long-established companionship, 
was able to procure, through the kindness of Messrs. Van 
Eden, photographs of the tree and its Liane, from which this 
illustration was engraved. When I saw it early in spring 
the leaves had not appeared on either the tree or its com- 
panion, and the effect of the old rope-like stems was very 
picturesque. The Aristolochia ascends to a height of 35 ft. 
6 in. on the tree. 

The tree was a superb specimen, and was not in the least 
injured by the growth of the climber. What a beautiful 
effect a graceful flowering climber would afford in a similar 
case!- Imagine one of the white-flowered Clematis (which 
may be seen as many as over forty feet in height under suit- 
able conditions) garlanding such a tree, or any tree, with 
wreaths of fragrant blossoms. Strange and lovely aspects of 
vegetation may be created in our pleasure-grounds, by the 
judicious use of these climbers, varying according to the trees 
and their position, and also as to their being evergreen or 
summer-leafing. Even where one might fear to injure a 
valuable tree by a vigorous climber, trees may easily be 
found of little value, and much may be done even with the 
old or dead trees. 


A beautiful accident.—A colony of Myrrhis odorata, established in shrubbery, with 
white Harebells here and there. (See p. 60.) 


CHAPTER VIII. 
THE COMMON SHRUBBERY, WOODS AND WOODLAND DRIVES. 


Ir must not be thought that the wild garden can only be 
formed in places where there is some extent of rough pleasure- 
ground. Excellent results may be obtained from the system 
in comparatively small gardens, on the fringes of shrubberies 
and marginal plantations, open spaces between shrubs, the 
surface of beds of Rhododendrons, where we may have plant- 
beauty instead of garden-graveyards. I call garden-grave- 
yards the dug shrubbery borders which one sees in nearly all 
gardens, public or private. Every shrubbery and plantation 
surface that is so needlessly and relentlessly dug over by the 
gardener every winter, may be embellished in the way I 
propose, as well as wild places. The custom of digging 


shrubbery borders prevails now in every garden, and there is 


52 THE WILD GARDEN. 


in the whole course of gardening no worse or more profitless 
custom. When winter is once come, almost every gardener, 
although animated with the best intentions, simply prepares 
to make war upon the roots of everything in his shrubbery 
border. The generally-accepted practice is to trim, and often 
to mutilate the shrubs, and to dig all over the surface that 
must be full of feeding roots. Delicate half-rooted shrubs 
are disturbed; herbaceous plants are destroyed; bulbs are 
displaced and injured; the roots as well as the tops of shrubs 
are mutilated; and a sparse depopulated aspect is given to 
the margins, while the only “improvement” that is effected 
by the process is the annual darkening of the surface by the 
upturned earth. 

Illustrations of these bad practices occur by miles in our 
London parks in winter. Walk through any of them at that 
season, and observe the borders around masses of shrubs, choice 
and otherwise. Instead of finding the earth covered, or nearly 
covered, with vegetation close to the margin, and each indi- 
vidual plant developed into something like a fair specimen 
of its kind, we find a spread of recently-dug ground, and the 
plants upon it with an air of having recently suffered from a 
whirlwind, or some calamity that necessitated the removal of 
mutilated branches. Rough-pruners precede the diggers, and 
bravely trim in the shrubs for them, so that nothing may be in 
the way; and then come the diggers, plunging their spades 
deeply about plants, shrubs, or trees. The first shower that 
occurs after this digging exposes a whole network of torn-up 
roots. There is no relief to the spectacle; the same thing 
occurs everywhere—in botanic gardens as well as in our large 


West-end parks; and year after year is the process repeated. 


THE COMMON SHRUBBERY. 53 


While such is the ‘case, it will be impossible to have an 
agreeable or interesting margin to a shrubbery or plantation. 
What secrets one might have in the central hidden portions of 
these now dug and bare shrubberies—in the half-shady spots 
where little colonies of rare exotic wildlings might have their 
first introduction to our wild garden! Of course all the labour 
required to produce this miserable result of dug borders is 
worse than thrown away, as the shrubberies would do better 


Large White Achilleas spread into wide masses under shade of trees in shrubbery. 


if let alone, and by utilising the power thus wasted, we might 
highly beautify the positions that are now so ugly. 

If we resolve that no annual manuring or digging is to be 
permitted, nobody will grudge a thorough preparation at first. 
When a plantation of shrubs is quite young it is well to 
keep the ground open by lightly stirring it for a year or two. 
Then the planting should be so arranged as to defeat the 
digger. To graduate the vegetation from the taller subjects 


behind to the very margin of the grass is of much importance, 


54 THE WILD GARDEN. 


and this could be done best by the greater use of dwarf ever- 
greens. Happily, there is quite enough of these to be had 
suitable for every soil. Light, moist, peaty, or sandy soils, 
where such things as the sweet-scented Daphne Cneorum 
would spread forth its dwarf cushions, would be somewhat 
more desirable than, say, a stiff clay; but for every position 
suitable plants might be found. Look, for example, at what 
we could do with the dwarf-green Iberises, Helianthemums, 
Aubrietias, Arabises, Alyssums, dwarf shrubs, and _ little 
conifers like the creeping Cedar (Juniperus squamata), and 
the Tamarix-leaved Juniper, in spreading groups and colonies. 
All these are green, and would spread out into dense wide 
cushions, covering the margin, rising but little above the 
grass, and helping to cut off the formal line which usually 
divides margin and border. Behind them we might use other 
shrubs, deciduous or evergreen, in endless variety; and of 
course the margin should be varied also as regards height. 

In one spot we might have a wide-spreading tuft of the 
prostrate Savin pushing its graceful evergreen branchlets out 
over the grass; in another the dwarf'little Cotoneasters might 
be allowed to form the front rank, relieved in their turn by 
pegged-down Roses; and so on without end. Herbaceous 
plants, that die down in winter and leave the ground bare 
afterwards, should not be assigned any important position 
near the front. Evergreen Alpine plants and shrubs, as 
before remarked, are perfectly suitable here; but the true 
herbaceous type, and the larger bulbs, like Lilies, should be 
in groups between spreading shrubs. By so placing them, 
we should not only secure a far more satisfactory general 
effect, but highly improve the aspect of the herbaceous plants 


THE COMMON SHRUBBERY. 55 


themselves. To carry out such planting properly, a little 
more time at first and a great deal more taste than are now 
employed would be required; but what a difference in the 
result! All that the well-covered borders would require 
would be an occasional weeding or thinning, and, in the case 
of the more select spots, a little top-dressing with fine soil. 
Here and there, between and amongst the plants, such things 
as Forget-me-nots and Violets, Snowdrops and Primroses, 


might be scattered about, so as to give the borders interest 


Lilies coming up through carpet of White Arabis. 


even at the dullest seasons ; and thus we should be delivered 
from digging and dreariness, and see our once ugly borders 
alive with flowers. The chief rule should be—never show 
the naked earth: clothe it, and then allow the taller plants 
to rise in their own way through the turf or spray. Here is 
a little sketch of what is meant. A colony of the white 
Arabis carpets the ground in which strong hardy Lilies are 
growing; and the Lilies are pushing up their bold unfolding 
shoots. The latter are none the worse in winter for this light 
carpet of foliage over the border; and then for a long time in 
spring it is bedecked with white flowers. Indeed, in fairly 


good seasons it blooms in winter too. It would take a big 


56 THE WILD GARDEN. 


book to tell all the charms and merits belonging to the use 
of a variety of small plants to carpet the ground beneath and 
between those of larger growth. It need hardly be said that 
this argument against digging applies to two or three beds of 
shrubs, and places where the “shrubbery” is little larger than 
the dining-room, as much as to the large country seat, public 
park, or botanic garden. 

There are great cultural advantages too, in leaving the 
whole of the leaves to nourish the ground and protect it from 
frost or heat. I append a note from a correspondent inquiring 


about what he supposes practical difficulties, and an answer 
to them :— 


You draw a pretty picture of what a shrubbery border should be 
and how it should be kept in winter. There should be no digging, 
and the fallen leaves should be left. I fully agree, except as to the 
leaves. Theoretically, it seems quite right to allow the leaves to lie 
and decay amidst the surrounding plants, but in practice it does not 
answer. There are, for instance, in most gardens such things as slugs 
and snails. These delight in a leafy covering, and, protected from 
frost by the shelter, will prey upon the perennial green leafage and 
the starting crowns of the herbaceous plants, and do an immense 
amount of mischief. Then there are usually in gardens in winter, 
especially in hard weather, blackbirds and thrushes, which in their 
efforts to obtain food set all notions of tidiness at defiance. A troop 
of fowls would hardly turn a flower border more topsy-turvy than 
would a few of these birds. The first storm that came would whirl 
the disturbed leaves all over the place, much to the disgust of the 
cultivator, and the hardy plants would find that the theory of a natural 
dressing of leaf manure had broken down. I detest the forking of 
borders so common in winter, A moderate stirring of the surface 
first with a two or three-tined rake is good, then a dressing of soot or 
guano, or both, and over all a thin surfacing of old pot soil, or the 
rough screened produce of the rubbish heap, or, in fact, any kind of 
refuse soil that may offer. I think that most cultivators will agree 


that such a plan would answer better than the natural, but very 
inoperative leaf-dressing,—A. 


THE COMMON SHRUBBERY. 57 


How do the swarming herbs of the woods and copses of the 
world exist in spite of the slugs? A good protection for them 
is hard gravel walks and paths, where they lay their eggs 
without danger. Against the door one may do what one 
likes, but not one leaf would I ever allow removed from 
a clump of shrubs or trees on my lawn or in my pleasure 
ground. I would prefer the leaves all over the place to a 
dug border, but I would, if need be, meet that difficulty by 


Colony ‘of Narcissus in properly spaced shrubbery. 


scattering a light dressing of soil over them. In what I 
should call a properly managed shrubbery or clump, with the 
bushes well spaced, and their branches resting on the ground, 
with low shrubs between, and evergreen and other herbs, 
there are natural impediments to the leaves rushing about in 
the way you suppose. This isa subject of the greatest interest 


and the utmost practical importance. Our annual digging 


58 THE WILD GARDEN. 


mutilation, scraping away of leaves, and exposing on bare 
sloppy borders plants that in Nature shelter each other, and 
are shielded from bitter frost and burning heat by layers of 
fallen leaves, gradually sinking into excellent light surface 
soil for the young roots, are ignorant and brutal practices that 
must be given up by all who really look into the needs of our 
hardy garden flora. 

With reference to this point, I print this letter from an 
observer of what goes on in the woods of New England. 
Our own woods are full of lessons, and so it is in all countries. 
Mr. Falconer’s letter is very suggestive of the revolution in 
method which must be carried out in the gardens of the 
future :— 


I go into the woods in the spring time, and find them carpeted 
with Dog’s-tooth Violets, Wood Anemones, blue and purple Hepaticas, 
Spring beauty, Trilliums, Blood-root, Star-flowers, False Solomon’s 
Seal, Gold Thread, trailing Arbutus, wild Ginger, and a host of other 
pretty little flowers, all bright and gay, arising from their bed of 
decaying herbage and tree leaves, and many of them are in perfection, 
too, before a tree has spread a leaf; and thus they glow and revel in 
their cosy bed, fed and sheltered by their tree friends, When their petals 
drop and their leaves are mature, the trees expand their leafy canopy 
and save the little nurslings from the torture of a scorching sun, And 
early as the earliest, too, the outskirts of the woods and meadows with 
hosts of Violets are painted blue and white, and speckled everywhere 
with Bluets, or little Innocents, as the children call them. Woodsias, 
tiny Aspleniums, and other Ferns are unfolding their fronds along the 
chinks among the stones; the common Polypody is reaching over 
blocks and boulders ; and even the exposed rocks, with their rough 
and Lichen-bearded faces, are aglow in vernal pride. Every nook and 
cranny among them, and little mat of earth upon them are checkered 
with the flowery print of the Canada Columbine, the Virginia Saxifrage, 
and the glaucous Corydalis. But to the carpet. What can be prettier 
or more appropriate than the Partridge-berry (Mitchella repens), the 
Twin-flower (Linnea borealis—does well with us), Creeping Winter 
Green (Gaultheria procumbens), Bearberry (Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi), 


“plnowt-zeay] UT WOI0q Poo UT ‘UapAeD PLLA UT (WNIOyIpuRAs wT[A,L) ApT-Poopy ay A Weoaury sy 7, 


THE COMMON SHRUBBERY. 59 


Cowberry (Vaccinium Vitis-idea), Dwarf Cornel (Cornus canadensis), 
Fringed Polygala (P. paucifolia), the Common Pipsissewa (Chimaphila 
umbellata) with its shining deep green leaves, the Spotted Pipsissewa 
(C maculata), the sombre-hued Pyrola and Galax, and that bright 
and easily-grown Club Moss (Lycopodium lucidulum)? Add to 
these such plants as Winter Aconite, Apennine Anemone, Creeping 
Forget-me-not, and the like, together with a few of the most suitable 
kinds of the host of bulbous ornamental plants which we now possess, 
and our shrubbery carpets may be replete with garden jewels. It is 
now generally conceded that shrubs thrive better in beds whose surface 
is undisturbed than where it is annually loosened by digging or point- 
ing. This, coupled with a yearly top-dressing of decayed leaf-soil or 
light rich vegetable heap compost, is equally beneficial for the shrubs 
and their carpet. 


“One day last spring, when strolling through the Medford 
wood, I came upon an open meadow with a high bank— 
cleared timber land—on one side. Adown this bank in a 
rough and rocky course, came a little stream of water, bordered 
on both sides with streaks and patches of Blood-root in its 
gayest state. The large and showy blossoms, clasped erect 
in their own leaf-vases and sparkling in the sun, while the 
sward and other vegetation around were yet dormant, had a 
cheerful influence indeed. ‘True, near by in the hollow, the 
malodorous Skunk Cabbage was rank in leaf and flower, and 
the Indian Poke was rushing out its plaited, broadly oval 
leaves, and away in the streamlet a few Marsh Marigolds 
glittered on the water. But the Blood-root is neither an 
aquatic nor a bog plant, but most at home in the leaf-mould 
beds and linings of rich woodlands.” 

“ Hereabout,a little wild flower (Erythronium americanum) 
more commonly known as Dog’s-tooth Violet, is a charming 
plant, with variegated handsome leaves, and comely flowers 


in earliest spring. In low copses in rich deposits of vegetable 


60 THE WILD GARDEN. 


mould it grows around here in the utmost profusion. In 
one place by the side of a wood is a sort of ditch, which is 
filled with water in winter but dry in summer, and wherein 
is collected a mass of leaf-soil. Here the Erythronium runs 
riot, and forms the densest kind of matted sod, all bespeckled 
with yellow blossoms before a bush or tree has spread a leaf. 
Then blackberry bushes get a growing and sprawling every- 
where, the trees expand their leafy shade, and Grass and 
weeds grow up and cover the surface of the earth. But all 
too late for evil, the Adder’s-tongue’s mission for a year is 
ended; it has blossomed, matured, and retired. The next 
densest mass I know of is in a low piece of cleared timber 
land, where, besides the profusion in the hollow, the carpet 
extends, thinner as it ascends, for many yards up the slope of 
the hill. As garden plants they are at home anywhere, under- 
neath bushes, or in any out of-the-way corner, merely praying 
to be let alone. But what I desire to urge is their naturalisa- 
ation in your rich woodlands, where Anemones and Primroses, 
Buttercups and Violets, grow up and flower together.” 

I cannot better conclude this chapter than by showing one 
of the most interesting aspects of vegetation I have ever seen.’ 
It was in an ordinary sbrubbery, forming a belt round a 
botanic garden. In the inner parts, hidden from the walk 
probably from want of labour, the digging had not been carried 
out for some years. Some roots of the common Myrrh 
(Myrrhis odorata), thrown out of the garden in digging, had 
rooted by accident and spread into a little colony. The plant 
grows freely in any soil. Among the graceful tufts of Myrrh 
were tall white Harebells, and the effect of these, standing 


- 


1 See illustration on p. 51. 


THE COMMON SHRUBBERY. 61 


above the elegant spreading foliage of the Myrrh in the shade 
of the trees, was very beautiful. Note particularly that the 
front of the shrubbery in which this exquisite scene was 
discovered was as stiff and hideous as usual in winter—raw 
earth, full of mutilated roots, and shrubs cut in for the con- 
venience and according to the taste of the diggers. The beds 
in the botanical arrangement near were ugly beyond description. 

Longleat is one of the first places in which the idea of 
the wild garden was practically carried out and ably by the 
forester, Mr. Berry. With such a fine variety of surface and 
soil, the place naturally offers numerous positions in which 
the plants of other countries as cold or colder than our own 
could be naturalised, or so planted that they would increase 
and take care of themselves in the woods. A forester’s duties 
and opportunities are generally such as make it extremely 
difficult for him to carry out such an idea. To know the 
plants even that are likely to succeed is, in itself, a species of 
knowledge which every planter does not possess; however, 
the idea was clearly understood and carried out well, so far 
as possible in the face of rabbits, which are the great destroyers 
of almost all flowering ground vegetation. To get the neces- 
sary quantities of subjects necessitated a little nursery in 
which a sufficient number could be raised of the more vigorous 
perennials, bulbs, and climbers. If this new idea in gardening 
be carried out on the old dotting principle of the herbaceous 
border, its great value and its charming effects cannot be 
realised. To do it rightly we must group and mass as Nature 
does. Though we may enjoy a single flower or tuft here and 
there, the true way is natural fringes and masses of plants, 


one or two species prevailing in a given spot; in that way we 


62 THE WILD GARDEN. 


may secure several important ends—distinct effects in different 
places, a variety as we walk along, and better means of meeting 
the wants of a plant, inasmuch as, dealing with a group, or 
mass, or carpet, we can best observe the result of our judgment 
in putting them in any soil or place. Therefore, although the 
quantity of vigorous hardy flowers essential for making good 
effects in a place of this size has not yet been planted out, 
some very charming effects have been, obtained. Among the 
features that Mr. Berry is working to introduce are vigorous 
hardy exotic creepers on old and inferior trees, Thorn, and 
other bushes of little value. Many are already planted, but 
will be some time before they show their full beauty—among 
them Japanese and other Honeysuckles, Virginian Creepers, 
Clematis, Wistarias, and others. A part of the arboretum is 
more particularly devoted to this kind of decoration, and will 
eventually form a very wild wood and wild garden, where 
the Poet’s Narcissus may be found among Sweet Briers, Lilacs, 
and many kinds of fragrant- flowering shrubs and vigorous 
perennials. While carrying out the scheme of wild gardening, 
pure and simple, that is to say, the naturalisation of foreign 
hardy plants, opportunity has been taken to establish beautiful 
native kinds where they do not happen to be present in suffi- 
cient abundance. Thus the Lily of the Valley has been 
brought in quantities and planted in wide-spreading colonies 
along the drives, and so have the Meadow Saffron and the 
Snowflakes and Daffodils. To group and scatter these in a 
natural and easy way has required considerable care, the 
tendency of the men being invariably, and almost in spite 
of themselves, to plant in stiff and set or too regular masses. 
Few things are more delightful to anybody who cares 


THE COMMON SHRUBBERY, 63 


about hardy plants than naturalising the Lily of the Valley 
in pleasant spots about a country house. It is in every gar- 
. den, of course, and very often so crowded and so starved that 
it seldom flowers well. A bare garden border is not so suit- 
able for it as that in which it may be found in a thin wood, 
or in little openings in a copse, where it enjoys enough 
light, and gets shelter too. Frequently the fresh wood soil 
would be more welcome to it than the worn-out soil in a 


garden; also by planting it in various positions and soils, we 


The Lily of the Valley in a copse. 


may secure an important difference as regards blooming. 
In a cool woody place it would bloom ten days later 
than in an exposed warm garden border; and this difference 
could be increased by carefully selecting the position. Apart 
altogether from the wild garden and its charms, this difference 
in the time of blooming of the Lily of the Valley would be a 
great advantage to all who have to provide cut flowers, inas- 
much as it would give them late bloom in plenty without 
trouble. However, giving reasons for the naturalisation of 


the Lily of the Valley is surely unnecessary. The only sur- 


64 THE WILD GARDEN. 


prising thing is that it has not been done to a large extent 
already, because it is so very easy and so very delightful. 
Recently a good many different varieties of Lily of the Valley 
—nearly as many as twenty—have been collected, and are 
beginning to be cultivated by some of our growers of herbaceous 
plants. The difference in these is not owing to soil or situa- 
tion. When grown in the same place they manifest differ- 
ences in length of spike and size of foliage; and also in time 
of blooming. In some the spike is short, and in others nearly 
one foot long. This important fact should, of course, be noted 
by any who would, in places where the Lily of the Valley 
does not grow wild, interest themselves in establishing it. 

There are advantages in wood-culture for many hardy 
plants—the shelter, shade, and soil affording for some things 
conditions more suitable than our gardens. The warmth of 
the wood, too, is an advantage, the fallen leaves helping to 
protect the plants in all ways. In a hot country plants that 
love cool places could be grown in a wood where they would 
perish if exposed. Mr. G. F. Wilson has made himself a 
remarkably interesting and successful wild garden in a wood, 
from which he sent me in the autumn of last year (1880) a 
flowering stem of the American Swamp Lily (L. superbum) 
eleven feet high. No such result has ever been seen in any 
garden or border of the ordinary type. These Lilies of his 
grow in a woody bottom where rich dark soil has gathered, 
and where there is shelter and shade. 

Placing every plant in one border with the same condi- 
tions as to soil and exposure was a great mistake. A great 
many beautiful plants haunt the woods, and we cannot change 


their nature easily. Even if we should grow them in open 


THE COMMON SHRUBBERY. 65 


places their bloom will not be so enduring as in the wood. 
A curious instance of the advantage of planting in a wood is 
at Bodorgan in Anglesey, where a much later bloom was 
gathered off a colony of the popular Hoteia japonica, owing 
to planting it in a cool wood. A little woodland planting 
may indeed be worth doing for the sake of a prolonged or 


later bloom, even from plants that thrive in sunny places. 


THE ORCHARD WILD GARDEN. 


Although three years have elapsed since the illustrations 
of this book were commenced, I regret to issue it without a 
satisfactory one showing the beauty which may be obtained 
in the orchard from flowers in the grass or fences around. 
In our orchard counties—pity it is that all our counties are 
not worthy of the name within the possibilities of their 
position and climate—one may now and then see a cloud of 
Daffodils or a tuft of Summer Snowflake, enough to suggest 
what happy places they would be for many bulbous flowers 


in the grass. 
A WILD ORCHARD. 


A correspondent of the “ Garden” writes :— 


After reading in the “Garden” of November 16, about the Bullace 
there named, and the Cranberries, the idea struck me of adding unto 
our Orchard in Sussex “ a wild Orchard,” with fruit trees such as follows, 
viz.— Quince, Medlar, Mulberry, Bullace, Crab, Pyrus Maulei, Bar- 
berries, Blackberries (the large kinds for preserving), Filberts, and in a 
suitable place, Cranberries. All these, besides the interest of cultivating 
them, would yield fruit for preserving, etc. For instance, we have old- 
fashioned receipts for making an excellent Bullace cheese, Crab jelly, 
Quince jelly, etc. I venture to trouble you with a view to asking if 


F 


66 THE WILD GARDEN. 


you can suggest any other similar fruit-bearing trees or shrubs, as we 
should like to carry out our idea well, Our house is in Sussex, between 
Midhurst and Haslemere.—C. 8. R. 

[An excellent idea! There are many fruits which could 
be grown this way that people do not usually give space to, 
and this applies to the varieties of cultivated fruits, as well as 
species that are never cultivated. The natural order to which 
most of our fruit trees belong contains many other species, not 
without merit as fruits, scattered throughout the temperate 
regions of the northern world. These trees and shrubs happen 
also to be most beautiful of flowering trees and shrubs in 
spring, and are well worthy of culture on that account alone. 
In Japan, North America, and even the continent of Europe, 
one frequently sees fruits that are never seen in our gardens; 
such fruits will be quite at home in the wild orchard. For 
the sake of growing one family of fruiting bushes alone—the 
fruiting brambles of America and other countries—a consider- 
able piece of ground might be profitably devoted. Even 
amongst the English wild Blackberries there is considerable 
variety and a good deal of unrecognised merit. Such plants 
can only be grown fairly where there is considerable space. 
If so much beauty and interest, and even good fruit, may be 
found in one neglected family, it suggests how interesting the 
subject is when considered in relation to the great number of 
our hardy fruit trees and shrubs. A good feature of such a 
garden would be plantations of such Apples and Pears as are 
most remarkable for the beauty of their flowers and fruit, 


some being much more striking in that respect than others.] 


CHAPTER IX. 


THE BROOK-SIDE, WATER-SIDE, AND BOG GARDENS. 


Soloumon’s Seal and Herb Paris, in copse by streamlet. 


NEARLY all 
landscape gar- 
deners seem to 
have put a 
higher value on 
the lake or fish- 
pond than on 
the brook as an 
ornament to the 
garden; but, 
while we allow 
that many places 
are enhanced in 
beauty and dig- 
nity, by a broad 
expanse of water, 


many pictures 


might be formed by taking advantage of a brook as it 


meanders through woody glade or meadow. No such beauty 


is afforded by a pond or lake, which gives us water in repose— 


68 THE WILD GARDEN. 


imprisoned water, in fact; and although we obtain breadth 
by confining water, still, in many cases, we prefer the brook, or 
water in motion, as it ripples between mossy rocks or flower- 
fringed banks. The brook-margin, too, offers opportunities to 
lovers of hardy flowers which few other situations can rival. 
Hitherto we have only used in and near such places aquatic 
or bog plants, and of these usually a very meagre selection ; 
but the improvement of the brook-side will be most readily 
effected by planting the banks with hardy flowers, making 
it a wild garden, in fact. A great number of our finest herb- 
aceous plants, from Irises to Globe-flowers, thrive best in the 
moist soil found in such positions ; numbers of hardy flowers, 
also, that do not in nature prefer such soil, would exist in 
perfect health in it. The wild garden illustrated by the 
water-side will give us some of the most charming garden 
pictures. Land plants would have this advantage over water 
ones, that we could fix their position, whereas water plants 
are apt to spread everywhere, and sometimes one kind 
exterminates the rest; therefore it might, in many cases, be 
better not to encourage the water or water-side vegetation, but 
to form little colonies of hardy flowers along the banks. The 
plants, of course, should be such as would grow freely among 
Grass and take care of themselves. If different types of 
vegetation were encouraged on each side of the water, the 
effect would be all the better. The common way of repeat- 
ing a favourite plant at intervals would spoil all: groups of 
free hardy things, different in each place as one passed, would 
be best; Day Lilies; Phloxes, which love moisture; Irises, 
mainly the beardless kinds, which love wet places, but all 
the fine Germanica forms will do; Gunnera; Aster; Ameri- 


BROOK-SIDE, WATER-SIDE, AND BOG GARDENS. 69 


can swamp Lilies in peaty or boggy soil ; the deep rose-coloured 
variety of the Loosestrife ; Golden Rods; the taller and stouter 
Bell-flowers (Campanula); the Spider Wort (Tradescantia 


virginica), of which there are a good many forms, differing 


Colony of hardy exotic Flowers, naturalised by brook-side. 


in colour; the Broad-leaved Saxifrages; the Compass plants 
(Silphium) ; Everlasting Peas; Monkshood ; the Goats Rues 
(Galega); Baptisia; the free-flowering Yuccas ; the hardiest 
flame-flowers (Tritoma); the stouter kinds of Yarrow (Achillea) ; 
the common perennial Lupin—these are some of many types 
of hardy flowers which would grow freely near the water-side 


70 THE WILD GARDEN. 


apart wholly from the plants that naturally frequent such 
places or which are usually placed there. With these hardy 
plants too, a variety of the nobler hardy ferns would thrive, 
as the Struthiopteris; the finer types of the Umbellate order 
(Ferula and others) would also come in well here. We will 
now consider the plants that naturally belong to such situa- 
tions so to say. 

Water-plants of northern and temperate regions, associated 
with those of our own country, add much beauty to a garden 
if well selected and well grown. A great deal of variety 
may be added to the margins, and here and there to the sur- 
face, of ornamental water, by the use of a good collection of 
hardy aquatics arranged with taste; but this has not yet 
been fairly attempted. Usually we see the same monotonous 
vegetation all round the margin if the soil be rich; in some 
cases, where the bottom is of gravel, there is little or no 
vegetation, but an unbroken ugly line of washed earth be- 
tween wind and water. In others, water-plants accumulate 
till they are only an eyesore—not submerged plants like 
Anacharis, but such as the Water Lilies when matted to- 
gether. A well-developed plant or group of plants of the 
queenly Water Lily, with its large leaves and noble flowers, 
is an object not surpassed by any other in our gardens; but 
when it increases and runs over the whole of a piece of water 
—thickening together and being in consequence weakened— 
and water-fowl cannot make their way through it, then even 
this ‘plant loses its charms. No garden water, however, 
should be without a few fine plants or groups of the Water 
Lily. Where the bottom does not allow of the free develop- 
ment of the plant, earth might be accumulated in the spot 


ae 
Sings 
Mae 


dS? 


j 
fy 


lle 
i 


Valley in Somersetshire, with Narcissi, Marsh Marigolds, and Primroses. 


BROOK-SIDE, WATER-SIDE, AND BOG GARDENS. 71 


where it was desired to encourage the growth of the Nym- 
phea. Thus arranged it would not spread too much. But it 
is not difficult to prevent the plant from spreading; indeed 
I have known isolated plants, and groups of it, remain of 
almost the same size for years. The Yellow Water Lily, 
Nuphar lutea, though not so beautiful as the preceding, is 
well worthy of a place; and also the little N. pumila, a 
variety or sub-species found in the lakes of the north of 
Scotland. 

Then there is the fine and large N. advena, a native of 
America, which pushes its leaves boldly above the water, and 
is very vigorous in habit. It is very plentiful in the Man- 
chester Botanic Garden, and will be found to some extent in 
most gardens of the same kind. The American White Water 
Lily (Nymphea odorata) is a noble species, which would 
prove quite hardy in Britain. It is a pity this noble aquatic 
plant is not more frequently seen, as it is quite as fine as our 
own Water Lily. Rose-coloured varieties are spoken of, but 
are not yet in cultivation here. 

One of the prettiest effects I have ever observed was 
afforded by a sheet of Villarsia nympheoides belting round 
the margin of a lake near a woody recess, and before it, more 
towards the deep water, a group of Water Lilies. The Vill- 
arsia is a charming little water-plant, with its Nymphea-like 
leaves and numerous golden-yellow flowers, which furnish a 
beautiful effect on fine days, under a bright sun. It is not 
very commonly distributed as a native plant, though, where 
found, generally very plentiful. 

Not rare—growing, in fact, in nearly all districts of 


Britain—but beautiful and singular, is the Buckbean or 


72 THE WILD GARDEN. 


Marsh Trefoil (Menyanthes trifoliata), with its flowers deeply 
fringed on the inside with white filaments, and the round 
unopened buds blushing on the top with a rosy red like that 
of an Apple-blossom. It will grow in a bog or any moist 
place, or by the margin of any water. For grace, no water- 
plant can well surpass Equisetum Telmateia, which, in deep 
soil, in shady and sheltered places near water, often grows 
several feet high, the long, close-set, slender branches depend- 
ing from each whorl in a singularly graceful manner. It will 
grow on the margins of lakes and streams, especially among 
water-side bushes, or in boggy spots in the shade. 

For a bold and picturesque plant on the margin of water, 
nothing equals the great Water Dock (Rumex Hydrolapa- 
thum), which is rather generally dispersed over the British 
Isles; it has leaves quite sub-tropical in aspect and size, 
becoming of a lurid red in the autumn. It forms a grand 
mass of foliage on rich muddy banks, and, unlike many water- 
plants, has the good quality of not spreading too much. The 
Cat’s-tail (Typha) must not be omitted, but it should not be 
allowed too much liberty. The narrow-leaved one (T. 
angustifolia) is more graceful than the common one (T. lati- 
folia). Carex pendula is excellent for the margins of water, 
its elegant drooping spikes being quite distinct in their way. 
It is rather common in England, more so than Carex pseudo- 
cyperus, which grows well in a foot or two of water or on the 
margin of a muddy pond. Carex paniculata forms a strong 
and thick stem, sometimes 3 ft. or 4 ft, high, somewhat like a 
tree Fern, and with luxuriant masses of drooping leaves, and 
on that account is transferred to moist places in gardens, and 
cultivated by some, though generally these large specimens 


BROOK-SIDE, WATER-SIDE, AND BOG GARDENS, 73 


are difficult to remove and soon perish. Scirpus lacustris 
(the Bulrush) is too distinct a plant to be omitted, as its 
stems, sometimes attaining a height of more than 7 ft. and 
even 8 ft., look very impositig; and Cyperus longus is also a 
desirable plant, reminding 
one of the aspect of the 
Papyrus when in flower. It 
is found in some of the 
southern counties of England. 
Poa aquatica might also be 
used. Cladium Mariscus is 
another distinct and rather //\*A 
scarce British aquatic which | 
is worth a place. 

If one chose to enumerate 
the plants that grow in 
British and European waters, 
a very long list might be 
made, but those which pos- 


sess no distinct character or 


Cyperus Longus. 


no beauty of flower would 
be useless, for it is only by a judicious selection of the 
very best kinds that gardening of this description can give 
satisfaction ; therefore, omitting a host of inconspicuous water- 
weeds, we will endeavour to indicate others of real worth for 
our present purpose. 

Those who have seen the flowering Rush (Butomus umbel- 
latus) in blossom, are not likely to omit it from a collection of 
water-plants, as it is conspicuous and distinct. It is a native 
of the greater part of Europe and Russian Asia, and is dis- 


74 THE WILD GARDEN. 


persed over the central and southern parts of England and 
Ireland. Plant it not far from the margin, and it likes rich 
muddy soil. The common Arrow Head (Sagittaria), very 
frequent in England and Ireland, but not in Scotland, might 
be associated with this; but there is a very much finer double 
exotic kind, which is really a handsome plant, its flowers 
white, and resembling, but larger than, those of the old white 
Double Rocket. This used to be grown in abundance in the 
pleasure gardens at Rye House, Broxbourne, where it filled a 
sort of oblong basin, or wide ditch, and was very handsome in 
flower. It forms large egg-shaped tubers, or rather receptacles 
of farina, and in searching for these, ducks destroyed the 
plants occasionally. Calla palustris is a beautiful bog-plant, 
and I know nothing that produces a more pleasing effect over 
rich, soft, boggy ground. It will also grow by the side of 
water. Calla ethiopica, the well-known and beautiful Lily 
of the Nile, is hardy enough in some places if planted rather 
deep, and in nearly all it may be placed out for the summer; 
but, except in quiet waters, in the south of England and Ire- 
land, it will not thrive. However, as it isa plant so generally 
cultivated, it may be tried without loss in favourable positions. 
Pontederia cordata is a stout, firm-rooting, and perfectly hardy 
water-herb, with erect and distinct habit, and blue flowers, 
not difficult to obtain from botanic garden or nursery. The 
Sweet-flag will be associated with the Water Iris (I. Pseu- 
dacorus), and a number of exotic Irises will thrive in wet 
ground, ve. I. sibirica, ochreleuca, graminea, and many others. 
Aponogeton distachyon is a native of the Cape of Good Hope, 
a singularly pretty plant, which is hardy enough for our 
climate, and, from its sweetness and curious beauty, a most 


7 


BROOK-SIDE, WATER-SIDE, AND BOG GARDENS. 75 


desirable plant to cultivate. It frequently succeeds in water 
not choked by weeds or foulness, and wherever there are 
springs that tend to keep the water a little warmer than usual 
it seems to thrive in any part of the country. The Water 
Ranunculuses, which sheet over our pools in spring and early 
summer with such silvery beauty, are not worth an attempt 
at cultivation, so rambling are they; and the same applies to 
not a few other things of interest. Orontium aquaticum is a 


scarce and handsome aquatic for a choice collection, and as 


The Cape Pond Weed in an English ditch in winter. 


beautiful as any is the Water Violet (Hottonia palustris). It 
occurs most frequently in the eastern and central districts of 
England and Ireland. The best example of it that I have 
seen was on an expanse of soft mud near Lea Bridge, in Essex, 
where it covered the surface with a sheet of dark fresh green, 
and must have looked better in that position than when in 
water, though doubtless the place was occasionally flooded. 
A suitable companion for the Marsh Marigold (Caltha) and 
its varieties is the very large and showy Ranunculus Lingua, 


which grows in rich ground to a height of three feet or more. 


76 THE WILD GARDEN, 


If with this water-garden we combine the wild garden of 
land plants—herbaceous, trailers, etc.—some of the loveliest 
effects possible in gardens will be produced. The margins of 
lakes and streams are happily not upturned by the spade in 
winter ; and hereahouts, just away from the water-line, almost 
any vigorous and really hardy flower of the thousands now in 
our gardens may be grown and will after- 
wards take care of itself. The Globe- 


flowers alone would form beauti- 


{ ful effects in such positions, and 
| would endure as long as the Grass. 
Near the various Ivises that love 
the water-side might be planted 
those that thrive in moist 
ground, and they are many, 
including the most beautiful 
kinds. Among recently in- 
troduced plants the singular 
Californian Saxifraga peltata 
is likely to prove a noble 
one for the water-side, its 
natural habitat being beside 
mountain watercourses, dry 

Day Lily by margin of water. in the autumn when it is 
at rest; both flowers and foliage are effective, and the 
growth very vigorous when in moist ground. It would 
require a very long list to enumerate all the plants that 
would grow near the margins of water, and apart from 
the aquatics proper; but enough has been said to prove that, 


given a strip of ground beside a stream or lake, a garden of 


BROOK-SIDE, WATER-SIDE, AND BOG GARDENS, 77 


the most delightful kind could be formed. The juxtaposition 
of plants inhabiting different situations 


water-plants, water- 
side plants, and land-plants thriving in moist ground—would 
prevent what would, in many cases, be go undesirable—a 
general admixture of the whole. Two distinct classes of effects 
could be obtained, the beauty of the flowers seen close at 
hand, and that of the more conspicuous kinds in the distance, 
or from the other side of the water of a stream or lakelet. 

An interesting point in favour of the wild garden is the 
succession of effects which it may afford, and which are sug- 
gested by the illustrations on the next pages, both showing a 
succession of life on the same spot of ground. In gardens in 
early summer at present the whole of the portion devoted 
to flower-gardening is dug up raw as a ploughed field, just 
when the earth is naturally most thickly strewn with flowers. 
A very little consideration and observation will suffice to 
make it clear that a succession of effects may be secured 
without this violent disfigurement of our gardens in the 
fairest days of early summer. These are not the days for 
digging or planting either, and the system that necessitates 
them is pernicious in its effects on our gardens. 

It is equally an enemy of all peace or rest for the gar- 
dener, who, having trenched, dug, enriched, planted, and sown, 
through the autumn, winter, and spring, might certainly begin 
to look for the fruits and flowers of his labour, when he has 
to face the most trying effort of all—the planting of the 
flower-garden in May and June with a host of flowers too 
tender to be committed to the earth at an earlier season. 

The bog-garden is a home for the numerous children of 
the wild that will not thrive on our harsh, bare, and dry 


78 THE WILD GARDEN. 


garden borders, but must be cushioned on moss, and associated 
with their own relatives in moist peat soil. Many beautiful 
plants, like the Wind Gentian and Creeping Harebell, grow 
on our own bogs and marshes, much as these are now 
encroached upon. But even those acquainted with the beauty 
of the plants of our own bogs have, as a rule, but a feeble notion 
of the multitude of charming plants, natives of northern and 
temperate countries, whose home is-the open marsh or boggy 
wood. In our own country, we have been so long encroach- 


Marsh Marigold and Iris in early spring. (See p. 77.) 


ing upon the bogs and wastes that some of us come to regard 
them as exceptional tracts all over the world. But when one 
travels in new countries in northern climes, one soon learns 
what a vast extent of the world’s surface was at one time 
covered with bogs. In North America day after day, even 
by the margins of the railroads, one sees the vivid blooms 
of the Cardinal-flower springing erect from the wet peaty 
hollows. Far under the shady woods stretch the black bog- 
pools, the ground between being so shaky that you move a 
few steps with difficulty. One wonders how the trees exist 
with their roots in such a bath. And where the forest vege- 


tation disappears the American Pitcher-plant (Sarracenia), 


BROOK-SIDE, WATER-SIDE, AND BOG GARDENS. 79 


Golden Club (Orontium), Water Arum (Calla palustris), and 
a host of other handsome and interesting bog-plants cover 
the ground for hundreds of acres, with perhaps an occasional 
slender bush of Laurel Magnolia (Magnolia glauca) among 
them. In some parts of Canada, where the painfully long 
and straight roads are often made through woody swamps, 
and where the few scattered and poor habitations offer little 


to cheer the traveller, he will, if a lover of plants, find con- 


The same spot as in opposite sketch, with aftergrowth of Iris, Meadow Sweet, 
and Bindweed. (See p. 77.) 


servatories of beauty in the ditches and pools of black 
water beside the road, fringed with the sweet-scented Button- 
bush, with a profusion of stately ferns, and often filled with 
masses of the pretty Sagittarias. 

Southwards and seawards, the bog-flowers become tropical 
in size and brilliancy, as in the splendid kinds of herbaceous 
Hibiscus, while far north, and west and south along the 
mountains, the beautiful and showy Mocassin-flower (Cypri- 
pedium spectabile) grows the queen of the peat bog. Then 
in California, all along the Sierras, there are a number of 


delicate little annual plants growing in small mountain bogs 


80 THE WILD GARDEN. 


long after the plains have become quite parched, and annual 
vegetation has quite disappeared from them. But who shall 
record the beauty and interest of the flowers of the wide- 
spreading marsh-lands of this globe of ours, from those of the 
vast wet woods of America, dark and brown, and hidden 
from the sunbeams, to those of the breezy uplands of the high 
Alps, far above the woods, where the little bogs teem with 
Nature’s most brilliant flowers, joyous in the sun? No one 
worthily ; for many mountain-swamp regions are ag yet as 
little known to us as those of the Himalaya, with their giant 
Primroses and many strange and lovely flowers. One thing, 
however, we may gather from our small experiences—that 
many plants commonly termed “alpine,” and found on high 
mountains, are true bog-plants. This must be clear to any- 
one who has seen our pretty. Bird’s-eye Primrose in the wet 
mountain-side bogs of Westmoreland, or the Bavarian Gentian 
in the spongy soil by alpine rivulets, or the Gentianella 
(Gentiana acaulis) in the snow ooze. 

Bogs are neither found or desired in or near our gardens 
now-a-days, but, wherever they are, there are many handsome 
flowers from other countries that will thrive in them as freely 
as in their native wastes. 


Partridge Berry (Gualtheria). 


CHAPTER X. 


ROSES FOR THE WILD GARDEN, AND FOR HEDGEROWS, 
FENCES, AND GROUPS. 


THE wild Roses of the world, had we no other plants, would 
alone make beautiful wild gardens. The unequalled grace of 
the Wild Rose is as remarkable as the beauty of bloom for 
which the Rose is grown in gardens. The culture is mostly 
of a kind which tends to conceal or suppress the grace of 
shoot and foliage of the Rose. Therefore the wild garden 
may do good work in bringing before the many who love 
gardens, but have fewer chances of seeing the Roses in their 
native haunts, the native grace of the well-loved Rose, which 
even in its obesity, and trained into the form of a mop, still 
charms us. The Rev. H. N. Ellacombe writes :— 

I have here a. very large and thick Box bush, in the centre of 
which there has been for many years an Ayrshire Rose. The long 
branches covered with flowers, and resting on the deep green cushion, 
‘have a very beautiful effect. Other Roses may be used in the same 
way. The Musk’Rose of Shakespeare and Bacon would be particularly 
well suited for this, and would climb up to a great height. Rosa 
scandens or sempervirens, Rosa multiflora, and perhaps some others, 
might be grown in the same way; and it would be worth while to 
experiment with other garden forms, such as Aimée Vibert, purple 


Boursault, etc. > If grown against a tree of thin foliage, such as a 
G 


82 THE WILD GARDEN. 


Robinia, they would grow quicker and flower sooner; but this is not 
necessary, for even if grown near a thick-foliaged tree they will soon 
bring their branches to the outside for the light. But besides climbing 
Roses, there is another way in which Roses may be combined with 
trees to great advantage, viz. by planting some of the taller-growing 
bushes in rough grassy places. These would grow from 6 feet to 10 
feet high, and would flower well.in such a position. “For such a 
purpose the old Dutch Apple Rose (Rosa villosa var. pomifera) would 
be very suitable, and so would R. cinnamomea, R. fraxinifolia, R. 
gallica, R. rubifolia, and the common monthly China. And if growers 
would rear the perpetual and other Roses by autumnal cuttings instead 
of by budding, they might have hundreds and thousands of fine Roses 
which would do well planted in the woods and plantations. 


Another correspondent, Mr. Greenwood Pim, writes refer- 
ring to the preceding note :— 


I have two large exotic Hawthorns—round-headed standards, 
growing close together, so that their edges touch, forming, as it were, 
two gentle hills with a valley between, and sloping down to within 
about 6 ft. of the lawn. Of these one is Crategus Crus-galli; the 
other C. tanacetifolia, Behind, and partly through these, climbs a very 
old Noisette Rose—all that now remains of an arched trellis—producing 
a vast number of bunches of white flowers, six or eight together, and 
about 14 in, or 2 in. across. The old gnarled stem of the Rose is 
scarcely noticeable amongst those of the Thorns till it reaches the top 
of them, whence it descends between the trees in a regular torrent of 
blossom, in addition to occupying the topmost boughs of the Cockspur 
Thorn. The general effect is almost that of a large patch of snow 
between two bright green hills—a combination very common in the 
higher districts of Switzerland. A smaller plant of the same Rose has 
recently been trained up a large Arbor-vite which, from moving, has 
lost its lower branches for some 4 ft. or 5 ft., and has its stem clothed 
with Ivy. It is now festooned with snowy flowers hanging down from 
and against the dark green of the Arbor-vite and Ivy, forming a 
charming contrast. It seems a great pity that we do not oftener thus 
wed one tree to another—a stout and strong to a slender and clinging 
one, as Virgil in the “ Georgics” talks of wedding the Vine to the Elm, 
as is, I believe, done to this day in Italy. 


ROSES FOR THE WILD GARDEN, 83 


“We have,” says a correspondent, “a pretty extensive col- 


lection of 
Roses, but 
one of the 
most attrac- 
tive speci- 
mens on the 
place is an 
old double 
white Ayr- 
shire Rose, 
growing in 
a group 
of common 
Laurelinthe 
shrubberies. 
We cannot 
tell how old 
the plant 
may be, but 
it has prob- 
ably been in 
its present 
situation for 
thirty years, 
struggling 
the best way 
it could to 
keep its 
place among 


Wild Rose growing on a Pollard Ash in Orchardleigh Park, Somerset. 


84 THE WILD GARDEN. 


the tall-growing Laurels, sometimes sending out a shoot 
of white flowers on this side and sometimes on that 
side of the clump of bushes, and sometimes scrambling 
up to the tops of the tallest limbs and draping them 
with its blossoms throughout June and July. Nearly 
three years ago we had the Laurels headed down to within 
six feet of the ground, leaving the straggling limbs of the 
Rose which were found amongst them, and since then it has 
grown and thriven amazingly, and now fairly threatens to 
gain the mastery. We had the curiosity to measure the 
plant the other day, and found it rather over seventy feet in 
circumference. Within this space the plant forms an irregular 
undulating mound, nearly in all parts so densely covered with 
Roses that not so much as a hand’s breadth is left vacant any- 
where, and the Laurel branches are quite hidden, and im fact 
are now dying, smothered by the Rose. A finer example of 
luxuriant development we never saw. The plant has been a 
perfect sheet of bloom for a month or more, and there are 
thousands of buds yet to expand, and hundreds of bunches of 
buds have been cut just at the opening stage—when they are 
neater and whiter than a Gardenia—to send away. The tree 
has never received the least attention or assistance with the 
exception of the removal of the Laurel tops before mentioned, 
to let the light into it. It is growing in a tolerably deep and 
strong dry loam, and this, together with head room, seems to 
be all it requires. We record this example simply to show 
of what the Rose is capable without much cultural assistance. 
No doubt, in order to produce fine individual blooms certain 
restricted culture is necessary; but almost any variety of 
Rose will make a good-sized natural bush of itself, and as for 


White Climbing Rose scrambling over old Catalpa Tree. 


ROSES FOR THE WILD GARDEN. 85 


the climbing or pillar Roses, the less they are touched the 
better. Of course we are not alluding to the Rosery proper, 
but of Roses in their more natural aspect, as when planted to 
hide fences, cover rockeries, or as striking objects on lawns. 
Except against walls, and in similar situations, there is no 
occasion to prune climbing Roses. Left to themselves, they 
make by fat the grandest display, and to insure this it is only 
necessary to provide them with a good, deep, strong soil at 
the beginning, and to let them have a fair amount of light on 
all sides. Whether planting be carried out with the object 
above described, or for the purpose of covering naked tree 
stumps or limbs, or for draping any unsightly object whatever, 
liberal treatment in the first instance is the main thing. A 
good soil makes all the difference in time and in the perma- 
nent vigour of the tree, and were we desirous of having a 
great Rose tree (whether it be a common Ayrshire or a Gloire 
de Dijon, that we expected to produce thousands of blooms in 
a few years), we should, if the soil were not naturally strong 
and deep, provide a well-drained pit and fill it with two or 
three good cartloads of sound loam and manure; thus treated, 
the result is certain, provided an unrestricted growth be per- 
mitted.” 

Roses on grass are a pleasant feature of the wild garden. 
No matter what the habit of the rose, provided it be free and 
hardy, and growing on its own roots, planting on the grass 
will suit it well. So treated, the more vigorous climbers 
would form thickets of flowers, and graceful vigorous shoots. 
They will do on level grass, and be still more picturesque on 


banks or slopes. 
The following description, by Mr. E. Andre, of Roses in 


86 THE WILD GARDEN. 


the Riviera is suggestive of what we may obtain in our 
own climate later, by using the free kinds on their own roots, 
or on stocks equally hardy and not less vigorous, as in the 


case of the Banksian Roses mentioned below :— 


On my last excursion from Marseilles to Genoa, I was greatly 
struck, as any one seeing them for the first time would be, with the 
magnificence of the Roses all along the Mediterraneanshores. The™ 
Rose hedges, and the espalier Roses, especially, offer an indescribably 
gorgeous sight. Under the genial influence of the warm sun of Pro- 
vence, from the Corniche to the extremity of the Riviera di Ponente, 
that is as far as the Gulf of Genoa, and protected to the north by the 
mountains, which gradually slope down to the sea-coast, Roses attain 
the size of Ponies, and develop a depth and brilliancy of colour and 
fragrance of unusual intensity. Bnt this is in part due to another 
cause, or rather two other causes, which lead to the same result, the 
main point being the choice of suitable subjects for stocks to graft 
upon. These stocks are, Rosa Banksiz and Rosa indica major. The 
Banksian Rose presents three varieties, namely, White Banksian, pro- 
ducing a profusion of small white flowers, scarcely so large as those of 
the double-flowered Cherry, and of a most delicious fragrance ; Yellow 
Banksian, with still larger clusters of small nankeen-yellow scentless 
flowers ; Chinese Thorny Banksian, flowers less numerous and about 
three times as large as in the two preceding, and of the most grateful 
odour. These three forms attain an unsurpassable vigour in this region. 
In two years one plant will cover an immense wall, the gable of a house, 
or climb to the top of a tall tree, from which its branches hang like 
flowery cascades, embalming the air around with a rich perfume during 
the months of April and May. Now, if these be taken for stocks upon 
which to bud some of the choicer Teas, Noisettes, and Bourbons, the 
growth of the latter will be prodigious. The stock should be two years 
old, having well ripened, though still smooth, wood. In this way such 
varieties as Gloire de Dijon, Maréchal Niel, Lamarque, Safrano, Chroma- 
tella, Aimée Vibert, le Pactole, and all the Teas, attain such dimensions 
as to be no longer recognisable, 

Rosa indica major is almost naturalised throughout the whole of 
this region. It possesses the additional claim to favour of flowering 
nearly all the winter, forming beautiful hedges of dark green shining 
foliage, from which thousands of clusters of lovely flowers rise, of a 


ROSES FOR THE WILD GARDEN. 87 


tender delicate transparent pink, or almost pure white, with a brighter 
tinge in the centre and at the tips of the petals. This Rose is an ever- 
green, and makes an excellent stock for grafting or budding. It is 
either planted in nursery beds, where it quickly throws up a stem suit- 
able for standards in the same way as we employ the Dog Rose, or in 
hedges, and left to its naturally luxuriant growth to produce its own 
charming flowers in rich profusion, or rows of cuttings are put in where 
it is intended to leave them, and subsequently budded with some of the 
varieties uf the diverse tribes we have named. 


AUEMANDRE at FAK 


Climbing Rose isolated on grass. 


CHAPTER XI. 


WILD GARDENING ON WALLS OR RUINS. 


ol uli 
a ' i inl 


HIN 
aoe 


Arenaria balearica, in a hole in wall at 
Great Tew. 


THERE are many hundred species 


of mountain and rock plants 
which will thrive much better 
on an old wall, a ruin, a sunk 
fence, a sloping bank of 
stone, with earth behind, 


| than they do in the most 


carefully prepared border, 
and therefore their culture 
may be fittingly considered 
here, particularly, as once 


|, established in such positions 


they increase and take care 
of themselves unaided. In- 
deed, many an alpine plant 
which may have perished 


in its place in the garden, 


would thrive on any old wall near at hand, as, for example, 
the pretty Pyrenean Erinus, the silvery Saxifrages of the 
Alps, pinks like the Cheddar Pink, established on the walls 


WILD GARDENING ON WALLS OR RUINS. 89 


at Oxford, many Stonecrops and allied plants, the Aubrietia 
and Arabis. 

A most interesting example of wall gardening is shown 
on the opposite page. In the gardens at Great Tew, 
in Oxfordshire, this exquisite little alpine plant, which 
usually roots over the moist surface of stones, established 
itself high up on a wall in a small recess, where half a brick 
had been displaced. The illustration tells the rest. It is 


Cheddar Pink, Saxifrage, and Ferns, on cottage wall at Mells. 


suggestive, as so many things are, of the numerous plants 
that may be grown on walls and such unpromising surfaces. 
A mossy old wall, or an old ruin, would afford a position 
for many rock-plants which no specially prepared situation 
could rival; but even on well-preserved walls we can 
establish some little beauties, which year after year will 
abundantly repay for the slight trouble of planting or sowing 
them. Those who have observed how dwarf plants grow on 
the tops of mountains, or on elevated stony ground, must 
have seen in what unpromising positions many flourish in 


perfect health—fine tufts sometimes springing from an 


90 THE WILD GARDEN. 


almost imperceptible chink in an arid rock or boulder. They 
are often stunted and diminutive in such places, but always 
more long-lived than when grown vigorously upon the 
ground. Now, numbers of alpine plants perish if planted in 
the ordinary soil of our gardens, and many do so where much 
pains is taken to attend to their wants. This results from 
over-moisture at the root in winter, the plant being rendered 
more susceptible of injury by our moist green winters 
inducing it to make a lingering growth. But it is interesting 
and useful to know that, by placing many of these delicate 
plants where their roots can secure a comparatively dry and 
well-drained medium, they remain in perfect health. Many 
plants from latitudes a little farther south than our own, and 
from alpine regions, may find on walls, rocks, and ruins, that 
dwarf, ripe, sturdy growth, stony firmness of root medium, and 
dryness in winter, which go to form the very conditions that 
will grow them in a climate entirely different from their own. 

In many parts of the country it may be said with truth 
that opportunities for this phase of gardening do not exist; but 
in various districts, such as the Wye and other valleys, there 
are miles of rock and rough wall-surface, where the scattering 
of a few pinches of Arabis, Aubrietia, Erinus, Acanthus, 
Saxifrage, Violas, Stonecrops, and Houseleeks, would give rise 
to a garden of rock blossoms that would need no care from 
the gardener. Growing such splendid alpine plants as the 
true Saxifraga longifolia of the Pyrenees on the straight sur- 
face of a wall is quite practicable. I have seen the rarest 
and largest of the silvery section grown well on the face of a 
dry wall: therefore there need be no doubt as to growing the 
more common and hardy kinds. 


WILD GARDENING ON WALLS OR RUINS. 91 


A few seeds of the Cheddar Pink, for example, sown in a 
mossy or earthy chink, or even covered with a dust of fine 
soil, would soon take root, living for years in a dwarf and 
perfectly healthful state. The seedling roots vigorously into 
the chinks, and gets a hold which it rarely relaxes, A list of 
many of the plants which will grow on walls will be found 
among the selections near the end of the book. 


The Vellow Fumitory on wall (Corydalis lutea). 


Large Japan Sedum (S. spectabile) and Autumn Crocuses in the Wild Garden. 


CHAPTER XIL 
SOME RESULTS. 


In addition to Longleat, and other cases previously men- 
tioned, a few of the results obtained, where the system 
was tried, and so far as known to me, may not be without 
interest. How much a wild garden intelligently and taste- 
fully carried out may effect for a country seat is fairly 
well shown in a garden in Oxfordshire. Here is one of 
the earliest, and probably one of the largest wild gardens 
existing, and which, visiting it on the 27th May, I found 
full of novel charms. No old-fashioned garden yields its 
beauty so early in the year, or over a more prolonged season, 
than the wild garden, as there is abundant evidence here ; 
but our impressions shall be those of the day only. It 


may serve to throw light on the possibilities of garden 


SOME RESULTS. 93 


embellishment in one way at a season when there is a great 
blank in many gardens—the time of “bedding out.” The 
maker of this had no favourable or inviting site with 
which to deal; no great variety of surface, which makes 
attempts in this direction so much easier and happier; no 
variety of soil, which might enable plants of widely different 
natural habitats to be grown; only a neglected plantation, 
with rather a poor gravelly soil and a gentle slope in one 
part, and little variety of surface beyond a few gravel banks 
thrown up long before. The garden is, for the most part, 
arranged on each side of a Grass drive among rather open 
ground, few trees on the one hand and rather shady ground 
on the other. The most beautiful aspect at the end of May 
of a singularly ungenial spring, which had not allowed the 
Peonies to unfold, was that of the German Irises, with 
their great Orchid-like blossoms seen everywhere through 
the wood, clear above the Grass and other herbage, stately 
and noble flowers that, like the Daffodils, fear no weather, 
yet with rich and delicate hues that could not be surpassed 
by tropical flowers. If this wild garden only should teach 
this effective way of using the various beautiful and vigorous 
kinds of Iris now included in our garden flora, it would do 
good service. The Trises are perfectly at home in the wood 
and among the Grass and wild flowers. By-and-by, when 
they go out of flower, they will not be in the way as in a 
“ mixed border,” tempting one to remove them, but grow and 
rest quietly among the grass until the varied blossoms of 
another year again repay the trouble of substituting these 
noble hardy flowers for some of the familiar weeds and wild 


plants that inhabit our plantations. 


94 THE WILD GARDEN. 


In the wild garden the fairest of our own wild flowers 
may be happily associated with their relatives from other 
countries. Here the sturdy Bell-flowered Scilla (S. cam- 
panulata) grows wild with our own Bluebell (S. nutans); the 
white and pink forms also of the last-named look beautiful 
here associated with the common well-known form. The 
earlier Scillas are of course past; they are admirably suited 
for the wild garden, especially S. bifolia, which thrives freely 
in woods. The Lily of the Valley did not inhabit the wood 
before; therefore it 
was pleasant to thin 
out some of its over- 
_ matted tuftsand carry 
* them to the wild 
garden, where they 
are now in fullest 
i rd heauty. It is associated with its tall and 
NY stately relation the Solomon’s Seal. The 


Solomon’s Seal, which is usually effective 
when issuing forth from fringes of shrubberies, 
is here best arching high over the Woodruff 
and other sweet woodland flowers, among 
which it seems a giant, with every leaf, and stem, and blossom 
lines of beauty. The additional vigour and beauty shown by 
this plant when in rich soil well repays one for selecting suitable 
spotsfor it. The greater Celandine (Chelidonium majus) and its 
double form are very pretty here with their tufts of golden 
flowers ; they grow freely and take all needful care of them- 
selves. The same may be said of the Honesty, the common 
forms of Columbine, and Allium Moly, an old-fashioned plant, 


SOME RESULTS. 95 


and one of the many subjects at home in the wild garden, and 
which are better left out of the garden proper. The myriads 
of Crocus leaves dying off without the indignity of being tied 
into bundles as is common in gardens, the dense growth of 
Aconite and Snowdrop leaves, of coloured and common 
Primroses and Cowslips, suggest the beauty of this wild 
garden in spring. The yet unfolded buds on the many tufts 
and groups of the numerous herbaceous Pzeonies, promise 
noble effects early in June; so do the tufts of the splendid 
Eastern Poppy (Papaver orientale) and the Lilies, and Sweet 
Williams, and Adam’s Needles, and many other subjects, 
that will show their blossoms above or among the summer 
Grass in due time. Among the best of the Borageworts 
here at present, are the Caucasian Comfrey (Symphytum 
caucasicum), an admirable wood or copse plant, and red- 
purple or Bohemian Comfrey (8. bohemicum), which is very 
handsome here. And what lovely effects from the Forget- 
me-nots—the wood Forget-me-not, and the Early Forget-me- 
not (M. dissitiflora) are here! where their soft little clouds of 
blue in the Grass are much prettier than tufts of the same 
kind surrounded by the brown earth in a prim border. Here 
the pushing of the delicate Grass blades through the blue 
mass and the indefinite way in which the fringes of the tufts 
mingle with the surrounding vegetation are very beautiful. 
The only noticeable variation of surface is that of some 
gravel banks, which are properly covered with Stonecrops, 
Saxifrages, and the like, which would, as a rule, have a poor 
chance in the Grass. Surfaces that naturally support a very 
sparse and dwarf vegetation are valuable in a garden, as they 


permit of the culture of a series of free-growing alpine and 


96 THE WILD GARDEN. 


rock plants that would not be able to hold their own among 
Grass and ordinary weeds and wild flowers. One of the 
happiest features of this wild garden results from the way 
in which dead trees have been adorned. Once dead, some 
of the smaller branches are lopped off, and one or more 
climbers planted at the base of the tree. Here a Clematis, 
a climbing Rose, a new kind of Ivy, a wild Vine, or a 
Virginian Creeper, have all they require, a firm support on 
which they may arrange themselves after their own natural 
habit, without being mutilated, or without trouble to the 
planter, and fresh ground free to themselves. What an 
admirable way, too, of growing the many and varied species 
of Clematis! as beautiful as varieties with flowers as large as 
saucers. Even when an old tree falls and tosses up a mass 
of soil and roots the wild gardener is ready with some 
subject from his mixed border to adorn the projection, and 
he may allow some choice Bramble or wild Vine to scramble 
over the prostrate stem. A collection of Ivies grown on old 
tree-stems would be much more satisfactory than on a wall, 
and not liable to robe each other at the roots, and interfere 
with each other in the air. Ferns are at home in the wild 
garden ; all the strong hardy kinds may be grown in it, and 
look better in it among the flowers than in the “ hardy 
Fernery” properly so called. Even more graceful than the 
Ferns, and in some cases more useful, because they send up 
their plume-like leaves very early in the year, are the giant 
Fennels (Ferula), which grow well here, and hold their own 
easily among the strongest plants. The common Fennel is 
also here, but it seeds so freely that it becomes a troublesome 
weed, and shows a tendency to overrun plants of greater 


SOME RESULTS. 97 


value. This reminds us of certain subjects that should be 
introduced with caution into all but the remotest parts of the 
wild garden. Such plants as Heracleum, Willow Herb, and 
many others, that overcome all obstacles, and not only win 
but destroy all their fellows in the struggle for life, should 


only be planted in outlying positions, islands, hedges, small 


Large-leafed Saxifrage in the Wild Garden. 


bits of isolated wood ox copse, where their effects might be 
visible for a season, and where they might ramble without 
destroying. In short, they never should be planted where 
it is desired to encourage a variety of beautiful subjects. 
Rabbits—dreaded vermin to the wild gardener—are kept 
out here effectually by means of wire fencing. The presence 
of these pests prevents all success in the wild garden. The 
encouragement of creatures that feed on slugs is desirable, as 


these are the most potent cause of mischief to hardy flowers. 
H 


98 THE WILD GARDEN. 


To succeed with the wild garden, one should have a good. 
collection of hardy flowers from which it can be supplied. 
Here one has been formed, consisting of about 1100 species, | 
mostly arranged in borders. From these, from time to time, 
over-vigorous and over-abundant kinds may be taken to the 
wilderness. In a large collection one frequently finds species 
most suited for full liberty in woods. The many subjects 
good in all positions, may increase in these borders till 
plentiful enough for planting out in some quantity in the 
wild garden. The wild garden here has been wholly formed 
by the owner, who planted with his own hands the various 
subjects that now adorn it ‘throughout the year. It has 
been done within four or five years, and therefore many of 
the climbers have not as yet attained full growth. 

Tew Park will long be interesting, from the fact that it 
was there J. C. Loudon practised agriculture before he began 
writing the works which were such a marked addition to the 
horticultural literature of England. The Grove there is a 
plantation of fine trees, bordering a wide sweep of grass, 
which varies in width. This grove, unlike much of the rest 
of the ground, does not vary in surface, or but very little, so 
that one of the greatest aids is absent. Originally this now 
pleasant grove was a dense wood, with Gout-weed mainly on 
the ground, and troublesome flies in the air. A few years 
ago the formation of a wild garden was determined upon, and 
the first operation was the thinning of the wood ; light and 
moving air were let into it, and weak or overcrowded trees 
removed. This, so far, was a gain, quite apart from the 
flowers that were in good time to replace the few common 
weeds that occupied the ground. Of these the unattractive 


“May, WALD Ww Uspsrey PTLAA Ul Sat 19S1L, 


SOME RESULTS. 99 


Gout-weed was the most abundant, and the first thing to do 
was to dig it up. It was found that by deeply digging the 
ground, and sowing the wood Forget-me-not in its place, this 
weed disappeared. Who would not exchange foul weeds for 
Lilies of the Valley and Wood Forget-me-nots! The effect of 
broad sheets of this Wood Forget-me-not (Myosotis sylvatica) 
beyond, and seen above the long waving Grass gradually 
receding under the trees, was very beautiful; now (June) its 
beauty is not so marked as earlier, when the colour was fuller, 
from the plants being more compact; but one charm of the’ 
wild garden is that the very changes of plants from what may 
be thought their most perfect state, may be in itself the 
source of a new pleasure instead of a warning, such as so 
often occurs in the garden, that we must cut them down or 
replace them. 

Not to mow is almost a necessity in the wild garden: 
considering that there is frequently in large gardens much 
more mown surface than is necessary, many will not regret 
this need. Here the Grass is designedly left unmown in 
many places, and thereby much labour is saved. Of course 
it may be cut when ripe, and most of the spring flowers have 
past and their leaves are out of danger; even in parts where 
no flowers are planted the Grass is left till long enough to cut 
as meadow. Except where actually required as a carpet, Grass 
may often be allowed to grow even in the pleasure ground ; 
quite as good an effect is afforded by the unmown as the mown 
Grass— indeed, better when the long Grass is full of flowers. 
Three-fourths of the most lovely flowers of cold and temperate 
regions are companions of the Grass—like Grasses in hardi- 


ness, like Grasses in summer life and winter rest, like them 


100 THE WILD GARDEN. 


even in stature. Whatever plants may seem best to associate 
with in gardens, an immense number—more than two 
thousand species of those now cultivated—would thrive to 
perfection among our meadow Grasses, as they do on the 
Grassy breast of the mountain in many lands. Some, like 
the tall Irises or Columbines, will show their heads clear 
above the delicate bloom of the Grass; others, like the 
Cerastiums, will open their cups below it, in this way 
multiplying the variety of effects that may be obtained. 
The varieties of Columbine in the Grass were perhaps the 
prettiest flowers at the time of my visit. The white, purplish, 
and delicately-variegated forms of this charming old plant, 
just seen above the tops of the long Grass, growing singly, 
in little groups, or in spreading colonies, were sufficient in 
themselves to form a wild garden for June. Established 
among the Grass, they will henceforward, like it, take care of 
themselves. The rosy, heart-shaped blooms of the Dielytra 
spectabilis are recognised at some distance through the Grass, 
and, so grown, furnish a bright and peculiarly pretty effect. 
Tree Peeonies succeed admirably, and their great heads of 
flower quite light up this charming wilderness, Plants of the 
Goat’s Beard Spireea (S. Aruncus) are very stately and grace- 
ful, even now, before their flowering, being quite 6 ft. high. 
In a few weeks, when the numerous flowers are open, they 
will present quite another aspect. In the wild garden, apart 
from the naturalisation of free-growing exotics, the establish- 
ment of rare British flowers is one of the most interesting 
occupations ; and here, under a Pine tree, the modest, trail- 
ing Linnea borealis of the northern Fir-woods is beginning 


to spread. The Foxglove was not originally found in the 


SOME RESULTS. 101 


neighbourhood ; now the ordinary kind and the various other 
forms of this fine wild flower adorn the woods. In this way 
also the Lily of the Valley has been introduced and is spread- 
ing rapidly. Many climbing Roses and various other climbers 
have been planted at the bases of trees and stumps, but, 
though thriving, the plantation is as yet too young to show 
the good effect that these will eventually produce. There is 


Large-flowered Clematis. 


no finer picture at present to be seen in gardens than a free- 
growing flowering creeper, enjoying its own wild way over an 
old tree or stump, and sending down a rain of flower-laden 
shoots. A Clematis montana here, originally trained on a 
wall, sent up some of its shoots through a tree close at hand, 
where, fortunately, they have been allowed to remain, and 
now the long shoots hang from the tree full of flowers. The 
large plumes of the nobler hardy Ferns are seen here and 


102 THE WILD GARDEN. 


there through the trees and Grass, and well they look—better 
here among the Grass and flowers, partially shaded by trees, 
than in the hardy Fernery, which is so often a failure, and 
when a success, often “too much of a muchness,” so to say. 
The wild garden of the future will be also the true home of 
all the more important hardy Ferns. The rivals of the Ferns 
in beauty of foliage, the Ferulas, and various other um- 
belliferous plants with beautifully cut foliage, have also their 
homes in the wild garden. The Welsh Poppy thrives, as 
might be expected, admirably in the grove, its rich yellow 
cups just showing above the meadow. 

In another part of the grounds there is a raised walk 
quite away from trees, open and dry, with sloping banks on 
each side. This may be called a sun-walk, and here quite a 
different type of vegetation is grown; Scotch Roses, Brooms, 
Sun Roses, Rock Roses, etc. It is quite recently formed, and 
will probably soon accommodate a more numerous and interest- 
ing flora. Such an open sunny walk, with dry banks near, is 
a capital position in which to carry out various phases of the 
wild garden. Peculiarly suitable, however, in such a position 
is a good illustration of the vegetation of the hot, rocky, and 
gravelly hill-sides of the Mediterranean region, and this is 
quite easily represented, for the various leguminous plants 
and dwarf Pea-flowered shrubs, such as the Spanish Broom, 
many of the beautiful Rock Roses (Cistus), the Sun Roses 
(Helianthemum), and the Lavenders, will, with a host of com- 
panions, for the most part thrive quite as well on a sunny 
sandy bank in England as in Italy or Greece. In the wild 
garden it is easy to arrange aspects of vegetation having a 


geographical interest, and a portion of such a sunny bank as 


SOME RESULTS. 103 


I allude to might be worthily furnished with the various 
aromatic plants (nearly all hardy) which one meets with on 
the wild hill-sides of Southern France, and which include 
Thyme, Balm, Mint, Rosemary, Lavender, and various other 
old garden favourites. 

True taste in the garden is unhappily much rarer than 
many people suppose. No amount of expense, rich collec- 
tions, good cultivation, large gardens, and plenty of glass, will 
suffice ; all these and much more it is not difficult to see, but 
a few acres of garden showing a real love of the beautiful in 
Nature, as it can be illustrated in gardens, is rare, and when it 
is seen it is often rather the result of accident than design. 
This is partly owing to the fact that the kind of knowledge 
one wants in order to form a really beautiful garden is very 
uncommon. No man can do so with few materials. It is 
necessary to have some knowledge of the enormous wealth 
of beauty which the world contains for the adornment of 
gardens ; and yet this knowledge must not have a leaning, or 
but very partially, towards the Dryasdust character. The 
disposition to “dry” and name everything, to concern oneself 
entirely with nomenclature and classification, is not in ac- 
cordance with a true gardening spirit—it is the life we want. 
The garden of the late Mr. Hewittson, at Weybridge, con- 
tained some of the most delightful bits of garden scenery 
which I have ever seen. Below the house, on the slope over 
the water of Oatlands Park, and below the usual lawn beds, 
trees, etc., there is a piece of heathy ground which, when we 
saw it, was charming beyond any power of the pencil to show. 
The ground was partially clad with common Heaths with 
little irregular green paths through them, and abundantly 


104 THE WILD GARDEN, 


naturalised in the warm sandy soil were the Sun Roses, 
which are shown in the foreground of the plate. Here and 
there among the Heaths, creeping about in a perfectly 
natural-looking fashion, too, was the Gentian blue Gromwell 
(Lithospermum prostratum), with other hardy plants suited 
to the situation. Among these naturalised groups were the 
large Evening Primroses and Alstrcemeria aurea, the whole 
being well relieved by bold bushes of flowering shrubs, so 
tastefully grouped and arranged as not to show a trace of 
formality. Such plants as these are not set out singly and 
without preparation, but carefully planted in beds of such 
naturally irregular outline, that when the plants become 
established they seem native children of the soil, as much as 
the Bracken and Heath around. It is remarkable how all 
this is done without in the least detracting from the most 
perfect order and keeping. Closely-shaven glades and wide 
Grass belts wind about among such objects, while all trees 
that require special care and attention show by their health and 
size that they find all they require in this beautiful garden. 
It is more free from needless or offensive geometrical-twirling, 
barren expanse of gravelled surface, and all kinds of puerilities 
—old-fashioned and new-fangled—than any garden I have 
seen for years. 

The following, from a correspondent, shows what may be 
done with few advantages as to space or situation :— 


We have a dell with a small stream of spring water running 
through it. When I first came to Brockhurst I found this stream 
‘carried underground by a tile culvert, and the valley sides covered 
with Rhododendrons, the soil between carefully raked and kept free 
from weeds, so that it was only during springtime that flowers relieved 
the sombre effect of this primness. After five years this has all been 


Sun Roses (Cistus) and other exotic hardy plants among heather, on sandy slope. 


SOME RESULTS. 105 


changed into what I think you would call a wild garden, and we 
have cheerfulness and heauty all the year round. 

In the first place the brooklet was brought to the surface, and its 
course fringed with marsh plants, such as Marsh Marigolds, Forget- 
me-nots, Celandines, Irises, Primroses, and Ranuneuluses, together 
with Osmundas, Hart’s-tongues, and other Ferns. Many large-growing 
Carexes and ornamental Rushes are also here. Little flats were formed 


Wood and herbaceous Meadow-sweets grouped together in Mr. Hewittson’s garden. 


and filled with peat, in which Cypripediums, Trilliums, Orchises, 
Solomon’s Seal, and many rare bog plants find a home. In the valley 
we have planted bulbs by thousands—Crocuses, Snowdrops, Daffodils, 
Narcissi, ete. The Rhododendrons were thinned and interspersed with 
Azaleas, Aucubas, and other handsome-foliaged shrubs, to give bright- 
ness to the spring flowering, and rich colour to the foliage in autumn. 
In the spaces between we introduced wild Hyacinths everywhere, and 


106 THE WILD GARDEN. 


in patches amongst these the Red Campion, together with every other 
pretty wild flower we could obtain—Forget-me-nots, Globe-flowers, 
Columbines, Anemones, Primroses, Cowslips, Polyanthuses, Campanulas, 
Golden Rods, ete. All the bulbs which have bloomed in the green- 
houses are planted out in these spaces, so that there are now large 
clumps of choice sorts of Crocus, Tulip, Narcissus, and Hyacinth. We 
have also planted bulbs very extensively, and as they have been 
allowed to grow on undisturbed we have now large patches of Daffodils, 
Narcissi, and other spring flowers in great beauty and exuberance. 
When we trim the garden all the spare plants are brought here, where 
they form a reserve, and it is thus gradually getting stocked, and all 
the bare ground covered with foliage and flowers. Lastly, for autumn 
blooming we raised large quantities of Foxgloves in every colour, and 
the larger Campanulas, and these were pricked out everywhere, so that 
we have a glorious show of Foxglove flowers to close the year worth all 
the trouble. A wild garden of this sort is a very useful reserve 
ground, where many a plant survives after it has been lost in the 
borders. Such spare seedlings as the Aquilegias, Campanulas, Primulas, 
Trolliuses, and -other hardy plants can here find space until wanted 
elsewhere, and one can frequently find blooms for bouquets in the 
dell when the garden flowers are over. The Lily of the Valley and 
Sweet Violet also flourish here, creeping over heaps of stones, and 
flower more freely than they do in more open situations. Visitors 
often say that the dell beats all the rest of the garden for beauty, and 
it certainly gives less trouble in the attainment. 


Brockhurst, Didsbury. In Garden. Wm. BRockBANK. 


THE WILD GARDEN IN AMERICA. 


Probably many of your readers will ask, “ What ¢s a wild garden ?” 
When I came to London, about fifteen years ago, “ flower-gardening” 
had but one mode of expression only, viz. “ bedding out,” and that in its 
harshest form—ribbons, borders, and solid masses of flowers of one 
colour and one height. The old hardy flowers had been completely 
swept away ; the various and once popular race of so-called florist’s flowers 
were rarely or never seen. As a consequence, gardens were indescrib- 
ably monotonous to any person with the faintest notion of the in- 
exhaustible charms of the plant world. This kind of flower-gardening 
has the same relation to true art in a garden which the daubs of colour 


1 A letter written by request, in the Rural New Yorker, July 1876. 


SOME RESULTS. 107 


on an Indian’s blanket have to the best pictures. In fighting, some 
years later, in the various journals open to me, the battle of nature 
and variety against this saddening and blank monotony, I was oveasion- 
ally met by a ridicule of the old-fashioned mixed border which the 
bedding plants had supplanted. Now, a well-arranged and varied 
mixed border may be made one of the most beautiful of gardens ; but 
to so form it requires some knowledge of plants, as well as good taste. 
Nevertheless, the objection was just as concerned the great majority of 
mixed borders ; they were ragged, unmeaning, and even monotonous. 

I next began to consider the various ways in which hardy plants 
might be grown wholly apart from either way (the beddiug plants or 
that of the mixed border), and the wild garden, or garden formed in 
the wilderness, grove, shrubbery, copse, or rougher parts of the pleasure 
garden, was a pet idea which I afterwards threw into the form of a 
book with this name. In nearly all our yardens we have a great deal 
of surface wholly wasted—wide spaces in the shrubbery frequently 
dug over in the winter, plantations, grass-walks, hedgerows, rough 
banks, slopes, etc., which hitherto have grown only grass and weeds, 
and on these a rich garden flora may be grown. ‘Hundreds of the 
more vigorous and handsome herbaceous plants that exist will thrive 
in these places and do further good in exterminating weeds and pre- 
venting the need of digging. Every kind of surface may be embellished 
by a person with any slight knowledge of hardy plants —ditch-banks, 
gravel-pits, old trees, hedge-banks, rough, yrassy places that are never 
Inown, copses, woods, lanes, rocky or stony ground. 

The tendency has always been to suppose that a plant from 
another country than our own was a subject requiring much attention, 
not thinking that the conditions that occur in such places as men- 
tioned above, are, as a rule, quite as favourable as those that obtain 
in nature throughout the great northern regions of Europe, Asia, and 
America. Here some common plants of the woods of the Eastern 
. States are considered rarities and coddled accordingly to their destruc- 
tion. It is quite a phenomenon to see a flower on the little Yellow 
Dog’s-Tooth Violet, which I remember seeing in quantity among the 
grass in your noble Central Park. When one has but a few specimens 
of a plant, it is best no doubt to carefully watch them. But an 
exposed and carefully dug garden border is the worst place to grow 
many wood and copse plants (I mean plants that grow naturally in 
such places), and in many uncultivated spots here the American 
Dog’s-Tooth Violet would flower quite as freely as at home. Your 


108 THE WILD GARDEN. 


beautiful little Mayflower, Epigeea repens, we have never succeeded in 
growing in our best American nurseries, as they are called, which 
grow your Rhododendrons and other flowering shrubs so well. Ifa 
number of young plants of this were put out in a sandy. fir-wood, 
under the shrubs and pines, as they grow in New Jersey, we should 
succeed at once. Your beautiful Trillium grandiflorum is usually 
seen here in a poor state ; but I have seen a plant in a shady position 
in a shrubbery, in rich, moist soil, quite two feet through and two 
feet high. 

I mention these things to show that the wild garden may even 
have advantages from the point of view of cultivation, Another 


Woodruft and Ivy. 


advantage is the facilities it affords us for enjoying representations of 
the vegetation of other countries. Here, for example, the poorest soil 
in the most neglected copse will grow a mixture of golden rods and 
asters, which will give us an aspect of vegetation everywhere seen in 
American woods in autumn, This to you may appear a very common- 
place delight ; but as we have nothing at all like it, it is welcome. 
Besides, we in this way get the golden rods and coarser asters out of 
the garden proper, in which they used to overrun the choicer plants, 
and where they did much to disgrace the mixed border. So, in like 
manner, you may, in New England or New Jersey, make wild gardens 
of such of our English flowers as you love. For example, the now 
numerous and very handsome varieties of our Primroses, Polyanthuses, 
and Oxlips would probably succeed better with you in moist places, in 
woods, or partially shaded positions, than in the open garden. There 


SOME RESULTS. 109 


can be no doubt in which position they would look best. But let us 
suppose for a moment that there was no other object for the wild 
garden in America than growing the many lovely wild flowers that 
inhabit the land, it is sufficient. Here some of your wildlings are the 
darlings of our rock-garden growers, though we are far from possessing 
all the bright flowers and graceful trailers that adorn the bogs and 
woods and heaths of the Eastern States. It would be most wise, in 
case of possessing a little bit of wood or copse, adorned naturally with 
the trailing Partridge Berry, and the rosy Lady’s Slipper (Cypripedium 
acaule), which I noticed growing so plentifully, to preserve the spot 
as a wild garden, and add tu it such home and foreign, free and 
handsome hardy plants, as one could obtain. 

It is impossible in this letter to speak of the various kinds of 
wild gardens, but the opportunity which the system offers for em- 
bellishing cool shady places is one which should make it interesting 
to the people to whose language belongs the term “ shade trees.” 
Usually flower beds and borders are in the full sun—a very proper 
arrangement in a cool country. But even in our climate, there are in 
the warm months many days in which the woodland shade is sought 
in preference to the open lawn, and when the fully-exposed garden is 
deserted. Therefore, it is clearly desirable that we have flowers in 
shady as well as sunny places. Many plants, too, love the shade, and 
we only require to plant the most suitable of these to enjoy a charm- 
ing wild garden. It need not be pointed ont to Americans that a vast 
number of herbaceous plants naturally inhalit woods. In America, 
where shade is such a necessity, the wild garden in the shade will be 
the most delightful retreat near the country house. Init many of the 
plants common in the gardens of all northern countries will, without 
wearisome attention, flower in the spring. 

For the early summer months flowers of a somewhat later period 
will be selected, as, for example, the later Irises—lovely hardy flowers, 
the tall Asphodel A. ramosus, the Day Lilies (Hemerocallis), the 
Solomon’s Seal and some of its allies, the Veronicas, tall Phloxes, the 
great Scarlet Poppy (Papaver bracteatum), Symphytums in variety ;— 
these are all free-growing and admirable plants for the wild wood-garden. 
Mulleins (Verbascum), Salvias, Harebells (Campanula), Willow herbs, 
tall Lupines, Geraniums, Spurges, Meadow Rues, Columbines, Del- 
phiniums, and the latest wind flowers (Anemone). 

Later still, and in the sunny days, would come the various beauti- 
ful everlasting peas, various plants of the Mallow tribe, the Poke 


110 THE WILD GARDEN. 


Weeds, broad-leaved Sea Lavender, and other vigorous kinds, the Globe 
Thistles, Acanthuses, the free-flowering Yuccas, such as Y. flaccida and 
Y. filamentosa, the common Artichoke, with its noble flowers ; and in 
autumn, a host of the Golden Rods and Michaelmas Daisies. These 
are so common in America that adding them to the wild garden would 
probably be considered a needless labour ; but the substitution of the 
various really beautiful species of aster for those commonly found and 
of inferior beauty would well repay. In case it were thought desir- 
able in making a wild garden in a shady position to grow plants that 
do not attain perfection in such positions, they might be grown in the 
more open parts at hand, and sufficiently near to be seen in the picture. 


CHAPTER XIII. 


A PLAN FOR THE EMBELLISHMENT OF THE SHRUBBERY 
BORDERS IN LONDON PARKS.‘ 


Dug and mutilated Shrubbery in St. James’s Park. 
Sketched in winter of 1879. 


In the winter sea- 
son, or indeed at 
any other season, 
one of the most 
melancholy things 
to be seen in our 
parks and gardens 
are the long, bare, 
naked shrubberies, 
extending,as along 
the Bayswater 


Road, more or less 


for a mile in a place; the soil greasy, black, seamed with the 
mutilated roots of the poor shrubs and trees; which are 


none the better, but very much the worse, for the cruel 


annual attention of digging up their young roots without 


returning any adequate nourishment or good to the soil. 
Culturally, the whole thing is suicidal, both for trees and 
plants. The mere fact of men having to pass through one 


112 THE WILD GARDEN. 


of those shrubberies every autumn, and, as they fancy, 
“prune” and otherwise attend to unfortunate shrubs and 
low trees, leads to this, and especially to the shrubs taking 
the appearance of inverted besoms. Thus a double wrong is 
done, and at great waste of labour. Any interesting life that 
might be in the ground is destroyed, and the whole appear- 
ance of the shrubbery is made hideous from the point of view 
of art; all good culture of flowering or evergreen shrubs 
destroyed or made impossible. This system is an orthodox 
one, that has descended to us from other days, the popular 
idea being that the right thing to do in autumn is to dig the 
shrubbery. The total abolition of this system, and the adop- 
tion of the one to be presently described, would lead to the 
happiest revolution ever effected in gardening, and be a per- 
fectly easy, practicable means for the abolition of the inverted 
besoms, and the choke-muddle shrubbery, and these awful 
wastes of black soil and mutilated roots. 

Two ideas should be fixed in the mind of the improver, 
the one being to allow all the beautiful shrubs to assume 
their natural shapes, either singly or in groups, with sufficient 
space between to allow of their fair development, so that the 
shrubbery might, in the flowering season, or indeed at all 
seasons, be the best kind of conservatory—a beautiful winter 
garden even, with the branches of most of the shrubs touching 
the ground, no mutilation whatever visible, and no hard dug 
line outside the shrubs. This last improvement could easily 
be effected by forming a natural fringe, so to say, by breaking 
up the usual hard edge from good planting; by letting, in 
fact, the edge be formed by well-furnished shrubs projected 
beyond the hard line, and running-in and out as they do on a 


EMBELLISHMENT OF SHRUBBERY BORDERS. 1138 


hill copse, or as the box bushes sometimes do on a Sussex 
down. Here care, variety in selection, taste and skill in 
grouping, so as to allow different subjects, whether placed 
singly or in groups, or little groves, being in a position where 
they may grow well and be seen to advantage, would lead 
to the most charming results in the open-air garden. With 
sufficient preparation at first, such shrubberies would be the 
cause of very little trouble afterwards. 
Now, such beauty could be obtained without any further 
aid from other plants; and in many cases it might be desir- 
able to consider the trees and shrubs and their effect only, 
and let the turf spread in among them; but we have the 
privilege of adding to this beautiful tree and shrub life 
another world of beauty—the bulbs and herbaceous plants, 
and innumerable beautiful things which go to form the 
ground flora, so to say, of northern and temperate countries, 
and which light up the world with loveliness in meadow 
or copse, or wood or alpine pasture in the flowering season. 
The surface which is dug and wasted in all our parks, and 
in numbers of our gardens, should be occupied with this 
varied life; not in the miserable old mixed border fashion, 
with each plant stuck up with a stick, but with the plants in 
groups and colonies between the shrubs. In the spaces where 
turf would not thrive, or where it might be troublesome to 
keep fresh, we should have irises, or narcissi, or lupines, or 
French willows, or Japan anemones, or any of scores of other 
lovely things which people cannot now find a place for in our 
stiff gardens. The soil which now does little work, and in 
which the tree-roots every year are mercilessly dug up, 


would support myriads of lovely plants. The necessity of 
I 


114 THE WILD GARDEN. 


allowing abundant space to the shrubs and trees, both in the 
young and the adult stage, gives us some space to deal with, 
which may be occupied with weeds if we do not take care of 
it. The remedy, then, is to replace the weed by a beautiful 
flower, and to let some handsome hardy plant of the northern 
world occupy each little space; keeping it clean for us, and, at 
the same time, repaying us by abundant bloom, or fine foliage 
or habit. This system in the first place allows the shrubs 
themselves to cover the ground to a great extent. In the 
London parks now every shrub is cut under so as to allow 
the digger to get near it; and this leads to the most comical 
and villainous of shapes ever assumed by bushes. Even the ' 
lilac bushes, which we see so horribly stiff, will cover the 
ground with their branches if allowed room enough; there- 
fore, to a great extent, we should have the branches them- 
selves covering the ground instead of what we now see. But 
open spaces, little bays and avenues running in among the 
shrubs, are absolutely essential, if we want to fully enjoy 
what ought to be the beautiful inhabitants of our shrub 
garden. Such openings offer delightful retreats for hardy 
flowers, many of which thrive better in semi-shady spots 
than they do in the open, while the effect of the flowers is 
immeasurably enhanced by the foliage of the shrubs around. 
To carry out this plan well, one should have, if possible, a 
good selection of the shrubs to begin with, although the 
plainest shrubbery, which is not overgrown or overcrowded, 
may be embellished with hardy plants on the ground. The 
plan may be adopted in the case of new shrubberies being 
formed, or in the case of old ones; though the old ones are 


frequently so dried up and overcrowded that great alterations 


EMBELLISHMENT OF SHRUBBERY BORDERS. 115 


would have to be made here and there. In the case of 
young shrubberies it is, of course, necessary at first to keep 
the surface open for a while until the shrubs have taken hold 
of the ground; then the interesting colonies to which we 
alluded may be planted. 

An essential thing is to abolish utterly the old dotting 


‘Solony of the Snowdrop-Anemone in Shrubbery not dug. Anemone taking 
the place of weeds or bare earth. 


principle of the mixed border, as always ugly and always bad 
from a cultural point of view. Instead of sticking a number 
of things in one place, with many labels, and graduating them 
from the back to the front, so as to secure the stiffest imagin- 
able kind of arrangement, the true way is to have in each 


space wide colonies or groups of one kind, or more than one 


116 THE WILD GARDEN. 


kind. Here isa little bay, for example, with the turf running 
into it, a handsome holly feathered to the turf forming one 
promontory, and a spreading evergreen barberry, with its fine 
leaves also touching the ground, forming the other. As the 
turf passes in between those two it begins to be colonised 
with little groups of the pheasant’s-eye Narcissus, and soon in 
the grass is changed into a waving meadow of these fair flowers 
and their long grayish leaves. They carry the eye in among 
the other shrubs, and perhaps carry it to some other colony 
of a totally different plant behind—an early and beautiful 
boragewort, say, with its bright blue flowers, also in a 
spreading colony. Some might say, Your flowers of narcissi 
only last a certain time; how are you going to replace them ? 
The answer is, that they occupy, and beautifully embellish, a 
place that before was wholly naked, and worse than naked, 
and in this position we contend that our narcissi should be 
seen in all their stages of bud and bloom and decay without 
being hurried out of the world as soon as their fair bloom is 
over, as they are on the border or in the greenhouse. They 
are worth growing if we only secure this one beautiful aspect 
of vegetation where before all was worse than lost. We also 
secure plenty of cut flowers without troubling the ordinary 
resources of the garden, 

We might then pass on to another, of the German itis, 
occupying not only a patch, but a whole clump; for these 
enormous London parks of ours have acres and acres on 
every side of this greasy dug earth which ought to sparkle 
with flowers; and, therefore, a very fine plant might be 
seen to a large extent. And how much better for the 
gardener or cultivator to have to deal with one in one 


EMBELLISHMENT OF SHRUBBERY BORDERS. 117 


place than be tormented with a hundred little “dots” of 
flowers—alpine, rock, wood, copse, or meadow plants—all 
mixed up in that usually wretched soup called the “mixed 


1 


border No plants that require staking ought to be used 
in the way we are speaking of. Day lilies, for example, 
are good plants. In some bold opening what a fine effect 
we could get by having a spreading colony of these therein ; 
scores of plants might be named, that want no sticking, for 
such places. Each plant having a sufficient space and 
forming its own colony, there is much less doubt in case 
of alterations as to what should be done. In fact, in the 
case of an intelligent cultivator, there should be no doubt. 
Observe the advantage of this plan. Instead of seeing the 
same plants everywhere, we should pass on from narcissi to 
iris, from iris to bluebell, and thus meet with a different kind 
of vegetation in each part of the park or garden, instead of the 
eternal monotony of privet and long dreary line of “ golden- 
feather” everywhere. The same kind of variety, as suggested 
for the flowers, should be seen among the shrubs. The 
sad planter’s mixture—privet, laurel, etc.—taking all the 
colour and all the life and charm out of the shrubbery, should 
be avoided; so, too, the oppressive botanical business, with 
everything labelled, and plants classified out of doors as they 
are in an herbarium. They should be put where they would 
look well and grow best. Well carried out, such a system 
would involve labour, and, above all things, taste at first; but 
it would eventually resolve itself into the judicious removal 
of interloping weeds. The labour that is now given to dig 
and mutilate once a year and keep clean at other times of the 
year would easily, on the plan proposed, suffice for a much 


118 THE WILD GARDEN. 


larger area. More intelligence would certainly be required. 
Any ignorant man can dig around and mutilate a shrub and 
chop up a white lily if he meets it! But any person taught to 
distinguish between our coarse native weeds and the beauti- 
ful plants we want to establish, passing round now and then, 
would keep all safe. 

On a large scale, in the London parks, such a plan would, 
be impossible to carry out without a nursery garden; that is 
to say, the things wanted should be in such abundance, that 
making the features of the kind we suggest would be easy 
to the superintendent. The acres and acres of black surface 
should themselves afford here and there a little ground 
where the many hardy plants adapted for this kind of garden- 
ing might be placed and increased. This, supposing that a 
real want of the public gardens of London—a large and well- 
managed nursery in the pure air—is never carried out: the 
wastefulness of buying everything they want—-even the 
commonest things—is a costly drawback to our London 
public gardens. At the very least we should have 100 
acres of nursery gardens for the planting and replanting of 
the London parks. So, too, there ought to be intelligent 
labour to carry out this artistic planting; and with the now- 
awakened taste for some variety in the garden, one cannot 
doubt that a few years will give us a race of intelligent 
young men, who know a little of the plants that grow in 
northern countries, and whose mental vision is not begun 
and ended by the ribbon border. 

The treatment of the margin of the shrubbery is a very 
important point here. At present it is stiff—the shrubs cut 


in or the trees cut in, and an unsightly border running 


EMBELLISHMENT OF SHRUBBERY BORDERS. 119 


straight along, perhaps with a tile edging. Well, the right 
way is to have a broken margin, to let the shrubs run in and 
out themselves, and let them form the margin; let them 
come to the ground in fact, not stiffly, and here and there 
growing right outside the ordinary boundary, in a little group. 
Throw away altogether the crowded masses of starved privet 
and pruned laurel, and let the turf pass right under a group 
of fine trees where such are found. This turf itself might 'be 
dotted in spring with snowdrops and early flowers; nothing, 
in fact, would be easier than for any intelligent person, who 
knew and cared for trees and shrubs, to change the monotonous 
wall of shrubbery into the most delightful of open-air gardens ; 
abounding in beautiful life, from the red tassels on the top- 


most maples to flowers in the grass for children. 


Colony of the Summer Snowflake, on margin of shrubbery. 


CHAPTER XIV. 


THE PRINCIPAL TYPES OF HARDY EXOTIC FLOWERING 
PLANTS FOR THE WILD GARDEN. 


WHEREVER there is room, these plants should be at first 
grown in nursery beds to ensure a good supply. The number 
of nursery collections of hardy plants being now more numer- 
ous than they were a few years ago, getting the plants is not 
so difficult as it once was. The sources of supply are these 
nurseries ; seed houses, who have lists of hardy plant seeds— 
many kinds may be easily raised from seed; botanic gardens, 
in which many plants are grown that hitherto have not 
found a place in our gardens, and were not fitted for any 
mode of culture except that herein suggested; orchards and 
cottage gardens in pleasant country places may supply 
desirable things from time to time; and those who travel 
may bring seeds or roots of plants they meet with in cool, 
temperate, or mountain regions. Few plants, not free of 
growth and hardy in the British Islands without any atten- 
tion after planting, are included here :— 

Bear’s Breech, Acanthus,—Vigorous perennials with noble foli- 
age, mostly from Southern Europe. Long cast out of gardens, they are 
now beginning to receive more of the attention they deserve. In no 
position will they look better than carelessly planted here and there 


on the margin of a shrubbery or thicket, where the leaves of the 
Acanthus contrast well with those of the ordinary shrubs or herbaceous 


HARDY EXOTIC FLOWERING PLANTS. 121 


vegetation. Though quite hardy in all soils, they flower most freely 
in free loamy soils. Not varying very much in character, all obtain- 
able hardy species would group well together. The most vigorous 
kind at present in cultivation is one called A. latifolius, almost ever- 
green, and a fine plant when well established. Few plants are more 
fitted for adorning wild and semi-wild places, as they grow and 
increase without care, and are for foliage or bloom unsurpassed by any 
of the numerous plants that have been so long neglected through their 
not being available in 
any popular system of 
“flower gardening.” 

Monkshood, Aco- 
nitum. — These are 
tall, handsome peren- 
nials, with very poison- 
ous roots, which make 
it dangerous to plant 
them in or _ near 
gardens. Being usually 
very vigorous in con- 
stitution, they spread 
freely, and hold their 
own amongst the 
strongest herbaceous 
plants and weeds ; 
masses of them seen 
in flower in copses or 
near hedgerows afford a 
very fine effect. There 
are many species, all 
nearly of equal value 
for the wild garden, 
Coming from the plains 
and mountains of Siberia and Northern Europe and America, they are 
among the hardiest of plants. When spreading groups of Aconites are in 
bloom in copses or open spaces in shrubberies, their effect is far finer 
than when the plants are tied into bundles in trim borders. The old 
blue-and-white kind is charming in half-shady spots, attaining stately 
dimensions in good soil. The species grow in any soil, but are often 
somewhat stunted in growth on clay. 


The Monkshood, naturalised by wet ditch in wood. 


122 THE WILD GARDEN. 


Bugle, Ajuga—Not a very numerous family so far as represented 
in gardens, but some of the species are valuable for the wild garden, 
notably Ajuga genevensis, which thrives freely in ordinary soils in 
open and half-shady places among dwarf vegetation, and affords 
beautiful tufts and carpets of blue. It spreads rapidly and is hardy 
everywhere. The plants mostly come from the cool uplands and hills 
of the temperate regions of Europe and Asia. 

Yarrow, Achillea—A numerous family of hardy plants spread 
through Northern Asia, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Hungary, etc. but 
more in Southern than in Central or Northern Europe. In the Alps 
and Pyrenees numerous species are found. The Golden Yarrows (A. 
Eupatorium and A. filipendulina) are stately herbaceous plants, with 
broad handsome corymbs of brilliantly showy flowers, attaining a height 
of 3 feet or 4 feet, and growing freely in any soil. These are well 
worthy of naturalisation. Various other Achilleas would grow 
quite as well in copses and rough places as the common Yarrow, 
but we know of none more distinct and brilliant than the preceding. 
The vigorous white-flowering kinds are superb for shrubberies, where 
their numerous white heads of flowers produce a singularly pleasing effect 
under the trees in summer. With few exceptions these plants have 
never been grown out of botanic gardens, many of them being thought 
too coarse for the mixed border. They are, nevertheless, remarkably 
beautiful both in flower and foliage, and many effects never before seen 
in gardens may be obtained by massing them under trees in shrubberies 
or copses, as a rule allowing one species to establish itself in each place 
and assume an easy natural boundary of its own. The small Alpine 
species would be interesting plants for stony or bare rocky places. 

Allium—A most extensive genus of plants scattered in abundance 
throughout the northern temperate and alpine regions of Europe and 
Asia, and also in America. Some of the species are very beautiful, 
so much so as to claim for them a place in gardens notwithstanding 
their disagreeable odour. It is in the wild garden only, however, that 
this family can find a fitting home ; there species that do not seem 
attractive enough for the garden proper would afford novel effects at 
certain seasons, One of the most desirable effects to produce in the 
wild garden would be that of the beautiful white Narcissus-like Allium 
of the south of Europe (A. neapolitanum). The sheets of this in the 
Lemon orchards of Provence will be remembered with pleasure by 
many travellers. It would thrive in warm and sandy soils: there is an 
wlied species (A. ciliatum) which does well in any soil, affords a 


HARDY EXOTIC FLOWERING PLANTS. 123 


similar effect, and produces myriads of star-like white flowers. 
Numerous singular effects may be produced from species less showy 
and more curious and vigorous, as for example the old yellow A. Moly. 


The white Narcissus-like Allium, in the orchards of Provence; type 
of family receiving little place in gardens which may be beautiful 
for a season in wild places. 


Alstremeria—All who care for hardy flowers must admire the 
beauty of Alstroemeria aurantiaca, especially when it spreads into bold 
healthy tufts, and when there is a great variety in the height of the 
flowering stems. A valuable quality of the plant is, that in any light 
soil it spreads freely, and it is quite hardy. For dry places between 
shrubs, for dry‘or sandy banks (either wooded or bare), copses, or 
heathy places, this plant is admirable. I have noticed it thriving in 
the shade of fir trees. It is interesting as being a South American 
plant, thriving in any open soil. 

Marsh Mallow, Althea.—These are plants rarely seen out of 
botanic gardens now-a-days, and yet, from their vigour and showy 
flowers, they may afford unique effects in the wild garden. The 
common Hollyhock is an Althea, and in its single form is typical 
of the vigorous habit and the numerous showy flowers of other ram- 
pant species, such as A. ficifolia. A group of these plants would be 
very effective seen from a wood walk, no kind of garden arrangement 
being large enough for their extraordinary vigour. It is not a nnmer- 
ous genus, but there are at least a dozen species, principally found on 
the shores and islands of the Mediterranean, and also in Western Asia. 

Alyssum—In spring every little shoot of the wide tufts and flakes 


124 THE WILD GARDEN. 


of these plants sends up a little fountain of small golden flowers. For 
bare, stony, or rocky banks, poor sandy ground, and ruins, they are 
admirable, Alyssum Wiersbecki and A. saxatile are strong enough 
to take care of themselves on the margins of shrubberies, etc., where 
the vegetation is not very coarse, but they are more valuable for rocky 
or stony places, or old ruins, and thrive freely on cottage garden walls 
in some districts; some of the less grown species would be welcome 
in such places. There are many species, natives of Germany, Russia, 
France, Italy, Corsica, Sicily, Hungary, and Dalmatia ; Asia, principally 
Siberia, the Altai Mountains, Georgia, Persia,.and the entire basin of 
the Caspian, is rich in them. 

Windflower, Anemone—A numerous race of dwarf herbs that 


The Alpine Windflower (Anemone alpina). 


contribute largely to the most beautiful effects of the mountain, wood, 
and pasture vegetation of all northern and temperate climes. The 
flowers vary from intense scarlet to the softest blue ; most of the exotic 
kinds would thrive as well in our woodlands and meadows as they do 
in their own. There is hardly a position they may not adorn—warm, 
sunny, bare banks, on which the Grecian A. blanda might open its 
large blue flowers in winter; the tangled copse, where the Japan 
Windflower and its varieties might make a bold show in autumn ; 
and the shady wood, where the Apennine Windflower would contrast 
charmingly with the Wood Anemone so abundantly scattered in our 


HARDY EXOTIC FLOWERING PLANTS. 125 


own woods. The Hepaticas should be considered as belonging to the 
same genus, not forgetting the Hungarian one, A. angulosa. The 
Hepaticas thrive best and are seen best in half-woody places, where the 
spring sun may cheer them by passing through the branches, which after- 
wards become leafy and shade them from the scorching heats of summer, 

St. Bruno’s Lily, Anthericwm.—One of the most lovely aspects 
of vegetation in the alpine meadows of Europe is that afforded by the 
delicate white flowers of the St. Bruno’s Lily in the Grass in early 
summer, looking like miniature white Lilies. All who have seen it 
would no doubt like to enjoy the same in their turfy lawns or Grassy 
places, and there should be no difficulty in establishing it. The large- 
flowered or major variety might be tried with advantage in this way, 
and the smaller-flowered kinds, A. Liliago and its varieties, are equally 
suitable, They are not so likely to find favour in gardens as the larger 
kind, and therefore the wild garden is the home for them, and in it 
many will admire their graceful habit and numerous flowers. All the 
species best worth growing are natives of the alpine ineadows of Europe 

Alkanet, Anchusa.—Tall and handsome herbaceous plants, with 
numerous flowers of a fine blue, admirable for dotting about in open 
places in sunny glades in woods or copses. They mostly come from 
Southern Europe and Western Asia. A. italica and A. capensis are 
among the most useful. The English Anchusa sempervirens, rare in 
some places, is an excellent wild garden plant. 

Snapdragon, Antirrhinum—The common Snapdragon and its 
beautifully spotted varieties are easily naturalised on old walls and 
tuins by sowing the seed in old or mossy chinks. Antirrhinum 
Asarinum, rupestre, and molle do well treated in the same way. 
Probably many other’ species would be found good in like places. 
About two dozen species are known, but comparatively few of these are 
in cultivation. They mostly come from the shores of the Mediterranean. 

Columbine, Aguilegia—Favourite herbaceous plants, generally 
of various shades of blue and purple, white, and sometimes bright 
orange. The varieties of the common kind (A. vulgaris), which are 
very numerous, are those most likely to be naturalised. In elevated 
and moist districts some of the beautiful Rocky Mountain kinds would 
be worth a trial in bare places. In places where wild gardens have 
been formed the effect of Columbines in the Grass has been one of the 
most beautiful that have been obtained. The flowers group themselves 
in all sorts of pretty ways, showing just above the long Grass, and 
possessing great variety of colour. The vigorous and handsome A. 


126 THE WILD GARDEN. 


chrysantha of Western America is the most hardy and enduring of 
the American kinds. The species are of a truly northern and alpine 
family, most abundant in Siberia. 

Wall Cress, Arabis.—Dwarf alpine plants, spreading in habit, 
and generally producing myriads of white flowers, exceedingly suitable 
for the decoration of sandy or rocky ground, where the vegetation is 
very dwarf. With them may be associated Cardamine trifolia and 
Thlaspi latifolium, 
which resemble the 
Arabises in habit and 
flowers. All these are 
particularly suited for 
association with the 
purple Aubrietias, or 
yellow Alyssums, and 
in bare and rocky or 
gravelly places, old walls, 
sunk fences, ete. 

Sandwort, Are- 
naria.— A most 'import- 
ant family of plants 
for the wild garden, 
though perhaps less so 
for lowland gardens 
where more vigorous 
types flourish. There 
are, however, certain 
species that are vigorous 
and indispensable, such 
as A. montana and 
A. graminifolia. The 
smaller alpine species 
are charming for rocky 
places, and the little creeping A. balearica has quite a peculiar 
value, inasmuch as moist rocks or stones suffice for its support. 
It covers such surfaces with a close carpet of green, dotted with 
numerous star-like flowers. Some of the smaller species, such as 
Arenaria cispitosa (Sagina glabra var.), better known as Spergula 
pilifera, might be grown in the gravel, and even used to convert 
bare and’ sandy places into carpets of Mossy turf. In certain 


M 


Siberian Columbine in rocky place. 


HARDY EXOTIC FLOWERING PLANTS. 127 


positions in large gardens it would be an improvement to allow 
the very walks or drives to become covered with very dwarf 
plants—plants which could be walked upon with little injury. The 
surface would be dry enough, being drained below, and would be 
more agreeable to the feet. Removing any coarse weeds that established 
themselves would be much easier than the continual hoeing and scraping 
required to keep the walk bare. Of course this only refers to walks in 
rough or picturesque 
places—the wild gar- 
den and the like—in 
which formal bare 
walks are somewhat 
out of place. 
Asphodel, Aspho- 
delus—The Asphodels 
are among the plants 
that have never been 
popular in the mixed 
border, nor are they 
likely to be so, the 
habit of the species 
being somewhat coarse 
and the flowering period 
not long, and yet they 
are of a stately and 
distizict order of beauty, 
which well deserves to 
be represented in open 
spaces, in shrubberies, 


or on their outer fringes. 
The plants are mostly Tall Asphodel in copse. 

natives of the countries 

round the Mediterranean, and thrive freely in ordinary soils. 

Lords and Ladies, Arum. — Mostly a tropical and sub-tropical 
family, some of which grow as far north as southern Europe. These 
are quite hardy in our gardens. The Italian Arum is well worthy of 
a place in the wild garden, from its fine foliage in winter. It should 
be placed in sheltered half-shady places where it would not suffer 
much from storms. The old Dragon plant (A. Dracontium) grows 
freely enough about the foot of rocks or walls in sandy, or dry, peaty 


128 THE WILD GARDEN. 


places. The nearly allied Arum Lily (Calla ethiopica) is quite hardy 
as a water and water-side plant in the southern counties of England 
and Ireland. 

Silkweed, Asclepias—-Usually vigorous perennials, with very 
curious and ornamental flowers, common in fields and on river banks 
in North America and Canada, where they sometimes become trouble- 
some weeds. Of the species in cultivation, A. Cornuti and A. Douglasi 
could be naturalised easily in rich deep soil in wild places. The 
showy and dwarfer Asclepias tuberosa requires very warm sand soils 
to flower as well as in its own dry hills and fields) A good many of 
the hardy species are not introduced ; for such the place is the wild 
garden. Some of them are water-side plants, such as A. incarnata, the 
Swamp Silkweed of the United States. 

Starwort, Aster—aA very large family of usually vigorous, often 
showy, and sometimes beautiful perennials, mostly with bluish or 
white flowers, chiefly natives of North America. Many of these, of an 
inferior order of beauty, used to be planted in our mixed borders, 
which they very much helped to bring into discredit, and they form a 
very good example of a class of plants for which the true place is the 
copse, or rough and half-cared-for places in shrubberies and copses, and 
by wood-walks, where they will grow as freely as any native weeds, 
and in many cases prove highly attractive in late summer and autumn. 
Such kinds as A. pyreneus, Amellus, and turbinellus, are amongst the 
most ornamental perennials we have. With the Asters may be grouped 
the Galatellas, the Vernonias, and also the handsome and rather dwarf 
Erigeron speciosus, which, however, not being so tall, could not fight 
its way among such coarse vegetation as that in which the Asters may 
be grown. Associated with the Golden Rods (Solidago)—also common 
plants of the American woods and copses—the best of the Asters or 
Michaelmas Daisies will form a very interesting aspect of vegetation. 
It is that one sees in American woods in late summer and autumn 
when the Golden Rods and Asters are seen in bloom together. It is 
one of numerous aspects of the vegetation of other countries which the 
“wild garden” will make possible in gardens. To produce such effects 
the plants must, of course, be planted in some quantity in one part of 
a rather open wood, and not repeated all over the place or mixed up 
with many other things. Nearly 200 species are known, about 150 
of which form part of the rich vegetation of North America. These 
fine plants inhabit that great continent, from Mexico—where a few are 
found—to the United States and Canada, where they abound, and even 
up to the regions altogether arctic of that quarter of the world. 


HARDY EXOTIC FLOWERING PLANTS. 129 


Milk Vetch, Astragalus.—An enormously numerous family of 
beautiful hardy plants, represented to but a very slight extent in our 
gardens, though hundreds of them are hardy, and many of them among 
the most pleasing of the many Pea flowers which adorn the hills and 
mountains of the northern world in Asia, Europe, and America. They 
are mostly suited for rocky or gravelly situations, or bare banks, though 
some of the taller species, like A. galegiformis, are stout enough to take 
care of themselves among the larger perennials. This plant is valuable 
for its handsome port and foliage, though its flowering qualities are not 
such as recommend it for the garden proper. The numerous species 
from the Mediterranean shores and islands could be successfully intro- 
duced on banks and slopes in our chalk districts and in rocky places. 
A. ponticus, a tall kind, and A. monspessulanus, a dwarf one, are both 
worth growing. 

Masterwort, Astrantia.—This is an elegant genus, of which few 
species are known, five being European—found in Italy, Carinthia, 
Greece, and the centre of Europe—others from Northern Asia. They 
are among the few umbellates with attractive and distinct flowers, and 
yet they are rarely seen in gardens. In the wild garden they are quite 
at home among the Grass and medium-sized herbaceous plants, and 
partial shade prolongs their quaint beauty. In fact they are far more at 
home in the thin wood or copse than in the open exposed mixed border. 

Blue Rock Cress, Aubrietia—Dwarf Alpine plants, with purp- 
lish flowers, quite distinct in aspect and hue from anything else grown 
in our gardens, and never perishing from any cause, except being over- 
run by coarser subjects. They are admirable for association with the 
Alyssums and Arabises in any position where the vegetation is very 
dwarf, or in rocky bare places. There are several species and varieties, 
all almost equally suitable, but not differing much in aspect or stature 
from each other. The Aubrietias come chiefly from the mountains of 
Greece, Asia Minor, and neighbouring countries. Wherever there is 
an old wall, or a sunk fence, or a bare bank, evergreen curtains may 
be formed of these plants, and in spring they will be sheeted with 
purple flowers, no matter how harsh the weather. 

Great Birthwort, Aristolochiw Sipho—A noble plant for cover- 
ing arbours, banks, stumps of old trees, etc., also wigwam-like bowers, 
formed with branches of trees. It is American, and will grow as high 
as thirty feet, A. tomentosa is distinct and not so large in leaf. These 
will scarcely be grown for their flowers ; but for covering stumps or 
trees they are valuable, and afford a distinct type of foliage. 

K 


130 THE WILD GARDEN. 


Virginian Creepers, Ampelopsis.—Although this chapter is 
mostly devoted to herbaceous plants, the Virginian Creeper and its 
allies are so useful for forming curtains in rocky places, ravines, or over 
old trees, that they deserve mention here. These plants are not very 
distant relations of the vine—the wild American vines which are 
worthy of a place in our groves, garlanding trees as they do ina grand 
way. Some noble in colour of leaf are grown in nurseries—U. Hum- 
boldti being remarkable both for colour and size of leaf. 

Bamboo, Bambusa—In many parts of England, Ireland, and 
Wales, various kinds of Bamboos are perfectly hardy, and not only 
hardy, but.thrive freely. In cold, dry, and inland districts, it is true, 
they grow with difficulty—all the greater reason for making the best 
use of them where they grow freely. Their beauty is the more 
precious from their being wholly distinct in habit from any other 
plants or shrubs that we grow. The delicate feathering of the young, 
tall, and slender shoots, the charming arching of the stems, have often 
been fertile in suggestion to the Japanese artist, and often adorn his 
best work. They may be enjoyed with all the charms of life in many 
gardens. The wild garden, where the climate is suitable, is the best 
home for Bamboos. They are so tall and so enduring at the roots that 
they will take care of themselves among the tallest and strongest plants 
or bushes, and the partial shelter of the thin wood or copse preserves 
their abundant leaves from violent and cold winds. Along by quiet 
Grass walks, in sheltered dells, in little bogs, in the shrubbery, or in 
little lawns opened in woods for the formation of wild gardens, the 
Bamboo will be at home. The commonest kind is that generally 
known as Arundinaria falcata (sometimes called Bambusa gracilis) ; 
but others, such as Bambusa Metake, B. Simmonsi, and B, viridis- 
glaucescens, are of equal or greater value. They all delight in rich, 
light, and moist soils. 

Baptisia.—A strong Lupin-like plant seldom grown in gardens, 
but beautiful when in bloom for its long blue racemes of pea flowers, 
growing three to four feet high ; it will hold its own in strong soil. 

Borage, Borago.—A genus seldom seen out of Botanic gardens, 
where they form part of the usual distressing arrangements honoured 
with the name of “scientific.” Among the best kinds for our purpose 
are B. cretica and B. orientalis, even the well-known annual kind 
will be found a pretty plant, naturalised and useful for covering 
mounds. 


Bell-flower, Campanula,—Beautiful and generally blue-flowered 


HARDY EXOTIC FLOWERING PLANTS. 131 


herbs, varying from a few inches to 4 ft. in height, and abundantly 
scattered in northern and temperate countries. Many kinds are in 
cultivation. All the medium-sized and large kinds thrive very well in 
rough places, woods, copses, or shrubberies, among grasses and other 
herbaceous plants ; while those smaller in size than our own harebell 
(C. rotundifolia) are quite at home, and very pretty, on any arid or 
bare surfaces, such as sandy banks, chalk pits, and even high up on 
old walls, ruins, etc. In such positions the seeds have only to be 
scattered. C, rapunculoides and C, lamiifolia do finely in shrubberies 
or copses, as, indeed, do all the tall-growing kinds. Where there are 
white varieties they should be secured ; many people will begin to see 
the great beauty of this family for the first time when they see them 
growing among the grass or herbs. The effect is far more beautiful 
than can be obtained in the garden proper. 

Red Valerian, Centranthus ruber.—This showy and pleasing 
plant is only seen in highest perfection on elevated banks, rubbish- 
heaps, or old walls, in which positions it endures much longer than on 
the level ground, and becomes a long-lived perennial with a shrubby 
base. On the long bridge across the Nore at Col. Tighe’s place, Wood- 
stock, Kilkenny, it grows in abundance, forming a long line on the 
wall above the arches; of course it could be easily grown on ruins, 
while it is invaluable for banks of all kinds, chalk pits, etc. and 
also for the level ground, except in heavy cold soils. Some of the 
larger Valerianas would grow freely in rough places, but none of them 
are so distinct as the preceding. 

Knap-weed, Centawrea.—Vigorous perennial or annual herbaceous 
plants, seldom so pretty as autumn-sown plants of our corn bluebottle 
(C. Cyanus). They are scarcely important enough for borders ; hence 
the wild wood is the place for them. Among the most suitable kinds 
may be mentioned macrocephala, montana, babylonica, and uniflora, 
the last more suitable for banks, etc. 

Mouse-ear, Cerastiwm—Dwarf spreading perennials, bearing a 
profusion of white flowers. Half a dozen or more of the kinds have 
silvery leaves, which, with their flowers, give them an attractive 
character. Most of these are used as bedding plants, but, as they will 
grow in any position where they are not choked by coarser plants, 
they may be employed with good effect in the wild garden. 

Wallflower, Cheiranthus.—The varieties of the common wall- 
flower afford quite a store of beauty in themselves for the embellish- 
ment of rocky places, old walls, etc, Probably other species of 


132 THE WILD GARDEN. 


Cheiranthus will be found to grow on ruins quite as well, but at 
present we are not quite sure of these. The clear yellow Erysimum 
ochroleucum is very like a wallflower in type, and thrives well in dry 
sandy places, With these might be associated Vesicaria utriculata. 
Meadow Saffron, OColchicum.—In addition to the meadow 
saffron, plentifully dotted over the moist fields in various parts of 
England, there are several other species which could be readily 
naturalised in almost any soil and position. They would be particularly 
desirable where 
subjects that flower 
in autumn would 
be sought; and 
they are charming, 
seen in tufts or 
colonies on the 
lawn or in the 
jg. pleasure-ground. 
Crocus.— One 
or two Crocuses are 
naturalised in Eng- 
land already, and 
there is scarcely one 
The foliage of the Meadow Saffron in Spring. of them that willnot 
succeed thus if pro- 
perly placed. They should not be placed where coarse vegetation would 
choke them up or prevent the sun getting to their flowers and leaves, 
Some of the delicately-tinted varieties of vernus are well worth dotting 
about in grassy places and on sunny slopes, if only to accompany the snow- 
drop. C. Imperati is a valuable early-flowering kind, and the autumnal 
flowering ones are particularly desirable ; but we must not particularise 
where all are good. “In the plantations here,” writes a correspondent, 
“on each side of a long avenue, we have the common Crocus in every 
shade of purple (there are scarcely any yellow ones) growing literally 
in hundreds of thousands. We have no record of when the roots were 
originally planted (and the oldest people about the estate say they have 
always been the same as far as their recollection goes) ; but they grow 
so thickly that it is quite impossible to step where they are without 
treading on two or three flowers. The effect produced by them in spring 
is magnificent, but unfortunately, their beauty is but short-lived. I 
have transplanted a good many roots to the wild garden, to the great 


HARDY EXOTIC FLOWERING PLANTS. 133 


improvement of the size of the individual blooms ; they are so matted 
together in the shrubberies I have mentioned, and have remained so 
long in the same place, that the flowers are small.” 

Virgin’s Bower, Clematis.—Mostly climbing or trailing plants, 
free, often luxuriant, sometimes rampant, in habit, with bluish, violet, 
purple, white, or yellow flowers, produced most profusely, and some- 
times deliciously fragrant. They are most suited for covering stumps, 
planting on rocky places, among low shrubs in copses, for draping over 
the faces of rocks, sunny banks, or the brows of sunk fences, covering 
objectionable railings, 
rough bowers, chalk 
pits, hedges, etc., and 
occasionally for isolat- 
ing in large tufts in 
open spaces where 
their effect could be 
seen from a distance. 
Not particular as to 


soil, the stronger kinds The White-flowered European Clematis (C. erecta). 
will grow in any 

ground, but the large-flowered new hybrids will thrive best in warm, 
rich, deep soil. 

C. Viorna, C. flammula, montana, campaniflora, Viticella, and 
cirrhosa, must not be omitted from a selection of the wild kinds. The 
new garden hybrids will also be useful. 

Dwarf Cornel, Cornus canadensis—This charming little bushy 
plant, singularly beautiful from its white bracts, is a very attractive 
subject for naturalisation in moist, sandy, or peaty spots, in which our 
native heaths, Mitchella repens, Linnea borealis, and the Butterworts 
would be likely to thrive. It would also grow well in moist woods, 
where the herbaceous vegetation is dwarf. 

Mocassin Flower, Cypripedium spectabile—The noblest of hardy 
orchids, found far north in America, and thriving perfectly in England 
and Ireland in deep rich or vegetable soil. Wherever the soil is not 
naturally peat or rich vegetable matter this fine plant will succeed on 
the margins of beds of rhododendrons, etc. It should be sheltered by 
surrounding bushes, and be in a moist position. Others of the genus, 
and various other hardy orchids, are worthy of naturalisation ; but the 
mocassin flower is the best as well as the most easily tried at present. 

Sowbread, Cyclamen.—It was the sight of a grove nearly covered 


134 THE WILD GARDEN. 


with Cyclamen hederefolium, near Montargis, in France, that first 
turned my attention to the “Wild Garden.” Both C. hederefolium 
and C, europeum may be naturalised with the greatest ease on light, 
loamy, or other warm and open soil. C. vernum, C. Coum, and C. 
repandum, are also well worthy of trial. Nothing can be more agree- 
able to the lover of hardy plants than endeavouring to naturalise these 
charming flowers, now rarely seen out of the greenhouse. The best 
positions would be among dwarf shrubs, etc., that would afford slight 
shelter, on banks or sunny open spots in copses or woods. Bare or 
dug borders they abhor, and a sunny warm exposure should be chosen. 
In the case of C. hedersefolium (and perhaps some of the others) ground 
under trees, bare, or with a very scant vegetation of herbs, etc, would 
do quite well if the soil were free and warm. ‘There is scarcely a 


Cyclamens in the wild garden; from nature. 


country seat in England in which the hardy Cyclamens, now almost 
entirely neglected by the gardener, could not be naturalised. 

The Giant Sea-kale, Crambe—*(. cordifolia is a very fine 
perennial, but its place is on the turf in rich soil. It has enormous 
leaves, and small whitish flowers in panicles. Here it is one of the 
finest ornaments in a wild garden of about five acres, associated with 
Rheums, Ferulas, Gunneras, Centaurea babylonica, Arundo Donax, 
Acanthus, and others.” 

Bindweed, Calysteyia— Climbing plants, with handsome white 
or rosy flowers, often too vigorous in constitution to be agreeable in 
gardens, as is the case with our common bindweed. (. dahurica, some- 
what larger than the common kind, is very handsome when allowed 


HARDY EXOTIC FLOWERING PLANTS. 135 


to trail throngh shrubs, in rough places, or over stumps, rustic 
bridges, etc., and doubtless sundry other species will in time be found 
equally useful. 

The pretty little Rosy Bindweed that one meets often upon the 
shores of the Mediterranean is here depicted at home in an English 
garden, creeping up the leaves of an Iris in Mr. Wilson’s garden at 
Heatherbank, Weybridge Heath. It is a great privilege we have of 
being able to grow the fair flowers of so many regions in our own, and 
without caring for them in the sense, and with the 
troubles that attend other living creatures in menageries, 


aviaries, etc. This is an advantage that we do not evi- 
dently consider when we put a few 
plants in lines and circles only, ob- 
livious of the infinite beauty and variety 
of the rest. This beautiful pink Bind- 
weed is the representative, so to speak, 
of our own Rosy Field Bindweed in the 
south, but nevertheless it is perfectly 
hardy and free in our own soils. Its 
botanical name is Convolvulus al- 
theoides, 

Marsh Calla, Calla palustris A 
ereeping Arum-like plant, with white 
flowers showing above a carpet of glossy 
leaves, admirable for naturalisation in 
muddy places, moist bogs, on the margins 
of ponds, etc. 

Rosy Coronilla, Coronilia varia. — 
Europe. On grassy banks, stony heaps, 
rough .rocky ground, spreading over 
slopes or any like positions. A very asi ea Sap A A eli 
fine plant for naturalisation, thriving ics, nye . 
in any soil. 

Giant Scabious, Cephalaria.— Allied to Scabious but seldom 
grown. They are worth.a place in the wild garden for their fine 
vigour alone, and the numerous pale yellow flowers will be admired by 
those who do not limit their admiration to showy colours. 

Coral-wort, Dentaria.—Very showy perennials, the purplish or 
white flowers of which present somewhat of the appearance of a stock- 
flower, quite distinct both in habit and bloom, and very rarely seen 


136 THE WILD GARDEN. 


in our gardens; they will be found to thrive well and look well in 
peat soil beneath rhododendrons, and towards the margins of clumps 
of American shrubs. 

Leopard’s Bane, Doronicwm—Stout, medium-sized, or dwarf 
perennials, with hardy and vigorous constitutions, and very showy 
flowers ; well suited for naturalisation among herbaceous vegetation, in 
any position where the beauty of their early bloom can be enjoyed. 

American Cowslip, Dodecatheon—All who care for hardy 
flowers admire the beautiful American cowslip (D. Meadia), found in rich 
woods in Pennsylvania, Ohio, to Wisconsin and south-westward, in 
America. This would be a charming plant to naturalise on rich and 
light sandy loams, among dwarf herbs, low shrubs, etc., in sheltered 
and sunny spots. Jeffrey’s American cowslip (D. Jeffreyanum), a 
vigorous-growing kind, is also well worth a trial in this way, though 
as yet it is hardly plentiful enough to be spared for this purpose. 

Fumitory, Fumaria, Dielytra—Plants with graceful leaves and 
gay flowers suited for association with dwarf subjects on open banks, 
except D. spectabilis, which in deep peat or other rich soil will grow a 
yard high. The simple-looking little Fumaria bulbosa is one of the 
dwarf subjects which thrive very well under the branches of specimen 
deciduous trees, and Corydalis lutea thrives in every position from the 
top of an old castle to the bottom of a well shaft. I saw Dielytra eximia 
naturalised in Buckhurst Park, in a shrubbery, the position shady. Its 
effect was most charming, the plumy tufts being dotted all over with 
flowers. Had I before wished to naturalise this, I should have put it 
on open slopes, or among dwarf plants, but it thrives and spreads 
about with the greatest freedom in shady spots. The blossoms, instead 
of being of the usual crimson hue, were of a peculiar delicate pale rose, 
no doubt owing to the shade ; and, as they gracefully drooped over the 
clegantly-cut leaves, they looked like snowdrops of a faint rosy hue. 

Delphinium, Perennial species—Tall and beautiful herbaceous 
plants, with flowers of many exquisite shades of blue and purple. 
There are now numerous varieties. They are well suited for rich soil 
in glades, copses, thin shrubberies, or among masses of dwarf shrubs, 
above which their fine spikes of bloom might here and there arise. 

One of the prettiest effects which I have ever seen among natu- 
ralised plants was a colony of tall Larkspurs (Delphiniums). Portions 
of old roots of several species and varieties had been chopped off 
where a bed of these plants was being dug in the autumn, For 
convenience sake the refuse had been thrown into the neighbouring 


HARDY EXOTIC FLOWERING PLANTS. 137 


shrubbery, far in among the shrubs and tall trees. Here they grew in 
certain half-open little spaces, which were so far removed from the 
margin that they were not dug and were not seen. When I saw the 
Larkspurs in flower they were certainly the loveliest things that one 
could see. They were more beautiful than they are in borders or beds, 
not growing in such close stiff tufts, and mingling with and relieved 
by the trees above and the shrubs around. Little more need be said 
to any one who knows and cares about such plants, and has an oppor- 
tunity of planting in such neglected places. This case points out 
pretty clearly that one might make wild gardens from the mere parings 
and thinnings of the beds and borders in autumn, in any place where 
there is a collection of good hardy plants. The ctit on p. 28 does 
scant justice to the scene, which, perhaps, it is not in the power of 
wood engraving to illustrate. 

Pink, Dianthus—A numerous race of beautiful dwarf mountain 
plants, with flowers mostly of various shades of rose, sometimes sport- 
ing into other colours in cultivation, The finer mountain kinds would 
be likely to thrive only on bare stony or rocky ground, and amidst 
very dwarf vegetation. The bright D. neglectus would thrive in any 
ordinary soil. Some of the kinds in the way of our own D. cesius 
grow well on old walls and ruins, as do the single carnations and 
pinks ; indeed, it is probable that many kinds of pink would thrive 
on ruins and old walls better far than on the ground. 

Foxglove, Digitalis—It need not be said here that our own 
stately Foxglove should be encouraged in the wild garden, particularly 
in districts where it does not naturally grow wild ; I allude to it here 
to point out that there are a number of exotic species for which a 
place might be found in the wild garden—some of them are not very 
satisfactory otherwise. The most showy hardy flowers of midsummer 
are the Foxglove and the French willow (Epilobium angustifolium), 
and in wild or rough places in shrubberies, etc., their effect is beautiful. 
In such half shady places the Foxglove thrives best ; and, as the French 
willow is much too rampant a plant for the garden proper, the proper 
place for it too is in the wild garden. It is a most showy plant, and 
masses of it may be seen great distances off. The delicately and 
curiously spotted varieties of the Foxglove should be sown as well 
as the ordinary wild form. 

Hemp Agrimony, Eupatoriwm.—Vigorous perennials, with 
white or purple fringed flowers. Some of the American kinds might 
well be associated with our own wild one—the white kinds, like 


138 THE WILD GARDEN. 


aromaticum and ageratoides, being very beautiful and distinct, and well 
worthy of a place in the best parts of the wild garden. 

Sea Holly, Eryngium.—vVery distinct and noble-looking per- 
ennials, with ornamental and usually spiny leaves, and flowers in 
heads, sometimes surrounded by a bluish involucrum, and supported 
on stems of a fine amethystine blue. They would be very attractive 
on margins of shrubberies and near wood-walks, thrive in ordinary . 
free soil, and will take care of themselves among tall grasses and all 
but the most vigorous herbs. 

Heath, Erica, Menziesia.—Our own heathy places are pretty rich 
in this type, but the brilliant Erica carnea is so distinct and attractive 

that it well deserves naturalisation among 
them. The beautiful St. Daboec’s heath 
(Menziesia polifolia) deserves a trial in 
the same way, as, though found in the 
west of Ireland, it is to the majority of 
English gardens an exotic plant. It will 
grow almost anywhere in peaty soil. 
Barren-wort, Epimedium.—Inter- 
esting and very distinct, but compara- 
tively little known perennials, with pretty 
and usually delicately tinted flowers, and 
singular and ornamental foliage. They 
are most suitable for peaty or free moist 
soils, in sheltered positions, among low 

A Sea Waly: Beyagiimn shrubs on rocky banks, ete., and near the 

eye. The variety called E. pinnatum 
elegans, when in deep peat soil, forms. tufts of leaves nearly a yard 
high, and in spring is adorned with long racemes of pleasing yellow 
flowers, so that it is well worthy of naturalisation where the soil is 
suitable. 

Globe Thistle, Echinops—Large and distinct perennials of fine 
port, from 3 feet to 6 feet high, with spiny leaves and numerous 
flowers in spherical heads. These will thrive well in almost any 
position, and hold their ground amid the coarsest vegetation. Being 
of a “type” quite distinct from that of our indigenous vegetation, they 
are more than usually suited for naturalisation. Echinops exaltatus 
and E, ruthenicus, are among the best kinds, the last the best in colour. 

May-flower, Epigea repens—A small creeping shrub, with pretty 
and deliciously fragrant flowers, which appear soon after the melting 


HARDY EXOTIC FLOWERING PLANTS. 139 


of the snow in N. America, and are there as welcome as the hawthorn 
with us. In its native country it inhabits woods, mostly in the shade 
of pines; and usually, wherever I saw it, it seemed to form a carpet 
under three or four layers of vegetation, so to speak—that is to say, 
it was beneath pines, medium-sized trees, tall bushes, and dwarf scrub 
about 18 in. high, while the plant itself was not more than one or 
two inches high. In our gardens this plant is very rarely seen, and 
even in the great American plant nurseries, where it used to grow it 
has disappeared. This is no wonder, when it is considered how very 
different are the conditions which it enjoys in gardens compared with 
those which I have above described. Without doubt it can be natu- 
ralised easily in pine woods on a sandy soil. 

Dog’s-tooth Violet, Erythronium.—A few days ago I saw a 
number of irregular clumps of these here and there on a gently slop- 
ing bank of turf, and, in front of clumps of evergreens, they looked 
quite charming, and their dark spotted leaves showed up to much 
better effect on the fresh green Grass than they do in borders. They 
were all of the red variety, and required a few of the white form 
among them to make the picture perfect. 

So writes a correspondent in Ireland. This beautiful plant, some 
years ago rarely seen in our gardens, adorns many a dreary slope in the 
Southern Alps, and there should be no great difficulty in the way 
of adding its- charms to the wild garden in peaty or sandy spots, 
rather bare or under deciduous vegetation. 

The Winter Aconite, Eranthis hyemalis—Classed among British 
plants but really naturalised. Its golden buttons peeping through the 
moss and grass in snowdrop time form one of the prettiest aspects of 
our garden vegetation in spring. It will grow anywhere, and is one 
of the plants that thrive under the spreading branches of summer- 
leafing trees, as it blooms and perfects its leaves before the buds open 
on the beech. On many lawns, spring gardens might be formed by 
planting some spring flowering plants that finish their growth 
before the trees are in leaf. Another advantage of such positions 
is, that the foliage of the tree prevents any coarser plants taking 
possession of the ground, and therefore these little spring plants 
have the ground to themselves, and wander into natural little groups 
in the moss and grass, sometimes covering the surface with a sheet of 
blossoms. ; 

Funkia.—I have spoken of the conditions in the wild garden 
being more suitable to many plants than those which obtain in what 


140 THE WILD GARDEN. 


might’ seem choice positions in borders, many of the plants attain- 
ing greater beauty and remaining longer in bloom in the shade and 
shelter of shrubby places than when fully exposed. As an instance 
of this, I saw Funkia ccerulea the other day, showing a size and beauty 
in a shady drive at Beauport, near Battle, which I never saw it attain 
under other circumstances. The plant was over a yard high, and bore 
many stately stems hung with blue flowers. The Funkias are exceed- 
ingly valuable plants for the wild garden, not being liable to accidents 
which are fatal to Lilies and other plants exposed to the attacks of 
slugs and rabbits. 


Groups of Funkia Sieboldi. 


Snakes-head, Fritillaria—The beautiful British snakes-head 
(F. Meleagris) grows wild, as most people Know, in meadows in various 
parts of England, and we should like to see it as well established in 
the grassy hollows of many a country seat. Various other Fritillarias 
not so pretty as this, and of a peculiar livid dark hue, which is not 
like to make them popular in gardens, such as F. tristis, would be 
worthy of a position also ; while the Crown Imperial would do on the 
fringes of shrubberies. 

Giant Fennel, Ferula-—Noble herbaceous plants belonging to 
the parsley order, with much and exquisitely divided leaves ; when 
well developed forming magnificent tufts of verdure, reminding one 
of the most finely-cut ferns, but far larger. The leaves appear very 
early in spring, and disappear at the end of summer, and the best use 
that can be made of the plants is to plant them here and there in 
places occupied by spring and early summer flowers, among which 


HARDY EXOTIC FLOWERING PLANTS. 141 


they would produce a very fine effect. With the Ferulas might be 
grouped another handsome umbelliferous plant (Molopospermum cicu- 
tarium) ; and no doubt, when we know the ornamental qualities of the 
order better, we shall find sundry other charming plants of similar 
character. 
Ferns.—No plants may be naturalised more successfully and with 
a more charming effect than ferns. The royal ferns, of which the 
bold-foliage is reflected in the marsh waters of Northern America, will 
do well in the many places where our own royal fern thrives. The 
graceful maidenhair fern of the rich woods of the Eastern States and 
the Canadas will thrive perfectly in any cool, shady, narrow lane, 
or dyke, or ina shady wood. The small ferns that find a home on arid 
alpine cliffs may be established on old walls and ruins. Cheilanthes 
odora, which grows so freely on the sunny sides of walls in Southern 
France, would be well worth trying in similar positions in the south 
of England, the spores to be sown in mossy chinks of the walls. The 
climbing fern Lygodium palmatum, which goes as far north as cold 
Massachusetts, would twine its graceful stems up the undershrubs in 
an English wood too. In fact, there is no fern of the numbers that 
inhabit the northern regions of Europe, Asia, and America, that may 
not be tried with confidence in various positions, preferring for the 
greater number such positions as we know our native kinds to thrive 
best in. One could form a rich and stately type of wood-haunting 
fern vegetation without employing one of our native kinds at all, 
though, of course, generally the best way will be to associate all so 
far as their habits and sizes will permit. Treat them boldly ; put 
strong kinds out in glades; imagine colonies of Daffodils among the 
Oak and Beech Ferns, fringed by early Aconite, in the spots over- 
shadowed by the branches of deciduous trees. Then, again, many of 
these Ferns, the more delicate of them, could be used as the most 
graceful of carpets for bold beds or groups of flowering plants. They 
would form part, and a very 
important part, of what we 
have written of as evergreen 
herbaceous plants, and 
might well be associated 
with them in true winter _ 
gardens. 
Geranium, Geranium, 
Erodium.—Handsome and A hardy Geranium. 


142 THE WILD GARDEN. 


rather dwarf perennials, mostly with bluish, pinkish, or deep rose flowers, 
admirable for naturalisation. Some of the better kinds of the hardy 
geraniums, such as G. ibericum, are the very plants to take care of 
themselves on wild banks and similar places. With them might be 
associated the fine Erodium Manescavi; and where there are very 
bare places, on which they would not be overrun by coarser plants, the 
smaller Erodiums, such as E. romanum, might be tried with advantage. 
Goat’s Rue, Galega.—Tall and vigorous but graceful perennials, 
with very numerous 
and handsome flowers, 
pink, blue, or white. 
G. officinalis and its 
white variety are among 
the very best of all tall 
border flowers, and 
they are equally useful 
for planting in rough 
and wild places, as is 
also the blue G. orien- 
talis and G. biloba. 
They are all free 
growers. 
Gypsophila, Gyp- 
sophila and Tunica— 
Vigorous but neat per- 
ennials, very hardy, 
and producing myriads 
of flowers, mostly 
small, and of a pale 
s pinkish hue. They are 
mA dest suited for rocky 


ae Mf 


Snowdrops, wild, by streamlet in valley. or sandy ground, or 
even old ruins, or any 


position where they will not be smothered by coarser vegetation. 
Similar in character is the pretty little Tunica saxifraga, which grows 
on the tops of old walls, etc., in Southern Europe, and will thrive on 
bare places on the level ground with us. 

Gentian, Gentiana.— Dwarf, and usually evergreen, alpine or high- 
pasture plants, with large and numerous flowers, mostly handsome, and 
frequently of the most vivid and beautiful blue. The large G. acaulis 


HARDY EXOTIC FLOWERING PLANTS. 143 


(Gentianella) would grow as freely in moist places on any of our own 
mountains as it does on its native hills; as, indeed, it would in all 
moist loams, where it could not be choked by coarse and taller subjects. 
The tall willow Gentian (G. asclepiadea) is a handsome plant, which, in 
the mountain woods of Switzerland, may be seen blooming among long 
grass in shade of trees, and this fact is suggestive as to its use in this 
country. 

Snowdrops, Galanthus.—The charms of our own. Snowdrop 
when naturalised in the grass are well known to all, but many of the 
new kinds have claims also in that respect, such as Elwesi and G. 
plicatus. It is surprising how comparatively few people take 
advantage of the facility with which the Snowdrop grows in grass, so 
as to have it in pretty groups and colonies by grass-walks or drives. 
The accompanying illustration, which shows it on the margin of a 
streamlet in a Somersetshire valley, shows that it is not particular as to 
situation. It suggests the many places it may adorn other than the 
garden’ border. 

Cow Parsnips, Heraclewm.—Giant herbaceous plants, mostly 
from Northern Asia, with huge divided leaves, and umbels (sometimes 
a foot across) of white or whitish flowers. They are very suitable for 
rough places on the banks of rivers or artificial water, islands, or in 
any position in which a very vigorous and bold type of foliage may be 
desired. In arranging them it should be borne in mind that their 
foliage dies down and disappears in the end of summer. When 
established they sow themselves, so that seedling plants in abundance 
may be picked up around them. In all cases it is important that their 
seed should be sown immediately after being gathered. But it is also 
important not to allow them to monopolise the ground, as then they 
become objectionable. To this end it may, in certain positions, be 
desirable to prevent them seeding. 

Day Lily, Hemerocailis.—Vigorous plants of the lily order, with 
long leaves and graceful habit, and large and showy red-orange or 
yellow flowers, sometimes scented as delicately as the primrose. There 
are two types, one large and strong like flava and fulva, the other short 
and somewhat fragile like graminea, The larger kinds are superb 
plants for naturalisation, growing in any soil, and taking care of them- 
selves among coarse herbaceous plants or brambles. 

Christmas Rose, Helleborus.—Stout but dwarf perennials, with 
showy blooms appearing in winter and spring when flowers are rare, 
and with handsome leathery and glossy leaves. They thrive in almost 


144 THE WILD GARDEN. 


any position or soil ; but to get the full benefit of their early-blooming 
tendency it is desirable to place them on sunny grassy banks in tufts 
or groups, and not far from the eye, as they are usually of unobtrusive 
colours, They form beautiful ornaments near wild wood walks, 
where the spring sun can reach them. There are various kinds useful 
for naturalisation. 

Sun Rose, Helianthemum.—Dwarf spreading shrubs, bearing 
myriads of flowers in a variety 
of showy colours. The most 
tasteful and satisfactory way of 
employing these in our gardens 
is to naturalise them on banks 
or slopes in the half-wild parts 
of our pleasure-grounds, mostly 
in sandy or warm soil. They 
are best suited for chalk districts 
or rocky ones, where they thrive 
most luxuriantly, and make a 
very brilliant display. There 
are many varieties, mostly differ- 
ing in the hue of the flowers. 

Perennial Sunflower, 
Helianthus, Rudbeckia, Silphium. 
—Stout and usually very tall 
perennials, with showy yellow 
flowers, the best known of which 
is Helianthus multiflorus fl. pl, 
of which plenty may be seen in 
Euston Square and other places 
in London. As a rule these 
are all better fitted for rough 
places than for gardens, where, 
like many other plants mentioned in these pages, they will tend to 
form a vigorous herbaceous covert. H. rigidus is a brilliantly showy 
plant, running very freely at the root, and an excellent subject for 
naturalisation. H. giganteus, common in thickets. and swamps in 
America, and growing as high as 10 ft., is also desirable. The showy 
and larger American Rudbeckias, such as laciniata, triloba, and also 
the small but showy hirta, virtually belong to the same type. All 
these plants, and many others of the tall yellow-flowered composites that 


Sun Rose on limestone rocks. 


HARDY EXOTIC FLOWERING PLANTS. 145 


one sees conspicuous among herbaceous vegetation in America, would 
produce very showy effects in autumn, and might perhaps more 
particularly interest those who only visit their country seats at that 
time of year. The Silphiums, especially the compass plant (8. 
laciniatum), and the cup plant (S. perfoliatum), are allied in general 
aspect and character to the Helianthuses, and are suitable for the same 
purposes, 

St. John’s Wort, Hypericum.—The well-known St. John’s wort 
has already in many places made good its claim as a wilderness plant, 
and there is scarcely one of its numerous congeners which will not 
thrive in wild and rough places, in any soil. They have all the same 
bright yellow flowers as the St. John’s wort, and are nearly all taller. 
Some of the newer kinds have the handsome large flowers of the St. 
John’s Wort. It should be noted that the common St. John’s Wort so 
exhausts the soil of moisture that it may be the cause of the death of 
trees, and should therefore be looked after. Many places have too 
much of it, as they have of the common Laurel. 

Rocket, Hesperis—The common single Rocket (Hesperis mat- 
ronalis) is a showy useful plant in copse or shrubbery, and very easily 
raised from seed. 

Evergreen Candytuft, [beris—Compact little evergreens, form- 
ing spreading bushes from 3 inches to 15 inches high, and sheeted with 
white flowers in spring and early summer. There are no plants more 
suitable for naturalisation in open or bare places, or, indeed, in any 
position where the vegetation is not strong enough to overrun them. 
They, however, attain greatest perfection when fully exposed to the 
sun, and are admirable for every kind of rocky or stony ground and 
banks. 

Iris, Flewr de Lis—These plants, once so well known in our gardens, 
rivalling (or rather exceeding) the lilies in beauty, are varied and 
numerous enough to make a wild garden by themselves. The many 
beautiful varieties of germanica will grow in almost any soil, and may 
be used with good effect in woods, copses, by wood walks, or near the 
margin of water. JI. sibirica, rather a common kind, will grow in the 
water ; and, as this is not generally known, it is worthy the notice of 
any one taking an interest in aquatics. It is probable that others of 
the beardless kinds will also do well with their roots below the water, 
and if so, they will one day much improve the rather poorly adorned 
margins of artificial waters. On the other hand, I. pumila, and the 
varieties of germanica, are often seen on the tops of old walls, on 

L 


146 THE WILD GARDEN. 


thatched roofs, etc., on the Continent, flowering profusely. These facts 
tend to show how many different positions may be adorned by the irises. 

Common Lupine, Lupinus polyphyllus.—Amidst the tallest and 
handsomest herbaceous plants, group- 
ed where they may be seen from grass 
drives or wood walks, or in any 
position or soil. Excellent for islets 
or river banks, in which, or in 
copses, it spreads freely. There are 
several varieties, all worthy of culture. 

Honesty, Lunaria. — This, 
which approaches the Stocks in the 
aspect of its fine purplish violet 
flowers, is quite removed from them 
by the appearance of its curious 
seed-vessels. It is one of the most 
valuable of all plants for naturalisa- 
tion, and may be said to form a 
type by itself. It shows itself freely 
in dryish ground or on chalk banks, 
and is one of the prettiest objects 
to be met with in early summer 
in wood or wild. 

Lily, Lilium.—There are many 
hardy lilies that may be naturalised. 
The situations that these grow in, 
from the high meadows of Northern 
Italy, dotted with the orange lily, 
to the woody gorges of the Sierras 
in California, rich with tall and 
fragrant kinds, are such as make 
their culture in copses, woods, rough 
grassy places, etc. a certainty. In 
woods where there is a rich deposit 
of vegetable matter the great 
American Lilium superbum, and 
no doubt some of the recently- 
discovered Californian lilies, will do well. The European lilies, 
dotted in the grass in the rough unmown glades, would not grow 
nearly so large as they do in the rich borders of our cottage gardens ; 


HARDY EXOTIC FLOWERING PLANTS. 147 


but the effect of the single large blooms of the orange lily just level 
with the tops of the grass, in early summer, where it grows wild, is at 
least as beautiful as any aspect it has hitherto presented in gardens. 
Along the bed of small rivulets, in the bottom of narrow gorges densely 
shaded by great Thujas, Arbutus trees sixty and even eighty feet high, 
and handsome large-leaved evergreen oaks on the Sierras, I saw in 
autumn numbers of lily stems seven, eight, and nine feet high, so one 
could imagine what pictures they formed in early summer ; therefore 
deep dykes and narrow shady lanes would afford congenial homes for 
various fine species. No mode of cultivating lilies in gardens is equal 
to that of dotting them through beds of rhododendrons and other 
American plants usually planted in peat; the soil of these, usually 
and very unwisely left to the rhododendrons alone, being peculiarly 
suited to the majority of the lily tribe. As for the wild garden, Mr. 
G. F. Wilson sent me a stem of Lilium superbum last year (1880) 
grown in a rich woody bottom, 114 feet high ! 

Snowflake, Leucojum—tI have rarely seen anything more beauti- 
ful than a colony of the summer Snowflake on the margin of a tuft of 
thododendrons in the gardens at Longleat. Some of the flowers were 
on stems nearly 3 feet high, the partial shelter of the bushes and good 
soil causing the plants to be unusually vigorous. Both the spring and 
summer Snowflakes (L. vernum and L. estivum) are valuable plants for 
wild grassy places. 

Gentian Lithosperm, Lithospermum prostratum.—A very dis- 
tinct, prostrate, hairy, half-shrubby plant, with a profusion of flowers 
of as fine a blue as any gentian. Thrives vigorously in any deep sandy 
soil, and in such well deserves naturalisation among low rock plants, 
etc. in sunny positions. Probably other species of the genus will be 
found suitable for the same purpose. 

Lychnis.— Handsome medium-sized perennials, with showy 
blooms, mostly of a brilliant rose or scarlet colour. If the type 
was only represented by the rose campion it would be a valuable 
one. This is a beautiful object in dry soils, on which it does not 
perish in winter. They are most fitted for association with dwarf or 
medium-sized perennials, in open places and in rich soil. 

Honeysuckle, Lonicera.—Such favourites as these must not be 
omitted. Any kind of climbing Honeysuckle will find a happy home 
in the wild garden, either rambling over stumps or hedgerows, or 
even planted by themselves on banks. 

Pea, Lathyrus.—Much having been lately written concerning the 


148 THE WILD GARDEN. 


wild garden and its suitable occupants, I venture to suggest Lath 
pyrenaicus as an addition to the list. Most cultivators of flowers 
aware of the rambling habits of the greater number of plants of 
Leguminous tribe, but in that particular L. pyrenaicus eclipses t 
all. It produces an immense quantity of bright orange- colo 
blossoms, but the principal difficulty connected with its thorc 
development is the selection of an appropriate place for it, for a 1 
established plant of this sp: 
will ramble over, and by 
density of growth prevent e 
plant and shrub that cc 
within its reach from thriv 
indeed, it is a greater ram 
than the Hop, the Bindw 
or the Bryony, and is decid 
more handsome. Tying u 
training such a plant is ot 
the question; but there 
many rough places in the’ 
garden where it would be ¢ 
at home and form an att 
ive feature. Every kin 
Everlasting Pea is exce. 
for the wild garden, eithe 
scrambling over hedgex 
stumps, or growing af 
the grass— J. W. 
Monkey-flower, M 
lus.—“ Wandering one de 
the neighbourhood of “Gruigfoot,”a queer-shaped hill in Linlithgows 
my eye was attracted by a small burn whose banks were literally jew 
throughout its visible course with an unfamiliar yellow flower. 
nearer approach showed me that it was the garden Mimulus (Mon 
flower), the seed of which must have escaped from some neighbou 
cottage garden, and established itself here, in the coldest part o 
British Isles. JI took the hint, and have naturalised it by the b 
of a small stream which runs at the foot of my garden, and I strc 
recommend your readers to do the same. It mingles charmingly 
the blue Forget-me-not, and is equally hardy.”—S. in Garden. 
Grape Hyacinth, Muscari—These free and hardy little ] 


Everlasting Pea, creeping up stem in shrubbery. 


HARDY EXOTIC FLOWERING PLANTS. 149 


are easily naturalised and very handsome, with their little spikes of 
flowers of many shades of blue. 

Forget-me-not, Myosotis—There is one exotic species, M. dissi- 
tiflora, not inferior in beauty to any of our handsomest native kinds, 
and which is well worthy of naturalisation everywhere, thriving best 
on moist and sandy soil. 

Molopospermum cicutarium.—Thevre is a deep green and 
fern-like beauty dis- 
played profusely by 
some of the Umbel- 
liferous family, but I 
have rarely met with 
one so remarkably at- 
tractive as this species 
It isa very ornamental 
plant, with large, 
deeply-divided leaves 
of a lively green colour, 
forming a dense irregu- 
lar bush. The flowers, 
which are insignificant 
and of a yellowish- 
white colour, are borne 
in small roundish 
umbels. Many of the 
class, while very ele- 
gant, perish quickly, 
get shabby indeed by 
the end of June, and 
are therefore out of 


place in the flower Type of fine-leaved umbellate plants seldom grown in gardens. 
garden ; but this is firm 
in character, of a fine rich green, stout yet spreading in habit, growing 
more than 3 feet high, and making altogether a most pleasing bush. It 
is perfectly hardy, and easily increased by seed or division, ut rare as 
yet. It loves a deep moist soil, but will thrive in any good garden 
soil. It is a fine subject for isolation or grouping with other hardy 
and graceful-leaved Umbelliferous plants. 

Stock, Matthiola—Showy flowers, mostly fragrant, peculiarly well 
suited for old ruins, chalk pits, stony banks, etc. Some of the annual 


150 THE WILD GARDEN. 


kinds are pretty, and some of the varieties common in gardens as: 
a bush-like character when grown in the positions above named. * 
the Stocks may be associated the single rocket (Hesperis matron 
which thrives freely in shrubberies and copses. 

Bee Balm, Monarda.—Large and very showy herbaceous pl 
with scarlet or purple flowers, conspicuously beautiful in American 
Canadian woods, and capital subjects for naturalisation in woods, co 
etc., or anywhere among medium-sized ve; 
tion, thriving best in light or well-dra 
soils. 

Mallow, Malva, Althea, Malope, Kitail 
Callirhoe, Sida.— Plants of several dis! 
genera may be included under this type, 
from each very showy and useful things 
be obtained. They are for the most part 
jects which are somewhat too coarse, wv 
closely examined, to be planted: in gar. 
generally ; but among the taller vegetatio 
wild shrubberies, copses, glades in woods, 
they will furnish a magnificent effect. S 
of the Malvas are very showy, vigorous- 
ing plants, mostly with rosy flowers, and wi 
associate well with our own handsome 
moschata. The Althzeas, close allies of 
common single hollyhock, are very vigo: 
and fine for this purpose, as are also the Sidas and Kitaibelia vitif 
The Malopes are among the best of the annual subjects for natura 
tion. The Callirhoes are dwarf, handsome trailers, more brilliant 1 
the others, and the only ones of the type that should be plante: 
bare banks or amidst dwarf vegetation, as all the others are of 
most rampant character. 

Mulgedium Plumieri.—A herbaceous plant of fine and dist 
port, bearing purplish-blue blossoms, rather uncommon among its k 
Till recently it was generally only seen in botanic gardens, but it 
nevertheless, many merits as a wild garden plant, and for growin 
small groups or single specimens in quiet green corners of pleas 
grounds or shrubberies. It does best in rather rich ground, an¢ 
such a position will reward all who plant it, being a really hardy 
long-lived perennial. The foliage is sometimes over a yard long, 
the flower-stems attain a height of over six feet in good soil. 


The Bee Balm, Monarda. 
American wood plant. 


HARDY EXOTIC FLOWERING PLANTS. 151 


Water Lily, Nymphaea and Nuphar-—Two noble North Ameri- 
can plants well deserve naturalisation in our waters, associated with 
our own beautiful white and yellow water lilies—the large Nuphar 
advena, which thrusts its great leaves well out of the water in many 
parts of North America, and the sweet-scented Nymphea odorata, which 
floats in crowds on many of the pine-bordered lakes and lakelets of 
New England, to a non-botanical observer seeming very like our own 
water lily. 

Daffodil, Narcissus.—Most people have seen the common daffodil 
in a semi-wild state in our woods and copses. Apart from varieties, 
there are more than a score distinct species of daffodil that could be 
naturalised quite as easily as this in all parts of these islands. We 
need hardly suggest how charming these would be, flowering in early 
spring and summer in the rougher parts of pleasure grounds, or along 
wood-walks, or any like position. 

Bitter Vetch, Orobus.— Banks, grassy unmown margins of 
wood-walks, rocks, fringes of shrubberies, and like places, with 
deep and sandy loam, well drained, will grow the beautiful spring 
Bitter Vetch or any of its varieties or allies perfectly. 

Evening Primrose, Hnothera.—Among the largest-flowered and 
handsomest of all known types of herbaceous vegetation. The yellow 
species, and varieties like and allied to the common Evening Primrose 
(da. biennis), may be readily naturalised in any position, from a rubbish- 
heap to a nice, open, sunny copse; while such prostrate ones as 
CE. marginata and CE. macrocarpa will prove very fine among dwarf herbs 
on banks or in open sunny places, in light or calcareous soil, These 
noble and delicately-scented flowers are very easily grown and very 
beautiful in any position, They, however, from their height and bold- 
ness, and the freedom with which they grow in almost any soil, are 
peculiarly suited for the wild garden, for shrubberies, copses, and the 
like, sowing themselves freely. 

Cotton Thistle, Onopordon.—Large thistles, with very handsome 
hoary and silvery leaves, and purplish flowers on fiercely-armed stems. 
No plants are more noble in port than these, and they thrive freely in 
rough open places, rubbish-heaps, etc., and usually come up freely from 
self-sown seeds. 

Star of Bethlehem, Ornithogalwm—Various handsome hardy 
species of this genus will thrive as well as the common Star of Bethle- 
hem in any sunny, grassy places. 

Creeping Forget-me-not, Omphalodes.—The creeping Forget- 


152 THE WILD GARDEN. 


me-not, Omphalodes verna, is one of the prettiest plants to be natur: 
ised in woods, copses, or shrubberies, running about with the great 
freedom in moist soil. It is more compact in habit and lives long 
on good soils than the Forget-me-nots, and should be naturalised rou 
every country place. 

Wood Sorrel, Ozalis——Dwarf plants with clover-like leaflets a 
pretty rosy or yellow flowers. At least two of the species in cultir 
tion, viz.O. Bowieana and O. floribunda, might be naturalised on san 
soils amidst vegetation not more than 5 inches or 6 inches high ; a 
the family is so numerous that probably other members of it will 
found equally free growing. 


The Great Japan Knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum). 
(Showing the plant in flower.) 


Polygonum cuspidatum.—If, instead of the formal chara: 
of much of our gardening, plants of bold types similar to the ab 
were introduced along the sides of woodland walks and shrubb 
borders, how much more enjoyable such places would be, as at aln 
every step there would be something fresh to attract notice and gra 


the eye, instead of which such parts are generally bare, or given uj 
weeds and monotonous rubbish. 


HARDY EXOTIC FLOWERING PLANTS. 1538 


Peony.—Vigorous herbaceous plants, with large and splendid 
flowers of various shades of crimson, rosy-crimson, and white, well 
calculated for producing the finest effects in the wild garden. There 
are many species and varieties, the flowers of some of the varieties 
being very sweet-scented, double, and among the largest flowers we 
know of. Fringes of shrubberies, open glades in woods or copses, and 
indeed almost any wild place, may be adorned by them ; and they may 
also be advantageously grouped or isolated on the grass in the rougher 
parts of the pleasure-ground. I never felt the beauty of the fine 
colour of Ponies till I saw a group of the double scarlet kind flowering 
in the long Grass in Oxfordshire. The owner had placed an irregular 
group of this plant in an unmown glade, quite away from the garden 
proper ; and yet, seen from the lawn and garden, the effect was most 
brilliant, as may be imagined from the way in which such high colours 
tell in the distance. To be able to produce such effects in the early 
summer for six weeks or so is a great gain from a landscape point of 
view, apart from the immediate beauty of the flowers when seen close 
at hand. 

Poppy, Papaver, in var—The huge and flaming Papaver orientale, 
P. bracteatum, and P. lateritium, are the most important of this type. 
They will thrive and live long in almost any position, but the proper 
place for them is in open spots among strong herbaceous plants. For 
the wild garden or wilderness the Welsh Poppy (Meconopsis cambrica) 
is one of the best plants. It is a cheerful plant at all seasons ; perched 
on some old dry wall its masses of foliage are 
very fresh, but when loaded with a profusion of 
large yellow blossoms the plant is strikingly 
handsome ; it is a determined coloniser, ready to 
hold its own under the most adverse circumstances. 
Its home is the wall, the rock, and the ruin. 
It even surpasses the Wallflower in adapting itself 
to strange out-of-the-way places ; it will spring 
up in the gravel walk under one’s feet, and seems 
quite happy among the boulders in the courtyard. 
It looks down on one from crevices in brick walls, 
from chinks where one could scarcely introduce 
a knife-blade, and after all it delights most in 
shady Places, No plant can be better adapted recency 82 
for naturalising on rough stony banks, old quarries, some Lablates#adniir- 


gravel pits, dead walls, and similar places, and ably suited for the wild 
garden. (See p. 154.) 


154 THE WILD GARDEN. 


its large handsome flowerswill lend a charm 
to the most uninteresting situations. 

Phlomis.—Showy and stately her- 
baceous or half-shrubby plants, with a pro- 
fusion of handsome yellow or purplish 
flowers. Excellent for naturalisation in 
wari open woods, copses, banks, etc., grow- 
ing well in ordinary soil. 

Virginian Poke, Phytolaccu decan- 
dra.—A tall, robust perennial, within con- 
spicuous flowers and long dense spikes of 
purplish berries. It will grow anywhere 
and in any soil ; but is most imposing in 
rich deep ones. The berries are relished 
by birds. It is fine for association with 
the largest and stoutest herbaceous plants 
in rough and half-wild places. 

Physostegia.—Tall, erect, and beau- 
tiful herbaceous plants, mostly with deli- 
cate rosy flowers; natives of North 
America, thriving in any soil. They are 
among the most pleasing things for plant- 
ing in half-wild places, where they will 
not spread rampantly, nor perish quickly. 

Lungwort, Pulnionaria. — Dwarf 
plants of the borage family, with showy 
blue or pinkish blossoms. Easily natural- 
ised in woods or copses, in which position 
the common blue one must be familiar to 
many in the woods of England and France. 
The varieties are common in cottage gar- 
dens ; they grow in any soil. 

The tall Ox-eye daisy, Pyrethrum 
serotinum.—This fine autumn _flower- 
ing plant, for years left in the almost ex- 
elusive possession of the Botanic Gardens, 
is one of the handsomest things we have. 
It grows 5 or 6 feet high, and flowers 
late in the year, when flowers are scarce. 


The tall Ox-eye Daisy x" : “ a 
(Pyrethrum serotinum). It is very picturesque in habit. 


HARDY EXOTIC FLOWERING: PLANTS. 155 


Bramble, Rubus—Although we have 
nearly fifty kinds or reputed kinds ‘of 
bramble native in Britain, some of the 
exotic species, entirely distinct from our 
own, are well worthy of naturalisation 
among low shiubs and tall herbaceous 
plants. One of the most charming plants 
we know for naturalising in shady woods 
is the large, white-flowered Rubus Nut- 
kanus, with which might be tastefully 
associated the deep rose-coloured Rubus 
odoratus, and the early spring-flowering 
R. spectabilis; while the very striking 
white-stemmed R. biflorus is a grand 
object for warm slopes, sunny sides of 
chalk and gravel pits, ete. 

The Great Reed; Arundo Donaz. 
This noble reed I do not like to omit here, 
it is so beautiful in the southern counties 
of England, though in cold soils and hard 
winters it may perish. Where the hardier 
Bamboos find a place this will be welcome, 
though in our country it is only in the 
warmer parts that it attains the dignity 
of port it possesses in the south of Europe. 

Rhubarb, Rhewm.—There are several 
species of rhubarb in cultivation in ad- 
dition to those commonly grown in gar- 
dens. They are much alike in port and 
in the size of their leaves, R. palmatum and 
Emodi being the most distinct. The rhu- 
barbs are fine things for association with 
large-leaved herbaceous plants in deep 
soils. 

Rose, Rosa.— As in the case of 
brambles, we have many more kinds of 
wild roses in England than is commonly 
supposed, but of course nobody ever thinks 
of planting such things in gardens or 
shrubberies, where such gems as privet 


‘The Great Reed of Southern Europe 
(Arundo Donax). 


156 THE WILD GARDEN. 


usually make up the underwood. There are scores of the roses 
of northern and temperate countries which would thrive as well in 
our woodlands ; but as these are not to be obtained in our nurseries, 
it is useless to mention them, Any species of rose from a northern 
country might be tried; whilst of roses commonly cultivated the 
climbing races—such as the Boursault, Ayrshire, and Sempervirens— 
are the most likely to be satisfactory. The Damask, Alba gallica, 
and hybrid China, being hardy and free, would do, as would Felicité 
Perpetuelle, Banksieflora, the Garland roses, Austrian briar, berberi- 
folia, and microphylla rubra plena. Pruning, or any other attention 
after planting, should of course not be thought of in connection with 
these. We have seen masses of wild roses the effect of which was 
finer than anything we have ever seen in arosery. Rosa Brunoniana 
is a very fine free and hardy species from India. 

Sea Lavender, Statice.—Vigorous perennials, with a profusion of 
bluish lavender-coloured bloom, thriving freely on all ordinary garden 
soils. §. latifolia, and some of the stronger kinds, thrive in any 
position among the medium-sized herbaceous plants. 

Spireea, Spirdéa.— Handsome and usually vigorous herbaceous 
plants, with white or rosy flowers, and generally ornamental foliage. 
Such beautiful kinds as venusta and palmata it is most desirable to try 
in wild places among the stouter and medium-sized perennials, where 
sufficiently plentiful to be spared for this purpose. 8S. Aruncus is, 
perhaps, the finest plant for the wild garden. Mr. Ellam planted out 
some spare stock of S. japonica in a wood at Bodorgan, and with 
the happiest effect. The plants grow and flower freely, the flowers 
appearing a fortnight later in the moist cool wood than on plants of 
the same kind on a north garden border ; therefore they prolong the 
season of this favourite flower. They are planted in an irregular 
group, as such things should generally be, the effect being much 
better than that obtained by the common dotting plan. 

Golden Rod, Solidago.—Tall and vigorous perennials with yellow 
flowers, showy when in bloom, and attractive when seen in America in 
autumn, mingled with the blue and lilac Asters of that country, but 
rarely ornamental as grown in gardens. These, like the Asters, used 
to be grown to excess in the old borders ; but the only position they 
are fit for is in rough wild places, where in many cases it would be 
easy, with their aid and that of the Asters, to form that mixture of 
Golden Rod and Michaelmas daisies which is one of the prettiest effects 
of American vegetation in autumn. 


HARDY EXOTIC FLOWERING PLANTS, 157 


Catch-fly, Silene.—Dwarf or spreading plants, allied to the pinks, 
and generally with white or rosy flowers, The choice mountain kinds, 
such as S, Lagascee, alpestris, Schafta, etc. are among the most charm- 
ing subjects that can be naturalised on rocky places or banks, associated 
with very dwarf subjects. Such fine annual or biennial kinds as 
S. Armeria or S. pendula are among the best for this purpose, and 
might be easily established by scattering a few seeds in such places, 

Bloodwort, Sanguinaria canadensis. —This little plant, which 
abounds in the woods of Canada and North America, and which is 
very rarely indeed seen well grown in our gardens, will thrive under 
the branches of deciduous trees as well as the winter aconite, and in 
spring will produce an effect as beautiful as singular. 

Squill, Scilla.—Several kinds of Scilla, closely allied to the 
common bluebell, would do quite as well in our woods as that well-. 
known native plant, notably 8, campanulata, S. bifolia, S. sibirica, ete. 
Bifolia and sibirica would be better on sunny banks or sheltered 
fringes of shrubberies with a good aspect. The tall kinds would do in 
woods or copses like the bluebell. With the dwarfer squills might be 
associated the grape hyacinth and the amethyst hyacinth (Hyacinthus 
amethystinus). 

Comfrey, Symphytwm—Herbaceous plants of the borage order, 
usually vigorous, and with handsome blue flowers. One of the hand- 
somest spring flowers is Symphytum caucasicum, and it is also one of 
the easiest things to naturalise, running about with the greatest freedom 
in shrubby or any wild places. Coarse kinds, like S. asperrimum 
(unfit for garden culture), thrive apace among the largest plants in 
wild places, and there look quite beautiful when in flower. 

Scabious, Scabiosa, Cephalaria, Knautia.—Sometimes handsome 
and usually free-growing herbaceous plants, bluish, purplish, or 
yellowish in tone. Among these may be seen, in botanic and other 
gardens, plants suited for naturalisation, but scarcely worthy of a place 
in the garden. The fine 8. caucasica would thrive amidst coarse 
vegetation in good soil, as would the Knautias. 

Stonecrop, Sedwm.—Minute and usually prostrate plants, mostly 
with white, yellow, or rosy flowers, and occurring in multitudes on 
most of the mountain chains of northern and temperate countries. 
There are few of these interesting and sometimes very pretty plants 
that would not grow on the top of an old wall, or thatched house, or 
stony bank, or bare ground, as well as our common Stonecrop. All 
grow in any soil, are as easily increased as any weed, and grow any- 


158 THE WILD GARDEN. 


where if they are not too much overshadowed by trees and coarse vege- 
tation. Such kinds as S. spurium, S. pulchellum, kamtschaticum, and 8. 
spectabile are among the most ornamental. The last, being a stout 
herbaceous plant, would be worth associating with such in wild places. 
There are nearly 100 species of stonecrop in cultivation in Britain. 

Saxifrage, Saxifraga—A very extensive genus of plants, abun-— 
dantly distributed on mountains in northern countries. For our 
present purpose they may be broadly thrown into five sections—the 
mossy section, represented in Britain by S. hypnoides; the silvery 
section, represented by 8. Aizoon ; the London Pride section, by the 
Kerry saxifrages ; the Megasea section, by the large cabbage-leaved S. 
crassifolia ; and the oppositifolia section, distinguished by its rosy-purple 
flowers. With the exception of the Megasea and oppositifolia sections, 
which have rosy flowers, most of the saxifrages have white blossoms 
spotted with red ; a few are yellow, and all are very hardy, and: the 
easiest to grow of all alpine flowers. The mossy, silvery, and purple 
saxifrages may be naturalised with the greatest ease on bare rocky or 
mountainous grounds, amidst dwarf vegetation ; but, as the places in. 
which this kind of ground occurs are comparatively few, the Megaseas, 
and the Kerry saxifrages, are probably the most generally useful, as 
they can fight their way amongst coarse grass and other common herbs. 
There: are probably nearly 150 species in cultivation in the botanic 
gardens of England, though in many private gardens they are very 
little known. 

Houseleek, Sempervivum.—Very dwarf and succulent plants, 
with their fleshy leaves arranged in dense rosettes, and mostly with 
curious but seldom conspicuous flowers, abounding in mountainous 
regions, and: very hardy. The greater number of these grow quite 
as freely as the common Houseleek in any arid soil, and in any position 
where the vegetation is not taller than themselves, such as on bare 
sandy banks, gravelly heaps, etc. There are about fifty hardy kinds 
in cultivation in the gardens in this country. 

Meadow Rue, Thalictrum.—Tall and vigorous herbaceous plants, 
mostly without any beauty of flower when closely examined, but often 
affording a pleasing distant effect when seen in masses, and hence 
desirable for this mode of gardening, though seldom suitable for 
a position in the garden proper. They grow in any soil, and should 
be placed among yank herbs and coarse vegetation, not in the fore- 
ground, which might be occupied by more brilliant subjects. There 
are many kinds not differing much in aspect ; some of the smaller ones 


HARDY EXOTIC FLOWERING PLANTS. 159 


in the way of our own British T. minus, deserve a place among dwarf 
vegetation for the elegance of their leaves. With these last may be 
associated the Italian Isopyrum thalictroides, which is handsome in 
flower and elegant in leaf. 

Spiderwort, Tradescantia wrginica.—A handsome and distinct 
North American perennial, with purple, blue, or white flowers, attain- 
ing a height of 14 feet or 2 feet. An admirable subject for naturalisa- 
tion on almost any soil, thriving perfectly on the wettest and coldest, 
and therefore suited for many places where other perennials would 
make little progress. 

Wood Lily, Trilliwm.—Very singular and beautiful American 
wood plants, of which T. grandiflorum is worthy of special attention, 
thriving in shady places in moist rich soils, in woods and copses, where 
some vegetable soil has gathered. 

Globe Flower, Trollius-—Beautiful plants of vigorous halvit, 
with large handsome flowers, of a fine golden cvlour, like those of the 
buttercups, but turning inwards so as to form an almost round blossom, 
quite distinct in aspect. Few subjects are more worthy of a position 
in grassy glades where the soil is rich, 
although they will grow in ordinary soil. 
There are several distinct kinds suitable, 
though there is little difference in their 


appearance. 

Tulip, Tulipa.— Various kinds of 
Tulips might be naturalised with advan- 
tage by wood walks and in the rougher 
parts of the pleasure grounds. In 
such positions they would not attain 

- such a size as the richly-fed garden 
flowers, but that would make them 
none the less attractive to those who |} 
care about the wild garden. 

Telekia, Telekia cordifolia.—A 
vigorous herbaceous plant, suited for 
association with Echinops, Rheum, 
and subjects grown for their foliage 
and character. It is very free in Telekia. Type of the Larger Composites, 
growth, and has large foliage and excluded from gardens proper. 
sunflower-like flowers. 

Flame- Flower, Tritoma.— Flame Flowers are occasionally 


160 THE WILD GARDEN. 


e 
planted in excess, so as to neutralise the good effect they might other- 
wise produce, and they, like many other flowers, have suffered from 
being, like soldiers, put in straight lines and in other geometrical form- 
ations. It is only where a fine plant or group of plants is seen in 
some green glade that the true beauty of the Flame Flower is seen, 
especially at some little distance off. Although not exactly belonging 
to the very free-growing and extremely hardy genera of plants recom- 
mended for the wild garden, they are so free in many soils that they 
might with confidence be recommended for that purpose, and our sketch 


| i TN \» < NN 
Lf < ' Poh a 
\ \ ONT Nh } 


Group of Tritoma, in grass. 


shows a picturesque group of them planted in this way. It would be 
delightful if people having country seats would study more the effects 
to be realised from certain types of plants. For instance, a well and 
tastefully placed group of these Flame Flowers would for a long time 
in autumn be a most effective feature in the landscape of a country 
seat ; and there are various other plants to which the same remark 
applies, though perhaps to none better than these in the later months 
of the year. 

Showy Indian Cress, Tropeolum speciosum,—Against terrace 
walls, among shrubs, and on slopes, on banks, or bushy rockwork near 
the hardy fernery ; in deep, rich, and light soil. This is a brilliant 
plant, well worth any trouble to establish, Many fai! to establish it in 


HARDY EXOTIC FLOWERING PLANTS. 161 


the garden proper, but moist, shady, and bushy places, will suit it 
better. 

Mullein, Verbascwm.—Verbascum vernale is a noble plant, 
which has been slowly spreading in our collections of hardy plants 
for some years past, and it is a plant of 
peculiar merit. I first saw it in the Gar- 
den of Plants, and brought home some 
roots which gave rise to the stock now in 
our gardens. Its peculiarities, or rather 
its merits, are that it is a true perennial 
species—at least on the warm soils, and 
in this respect quite unlike other Mulleins 
which are sometimes seen in our gardens, 
and oftener in our hedgerows. It also has 
the advantage of great height, growing, 
as in the specimen shown in our illus- 
tration, to a height of about 10 feet, or 
even more. Then there are the large and 
green leaves, which come up rather early 
and are extremely effective. Finally, the 
colour is good and the quantity of yellow 
flowers with purplish filaments that are 
borne on one of these great branching 
panicles is something enormous. The 
use of such a plant cannot be difficult 
to define, it being so good in form and so 
distinct in habit. For the back part of 
a mixed border, for grouping with other 
plants of remarkable size or form of 
foliage, or for placing here and there in 
open spaces among shrubs, it is well 
suited. A bold group of it, arranged on 
the Grass by itself, in deep, light, and 
well-dressed soil, would be effective in a 
picturesque garden. It is also known in 
gardens by the name of Verbascum Chaixii, which name, we believe, 
was given to it at Kew. 

Periwinkle, Vinca.—Trailing plants, with glossy foliage and 
handsome blue flowers, well known in gardens. They are admirable 
plants for naturalisation, growing in any position, shady or sunny. 

M 


A tall Mullein. 


162 THE WILD GARDEN. 


There are variously-coloured and very pretty varieties of V. minor, 
while the variegated forms of both species are handsome, and may be 
naturalised like the green kinds. 

Speedwell, Veronica.—Herbaceous plants, usually rather tall 
(14 feet to 3 feet), in some cases dwarf and neat alpine plants with 
blue flowers in various shades ; are among the hardiest of plants, and 
will grow in any soil. All the taller kinds are admirably suited for 
naturalisation among long grass and other herbaceous vegetation. A 
great number that are in cultivation in borders are only fit for this 
purpose. The dwarf kinds are equally suitable for bare places, or 
among other dwarf plants. 

Violet, Viola.—A numerous race of dwarf and interesting plants, 
thriving freely in our climate, in half-shady places, rocky spots or 
banks, fringes of shrubberies, or almost any position, The very hand- 
some bird’s-foot violet of N. America (V. pedata) would thrive in sandy 
level places or on rocky banks. In this family occur a good many 
kinds, such as V. canadensis, which, not being fragrant, or not possess- 
ing sufficient charms to ensure their general cultivation in gardens, are 
peculiarly suited for this sort of gardening. Our own sweet violet 
should be abundantly naturalised wherever it does not occur in a 
wild state. 

Adam’s-Needle, Yucca,—Although these scarcely come into this 
selection, yet their fine habit and their hardiness give them a charm 
for us even in a wild garden. A legitimate aim, on the part of any 
one carrying out this to any extent, would be to try and develop a 
sub-tropical aspect of vegetation in certain places. In such a case the 
Yuccas could not be dispensed with. The free-flowering kinds (Y. 
flaccida and Y. filamentosa) should not be omitted, as they are more 
likely to spread and increase than the larger ones ; all such plants are 
better held together in groups. 


CHAPTER XV. 


SELECTIONS OF HARDY EXOTIC PLANTS FOR VARIOUS POSITIONS 
IN THE WILD GARDEN. 


As it is desirable to know 
r how to procure as well as 
Ail Suge how to select the best kinds, 
&'| Wa few words on the first 
bx subject may not be amiss 
= \ here. 
) / A very important point 
is the getting of a stock of 
plants to begin with. In country or other places 
/, where many good old border flowers remain in the 
cottage gardens, many species may be collected 
\' therein. A series of nursery beds should be formed 
’ in some by-place in which such subjects could be 
increased to any desired degree. Free-growing 
spring-flowers like Aubrietia, Alyssum, and Iberis, 
may be multiplied to any extent by division or cuttings, 
Numbers of kinds may be raised from seed sown rather thinly in drills, in 
nursery beds in the open air. The catalogues should be searched every 
Spring for suitable subjects. The best time for sowing is the Spring, but 
any time during the Summer will do. Many perennials and bulbs must 
be bought in nurseries and increased as well as may be in nursery beds. 
As to soil, ete, the best way is to avoid the trouble of preparing it 
except for specially interesting plants. The great point is to adapt the 
plant to the soil—in peaty places to place plants that thrive in peat, 
in clay soils those that thrive in clays, and so on. Among coarse 
vegetation the best way is to dig the ground deeply before planting, so 


164 THE WILD GARDEN. 


as to allow the planted subjects to become well established. The ground 
is so dried, and exhausted and impoverished in some woodland places 


with coarse weeds, that so much preparation is necessary. 


A selection of Plants for Naturalisation in places devoid of any but 
dwarf vegetation, on bare banks, etc., and in poorish sotl. 


Dielytra eximia. 

3 formosa. 
Cheiranthus alpinus. 
Arabis albida. 
Aubrietia, in var. 
Alyssum, saxatile. 
Odontarrhena carsinum. 
Iberis corifolia. 

» sempervirens. 

»  correefolia. 
Thlaspi latifolium. 
Atthionema coridifolinm. 
Helianthemum, in var. 
Viola cornuta, 

»  cucullata, 
Gypsophila repens. 
Tunica Saxifraga. 
Saponaria ocymoides. 
Silene alpestris. 

»  Schafta, 
Cerastium Biebersteinii. 

FA grandiflorum, 
i tomentosum. 
Linum alpinum. 

»  arboreum, 

» flavum. 
Geranium Woallichianum. 
9 striatum. 

i cinereum, and 
others. 
Oxalis floribunda. 
Genista sagittalis. 
Anthyllis montana. 
Astragalus monspessu- 

Janus. 

Coronilla varia, 
Hedysarum obscurum. 


Vicia argentea. 
Orobus vernus. 

» _ lathyroides. 
Waldsteinia trifolia. 
Potentilla calabra. 
Enothera speciosa. 

3 missouriensis. 
- taraxacifolia, 
Sedum dentatum. 

»  kamtschaticum. 

3  Sieboldii. 

»  Sspectabile. 

»  spurium. 
Sempervivum calcareum. 

a hirtum. 
oe montanum. 
2 soboliferum. 
i sedoides. 
Saxifraga Aizoon. 
a cordifolia. 
39 crassifolia. 
4 crustata. 
iv longifolia. 
Cotyledon. 
- rosularis. 
Astrantia major. 
Dondia Epipactis. 
Athamanta Matthioli, 
Cornus canadensis. 
Scabiosa caucasica. 
Hieracium aurantiacum. 
Doronicum caucasicum, 
Aster alpinus. 
Tussilago fragrans, 
Achillea aurea, 
Symphyandra pendula, 
Campanula carpatica. 


Campanula fragilis. 
i garganica. 
35 ceespitosa. 


Gaultheria procumbens. 
Vinca herbacea, 
Gentiana acaulis. 
Phlox stolonifera, 
»  subulata. 
Lithospermum  prostra- 
tum. 
Pulmonaria grandiflora. 
55 mollis. 
Myosotis dissitiflora, 
Physalis Alkekengi. 
Pentstemon procerus. 
Veronica austriaca. 

Pe candida. 

I taurica, 
Teucrium Chamedrys. 
Ajuga genevensis. 
Scutellaria alpina. 
Prunella grandiflora. 
Stachys lanata. 

Zietenia lavandulefolia. 
Dodecatheon Meadia. 
Acantholimon glumaceum. 
Armeria cephalotes. 
Plumbago Larpente. 
Polygonum Brunonis, 

9 vaccinifolium. 
Euphorbia Cyparissias. 
Tris cristata. 

» graminea. 

»» pumila, 

» Teticulata. 

»» nudicaulis. 


Plants of vigorous habit for the Wild Garden. 


Trollius altaicus. 
»  uapellifolius, or 
any other kind. 
Thalictrum aquilegifolium. 
Delphinium, in var. 
Aconitum, in var. 


Peonia, in great var. 
Papaver orientale. 

»  bracteatum. 
Macleya cordata. 
Datisca cannabina, 
Crambe cordifolia. 


Althea ficifolia. 
»  nudiflora. 
»  taurinensis. 
Lavatera Olbia, 
Galega officinalis. 
» biloba. 


SELECTIONS OF HARDY EXOTIC PLANTS. 


Lathyrus latifolius. 
5 grandiflorus, 
and any others. 
Lupinus polyphyllus. 
Thermopsis barbata. 
Spirea Aruncus. 
Astilbe rivularis. 
»  Tubra. 
Molopospermum 
rium. 
Ferula communis. 
» glauca. 
»  tingitana. 
sulcata. 
Statice latifolia. 
Peucedanum 
involucratum. 
+i longifolium. 
Heracleum flavescens. 
‘ giganteum. 
Dipsacus laciniatus, 
Mulgedium Plumieri. 


cicuta- 


Alfredia cernua. 
Onopordon tauricum,. 
Centaurea babylonica. 
Echinops bannaticus. 
es exaltatus. 
a ruthenicus. 
” purpureus. 
Aster elegans. 
» Novi Belgii. 
» Nove Angliz, 
» pyrenzus. 
» ericoides, and any 
other good kinds. 
Eupatorium purpureum. 
Telekia cordifolia. 
Helianthus angustifolius. 

e multiflorus. 

a orgyalis. 
Harpalium rigidum. 
Silphium perfoliatum. 
Campanula, all the tall and 

strong growing kinds. 


165 


Asclepias Cornuti. 

i Douglasii. 
Verbascum Chaixii. 
Physostegia imbricata, 

ss speciosa. 
Acanthus latifolius. 

3 spinosus. 

ss spinosissimus. 
Phytolacca decandra. 
Polygonum Sieboldii. 
Rheum Emodi. 

»  palmatum. 
Achillea Eupatorium. 
Bambusa falcata. 
Veratrum album. 
Yucca filamentosa, 

»» flaccida. 

x) | recurva. 

»»  @loriosa. 
Peucedanum ruthenicum. 
Astragalus ponticus. 


Hardy Plants with fine foliage or graceful habit suitable for 


Acanthus, several species. 

Asclepias syriaca. 

Statice latifolia. 

Polygonum cuspidatum, 
- sachalinense. 

Rheum Emodi, and other 

kinds. 

Euphorbia Cyparissias. 

Datisca cannabina. 

Veratrum album. 

Crambe cordifolia. 

Althea, taurinensis. 

Elymus arenarius. 

Bambusa, several species. 

Arundinaria falcata. 

Yucca, several species. 


Naturalisation. 


Verbascum Chaixii. 
Spireea Aruncus. 
Astilbe rivularis. 

» rubra. 
Eryngium, several species. 
Ferula, several species. 
Phytolacca decandra. 
Centaurea babylonica. 
Actea, in var. 
Cimicifuga racemosa. 


| Peucedanum ruthenicum. 


Heracleum, several species. 
Aralia japonica. 

>» edulis. 
Macleaya cordata. 


Panicum bulbosum. 
my virgatum. 
Dipsacus laciniatus. 
Alfredia cernua. 
Carlina acanthifolia. 
Telekia cordifolia. 
Echinops exaltatus. 
5 ruthenicus. 
Helianthus orgyalis. 


35 multiflorus, 
and vars. 
Silybum eburneum. 
x Marianum., 
Onopordon Acanthium. 
5 arabicum, 


Plants for Hedge-banks and like Places. 


Clematis in great var. 


Baptisia australis. 


Thalictrum aquilegifolium. | Coronilla varia. 


Anemone japonica 
vars. 

Delphinium, in var. 

Aconitum, in var. 

Macleaya cordata. 

Kitaibelia vitifolia. 

Tropeolum speciosum. 


and | Galega 


officinalis, 
white and pink forms. 
Galega biloba. 
Astragalus ponticus. 
Lathyrus grandiflorus. 
9 rotundifolius. 
4 latifolius. 


Lathyrus latifolius albus. 
Lupinus polyphyllus. 


both | Rubus biflorus. 


CEnothera Lamarckiana. 
Astilbe rivularis. 

Ferula, in var. 
Campanula, in great var. 
Calystegia dahurica. 


a5 pubescens. 


166 


Verbascum Chaixii. 
Pentstemon barbatus. 
Veronica, tall kinds in var. 
Phlomis Russelliana. 
<3 herba-venti. 
Physostegia speciosa. 
+ virginica, 


THE WILD GARDEN. 


Acanthus spinosus. 
Lilies, common kinds. 
Narcissus, common kinds. 
Scillas, in var. 

Statice latifolia. 
Phytolacca decandra. 
Aristolochia Sipho. 


Asparagus Broussoneti. 
ny officinalis. 
Vitis, in var. 
Honeysuckles, in var. 
Leucojum, in var. 
Fritillary, in var. 


Trailers, Climbers, etc. 


The selection of plants to cover bowers, trellises, railings, old trees, 
stumps, rootwork, etc., suitably, is important, particularly as the plants 
fitted for these purposes are equally useful for rough rockwork, pre- 
cipitous banks, flanks of rustic bridges, river-banks, ruins, covering 
cottages or outhouses, and many other uses in garden, pleasure- 


ground, or wilderness. 


Vitis stivalis. 

» amooriensis. 

» cordifolia. 

» heterophylla variegata 

» Isabella. 

»  Labrusca. 

» laciniosa. 

» riparia. 

» Sieboldii. 

»  vVinifera apiifolia. 

»  vulpina, 
Aristolochia Sipho. 

a tomentosa. 


Clematis, in great variety, 


both species and hybrids. | 


Calystegia dahurica. 

» pubescens plena. 
Wistaria sinensis. 
Asparagus Broussoneti. 
Periploca greca. 
Hablitzia tamnoides. 
Boussingaultia baselloides. 
Menispermum canadense. 
8 virginicum. 
Cissus orientalis. 

>> pubescens, 


Ampelopsis bipinnata. 


“i cordata. 
as hederacea. 
5 tricuspidata. 
Jasminum nudiflorum. 
Ps officinale. 
4% revolutum. 


Passiflora coerulea. 
Lonicera Caprifolium. 

v6 confusa. 

9 flava. 

3 japonica. 

” Periclymenum. 


Spring and early Summer Flowers for Naturalisation. 


Anemone alpina. 


sy » sulphurea. 
“a apennina. 
. blanda. 
“ Coronaria, 
9 fulgens. 
»»  Hepatica. 
5 ranunculoides. 
9 trifolia. 
Ranunculus aconitifolius. 
9 amplexicaulis, 
a montanus, 
Helleborus niger. 
33 olympicus, and 
many other 
kinds, 


Eranthis hyemalis. 
Aquilegia vulgaris, 
Peonia, many kinds. 
Epimedium pinnatum. 


Papaver croceum. 

»  bracteatum. 

95 orientale. 
Dielytra eximia. 

eo spectabilis. 
Corydalis capnoides. 


» Tutea. 
Cheiranthus alpinus. 
* Cheiri. 
Arabis. 


Aubrietia, various. 
Alyssum saxatile. 
Tberis corifolia. 

» sempervirens, 

»  corresefolia. 
Viola cornuta. 
Saponaria ocymoides. 
Silene alpestris. 
Arenaria montana. 
Ononis fruticosa. 


Vicia argentea. 
Orobus flaccidus. 

»  cyaneus. 

»  lathyroides. 

»  Variegatus. 

»  vernus. 
Centranthus ruber. 
Centaurea montana. 
Doronicum caucasicum. 
Thlaspi latifolium. 
Hesperis matronalis. 
Erica carnea. 

Vinca major. 
Gentiana acaulis. 

Phlox reptans. 
Pulmonaria grandiflora. 
a mollis. 
Symphytum bohemicum. 

a8 caucasicum. 
Myosotis dissitiflora. 


SELECTIONS OF HARDY EXOTIC PLANTS. 


Omphalodes verna. 

Verbascum Chaixii. 

Dodecatheon Jeffreyi. 
<3 Meadia. 

Cyclamen europeun. 

Cyclamen hederefolium. 

Primula, in var. 

Tris amena. 

» cristata. 

» De Bergii. 

» flavescens. 

» florentina. 

» germanica, 

» graminea. 

» ochroleuca. 

» pallida. 

» sambucina. 

» sub-biflora. 


Tris variegata, and many 
other kinds, 
Crocus aureus. 
»»  Speciosus. 
»» versicolor. 
»  susianus,andmany 
others. 
Narcissus angustifolius. 
5 Bulbocodium. 


on bicolor, 

- incomparabilis, 
ay major. 

8 montanus. 

i odorus. 


5 poeticus & vars. 
Galanthus, in var. 


‘Leucojum pulchellum. 


55 vernum. 
Paradisia Liliastrum. 


167 


Ornithogalum umbellatum. 
Scilla amcena. 


»  bifolia 

»  campanulata. 

»  patula. 

 ~italica,... 
sibirica, 


” 
Hyacinthus amethystinus. 
Muscari botryoides. 
3 moschatum, and 
various others. 
Allium neapolitanuin. 
*,,  eiliatum, 
Tulipa Gesneriana. 
>, suaveolens. 
>,  scabriscapa and 
many others. 
Fritillaria, in var. 
Bulbocodium vernum. 


Plants for Naturalisation beneath specimen Trees on Lawns, ete. 


Where, as is frequently the case, the branches of trees, both 
evergreen and deciduous, sweep the turf—and this, as a rule, they 
should be allowed to do where they are planted in ormmamental 
grounds—a great number of pretty spring flowers may be naturalised 
beneath the branches, where they thrive without attention. It is 
chiefly in the case of deciduous trees that this could be done ; but 
even in the case of conifers and evergreens some graceful objects might 
be dotted beneath the outermost points of their lower branches. How- 
ever, it is the specimen deciduous tree that offers us the best opportuni- 
ties in this way. We know that a great number of our spring flowers 
and hardy bulbs mature their foliage and go to rest early in the year. 
They require light and sun in spring, which they obtain abundantly 
under the deciduous tree ; they have time to flower and develop their 
leaves under it before the foliage of the tree appears ; then, as the 
summer heats approach, they are gradually overshadowed by a cool 
canopy, and go to rest undisturbed ; but, the leaves of the trees once 
fallen, they soon begin to appear again and cover the ground with 
beauty. 

An example or two will perhaps explain the matter more fully. 
Take the case of, say, a spreading old specimen of any summer-leafing 
tree, Scatter a few tufts of the winter Aconite beneath it, and leave 
them alone. In a very few years they will have covered the ground ; 
every year afterwards they will spread a golden carpet beneath the 
tree ; and when it fades there will be no eyesore from decaying leaves 


168 THE WILD GARDEN. 


as there would be on a border—no necessity for replacing the plants 
with others ; the tree puts forth its leaves, covering the ground till 
Autumn, and in early spring we again see our little friend in all the 
vigour of his glossy leaves and golden buttons. In this way this 
pretty spring flower may be seen to much greater advantage, in a 
much more pleasing position than in the ordinary way of putting it in 
patches and rings in beds or borders, and with a tithe of the trouble. 
There are many other subjects of which the same is true. We have 
only to imagine this done in a variety of cases to see to what a beauti- 
ful and novel result it would lead. Given the bright blue Apennine Ane- 
mone under one tree, the spring Snowflake under another, the delicate 
blue and pencilled Crocuses, and so on, we should have a spring garden 
of the most beautiful kind. The same plan could be carried out under 
the branches of a grove as well as of specimen trees, Very attractive 
mixed plantations might be made by dotting tall subjects like the 
large Jonquil (Narcissus odorus) among dwarf spreading plants like 
the Anemone, and also by mixing dwarf plants of various colours: 
diversely coloured varieties of the same species of Anemone, for 
example, 

Omitting the various pretty British plants that would thrive in the 
positions indicated—these are not likely to be unknown to the reader 
interested in such matters—and confining the selection to dwarf, hardy, 
exotic flowers alone, the following are selected as among the most 
suitable for such arrangements as that just described, with some little 
attention as to the season of flowering and the kind of soil required by 
some rather uncommon species. A late-flowering kind, for example, 
should be planted under late-leafing trees, or towards the points of 
their branches, so that they might not be obscured by the leaves of 
the tree before perfecting their flowers. 


Anemone angulosa. Crocus Imperati. 


Grape Hyacinths Muscari, 


+ apennina. »  biflorus. any of thenumerouskinds. 

9 blanda. »  reticulatus. Narcissus, in var. 

” Coronaria. » versicolor, and Puschkinia scilloides. 

1G fulgens. many others, Sanguinaria canadensis. 

“5 Hepatica. Cyclamen hederefolium. j Scilla bifolia. 

re stellata. Eranthis hyemalis. »  Sibirica, 

a sylvestris. Erythronium Dens-canis. 1  campanulata, 
trifolia. Ficaria grandiflora. Sisyrinchium grandiflo- 


a? 
Arum italicum. 
Bulbocodium vernum, 
Corydalis solida. 

vs tuberosa. 


Snowdrop, all the kinds. 
Snowflake, all the kinds, 
Tris reticulata, 

Grape Hyacinths. 


rum. 

Trillium grandifloruam 
(peat or leaf soil), 

Tulipa, in var. 


SELECTIONS OF HARDY EXOTIC PLANTS. 


169 


Plants for very moist rich Soils. 


Althea, in var. 
Astilbe rivularis. 
Aralia edulis. 

»  nudicaulis. 
Artemisia, in var. 
Asclepias Cornuti. 
Asphodelus raiosus. 
Aster, in var. 

Baptisia exaltata. 
Butomus umbellatus. 
Calla palustris. 
Caltha palustris fl. pl. 
Campanula glomerata, and 
large kinds. 
Convallaria multiflora. 
Colchicum, in var. 
Crinum capense. 
Cypripedium spectabile. 
Datisca cannabina. 
Echinops, in var. 
Elymus, in var. 
Epilobium, in var. 


Alstroemeria, in var. 
Calluna, in var. 
Chimaphila maculata. 
Chrysobactron Hookeri. 
Coptis trifoliata. 

Cornus canadensis. 
Cypripedium spectabile. 
Dentaria laciniata. 
Daphne Cneorum. 
Dryas octopetala. 


Epigzea repens. 
Epimedium, in var. 


Eupatorium, in var. 

Ficaria grandiflora. 

Galax aphylla. 

Galega officinalis. 

Gentiana asclepiadea. 

Helianthus multiflorus, 
single and double forms. 

Helianthus orgyalis. 

s rigidus. 
Helonias bullata. 
Hemerocallis, in var. 
Heracleum, in var. 

Iris ochreleuca. 

Liatris, in var. 

Lythrum (roseum super- 
bum). 

Mimulas, in var. 

Molopospermum 
rium. 

Mulgedium Plumieri. 

Narcissus, stronger kinds, 


cicuta- 


Funkia Sieboldii. 

» grandiflora. 
Galax aphylla. 
Gaultheria procumbens. 
Gentians, in var. 
Helonias bullata. 

Tris nudicaulis, pumila, 
and vars. 

Jeffersonia diphylla. 

Linnea borealis. 

Podophyllum peltatum. 


Enothera, large kinds. 
Omphalodes verna. 
Onopordon, in var. 
Phlomis herba-venti. 

rr Russelliana, 
Physostegia speciosa. 
Phytolacca decandra. 
Rudbeckia hirta. 
Ranunculus amplexicaulis. 

# parnassifolius. 

Sanguinaria canadensis. 
Solidago, in var. 
Spirea Aruncus. 
Statice latifolia. 
Silphium, in var. 
Swertia perennis. 
Telekia speciosa. 
Thalictrum, in var. 
Trollius, in var. 
Vaccinium, in var. 
Veratrum, in var. 


Plants suited for Peat Sori. 


Podophyllum Emodi. 
Polygala Chamebuxus. 
Pyrola, in var. 
Hardy Heaths, in var. 
Ramondia pyrenaica. 
Sisyrinchium — grandiflo- 
rum. 
Spigelia marilandica. 
Trientalis europea. 
Trillium grandiflorum. 
Lilies, in var. 


Plants suited for Calcareous or Chalky Sort. 


Adenophora, in var. 
Asthionema, in var. 
Anemone, in var. 
Alyssum, in var. 
Anthyllis montana. 
Antirrhinum, in var. 
Cistus, in var. 
Cheiranthus, in var. 
Campanula, in var. 
Carduus eriophorus. 
Cerastium, in var. 
Coronilla, in var. 


Dorycnium sericeum. 
Dianthus, in var. 
Echium, in var. 
Erodium, in var. 
Genista, in var. 
Geum, in var. 
Geranium, in var. 
Gypsophila, in var. 
Hedysarum, in var. 
Helianthemum, in var. 
Lunaria biennis. 
Lupinus polyphyllus. 


Onobrychis, in var. 

Ononis, in var. 

Ophrys, in var. 

Othonna cheirifolia. 

Phlomis, in var. 

Prunella grandiflora. 

Santolina, in var. 

Saponaria ocymoides. 

Saxifraga (the encrusted 
‘and the large-leaved 
kinds). 

Scabiosa, in var. 


170 


Sempervivum, in var. 
Sedum, in var. 
Symphytum, in var. 
Thermopsis fabacea. 
Thymus, in var. 


THE WILD GARDEN. 


Trachelium cceruleum. 
Trifolium alpinum. 
Triteleia uniflora. 
Tunica Saxifraga. 
Vesicaria utriculata. 


Vicia, in var. 

Vittadenia triloba. 

Waldsteinia trifoliata. 
% geoides. 


Plants suited for Dry and Gravelly Soit. 


Achillea, in var, 
AXthionema cordifolium. 
Agrostemma, coronaria. 
Alyssum saxatile. 
Antennaria dioica, 
Anthyllis montana. 
Antirrhinum rupestre. 
Arabis albida. 
Aubrietia, in var. 
Armeria cephalotes. 
Artemisia, in var. 
Cerastium, in var. 
Carlina acanthifolia. 
Cheiranthus, in var. 
Chrysopsis mariana. 
Cistus, in var. 
Corydalis, in var. 
Dianthus, in var. 
Dracocephalum, in var. 
Dielytra eximia. 


Dorycnium sericeum, 
Echium, in var. 
Erodium, in var. 
Eryngium, in var. 
Euphorbia Myrsinites. 
Fumaria, in var. 
Geranium, in var. 
Gypsophila, in var. 
Helianthemum, in var. 
Helichrysum arenarium. 
Hypericum, in var. 
Iberis, in var. 

Jasione perennis. 
Lavandula spica. 
Linaria, in var. 
Linum, in var. 
Lupinus polyphyllus. 
Modiola geranioides. 
Narcissus, in var. 
Nepeta Mussinii. 


Onobrychis, in var. 
Ononis, in var. 
Ornithogalum, in var. 
Plumbago Larpentz. 
Polygonum vaccinifolium. 
Santolina, in var. 
Scabiosa, in var. 
Sedum, in great var. 
Sempervivum, in great var 
Saponaria ocymoides. 
Stachys lanata. 
Teucrium Chamedrys. 
Thlaspi latifolium. 
Thymus, in var. 
Trachelium, in var. 
Tussilago fragrans. 

»  Farfara variegata, 
Verbascum, in var. 
Vesicaria utriculata. 


Selection of Plants for Growing on Old Walls, Ruins, or Rocky Slopes. 


Achillea tomentosa. 
Alyssum montanum saxa- 
tile (walls and ruins). 

Antirrhinum rupestre. 


a majus, 
” Orontium. 
Arenaria balearica. 
5 cespitosa. 
$3 ciliata. 
55 graminifolia. 
or montana, 
se verna. 
Arabis albida. 
» -petraea, 


Asperula cynanchica. 
Campanula Barrelieri. 


ei rotundifolia, 

is fragilis. 

ie fragilis lanu- 

ginosa, 

é garganica, 

“6 pumila. 

3 pumila alba. 
Centranthus ruber. 

. » albus. 


Centranthus ruber coccin- 
eus. 
Cheiranthus alpinus. 

ss Cheiri. 

is »> pleno. 
Coronilla minima. 
Corydalis lutea. 
Cotyledon Umbilicus. 
Dianthus cesius. 

“ deltoides. 
rr monspessulanus. 
0 petreus, 
Draba aizoides, 
Erinus alpinus. 
Erodium romanum. 
ss Reichardii. 
Gypsophila muralis. 

3 prostrata. 
Helianthemums. 
Hutchinsia petraa. 
Tberis. 

Tonopsidium acaule. 
Koniga maritima. 
Linum alpinum. 
Lychnis alpina. 


Lychnis Flos Jovis. 
»  lapponica. 

Malva campanulata. 

Santolina lanata. 


Saponaria ocymoides. 
Saxifraga bryoides. 
és caryophyllata. 
- cesia, 
‘5 crustata. 
cuscuteeformis, 
4 diapensioides. 
* Hostii. | 
sé intacta. 


fy ligulata, 
a longifolia. 


a pectinata, 

93 pulchella. 

$9 retusa, 

® Rhei. 

35 rosularis, 

" Rocheliana, 
sarmentosa. 


” 
Sedum acre. 
»  auretm. 
» Aizoon. 


SELECTIONS OF HARDY EXOTIC PLANTS. 


Sedum album. 
»  anglicum. 
»  renarium. 
»  brevifolium. 
»  ealifornicum. 
»  coeruleum. 
»  dasyphyllum. 
» elegans. 
» Ewersii. 
»  farinosum. 
»  globiferum. 
»  Heuffelli. 
»  hirtum. 


Sedum hispanicum. 
»  kamschaticum. 
»  montanum, 
»  multiceps. 
»  piliferum. 
9»  pulchrum. 
sempervivoides. 
Sempervivum arachnoid- 
eum. 
5 soboliferum. 
bes spurium. 
i sexangulare. 
69 sexfidum. 


171 


Sempervivum tectorum. 
Silene alpestris. 

»  Tupestris. 

»  Schafta. . 
Symphiandra pendula. 
Thlaspi alpestre. 
Thymus citriodorus. 
Trichomanes, and vars. 
Tunica Saxifraga. 
Umbilicus chrysanthus. 
Veronica fruticulosa. 

re saxatilis. 
Vesicaria utriculata. 


A Selection of Annual and Biennial Plants for Naturalisation. 


Papaver somniferum. 
Eschscholtzia californica. 


Platystemon californicum. 


Matthiola annua. 

9 bicornis. 
Arabis arenosa. 
Alyssum maritimum. 
Iberis coronaria. 

»  uwmbellata. 
Malcolmia maritima. 


Erysimum Peroffskianum. 


Gypsophila elegans. 
Saponaria calabrica. 
Silene Armeria. 
Viscaria oculata. 
Malope trifida. 
Limnanthes Douglasii. 
Ononis viscosa. 
Ginothera odorata. 
Godetia Lindleyana. 

»  rubicunda, 


Agrostis nebulosa. 
Briza maxima. 
Brizopyrum siculum. 
Bromus brizeformis. 


Godetia tenella. 
Clarkia elegans. 
», pulchella, 
Eucharidium concinnum 
grandiflorum. 
Amberboa moschata, 

a odorata. 
Helianthus annuus. 
Dimorphotheca pluvialis. 
Gilia capitata. 

x. tricolor. 
Collomia coccinea. 
Leptosiphon androsaceus. 
5 densiflorus. 
Nicandra physaloides. 
Collinsia bicolor. 


Pr verna. 
Dracocephalum nutans. 
moldavicum. 


Blitum capitatum. 


Hordeum jubatum. 

Panicum virgatum. 
a bulbosum. 
re capillare. 


Grasses for Naturalisation. 


Polygonum orientale. 
Panicum capillare. 
Bromus brizeformis. 
Briza maxima. 

» gracilis. 
Agrostis nebulosa, 
Matthiola, in var. 
Lunaria biennis. 
Hesperis matronalis. 
Erysimum asperum. 
Silene pendula. 
Hedysarum coronarium. 
CEnothera Jamesi. 
(Enothera Lamarckiana. 
Dipsacus laciniatus. 
Silybum eburneum. 
Onopordum, in var, 
Campanula Medium. 

4: rosea. 

Verbascum phlomoides. 


Polypogon monspeliensis. 
Stipa gigantea. 

»  pennata. 
Milium multiflorum. 


Some of our nobler grasses, like the Pampas and the New Zealand 
reeds, have not the qualities of perfect hardiness and power of increase 
without care in our climate, which would entitle them to a place in 


these selections. 


They belong to the garden proper. 


Aquatic Plants for Naturalisation. 


Nuphar advena. 
Nymphea odorata, 


Calla palustris. 
Pontederia cordata. 


Aponogeton distachyon. 
Orontium aquaticum, 


172 


THE WILD GARDEN. 


Hardy Bulbs for Naturalisation. 


Allium Moly. 

»  fragrans. 

+,  neapolitanum. 

»  ciliatum, 
Brodiza congesta. 
Bulbocodium vernum, 
Camassia esculenta. 
Crinum capense. 
Crocus, in great var. 
Colchicum, in var. 


Cyclamen, in var. 
Erythronium Dens-canis. 
Fritillaria, in var. 
Gladiolus communis. 
Hyacinthus amethystinus. 
Tris, in great var. 
Leucojum, in var. 
Lilium, in var. 

Merendera Bulbocodium. 
Muscari, in var. 


Narcissus, in great var. 
Ornithogalum, in var. 
Scilla, in var. 
Snowdrops, in var. 
Sparaxis pulcherrima. 
Sternbergia lutea. 
Trichonema ramiflorum. 
Triteleia uniflora. 
Tulipa, in var. 


List of Plants for Naturalisation in Lawns and other Grassy Places 


not frequently mown. 


This must of necessity be a limited list—being confined to subjects 
that will grow and flower early in the season, and not form tufts or 
foliage large enough to much injure the turf. 


Bulbocodium vernum. 
Colchicum, in var. 
Cyclamen hederefolium. 
Snowdrops, all. 
Leucojum vernum, 
Scilla bifolia. 


3» alba. 

»  Ssibirica, 
>,  italica. 

+» amoena, 


Anemone apennina. 


Anemone ranunculoides. 
ay blanda. 

Ae trifolia. 
Antennaria dioica rosea, 
Anthyllis montana. 
Dianthus deltoides. 
Erodium romanum. 
Fumaria bulbosa. 
Helichrysum arenarium. 
Iris reticulata. 

Linum alpinum. 


Narcissus minor. 


ne bicolor. 
5 Bulbocodium. 
3 juncifolius, and 


many others. 
| Sternbergia lutea. 
Hyacinthus amethystinus. 
Merendera Bulbocodium. 
Muscari, in var. 
Trichonema ramiflorum. 


x 


Climbing and Twining Plants for Thickets, Copses, Hedgerows, and Trees. 


Ampelopsis bipinnata. : 


ie cordata. 
53 hederacea. 
a tricuspidata. 


Apios tuberosa. 
Aristolochia Sipho. 

7 tomentosa. 
Asparagus Broussoneti. 
Calystegia dahurica. 
Cissus orientalis. 
Clematis flammula, 

ne montana, 


Clematis Viticella, and 
others. 
Hablitzia tamnoides, 
Jasminum nudiflorum, 
a officinale. 
Lathyrus grandiflorus, 
iy latifolius. 


is rotundifolius, 
5 tuberosus and 
others. 
Lonicera Caprifolium. 
ss confusa. 
at flava. 


Lonicera japonica. 
6 Periclymenum. 

Menispermum canadense. 

ai virginicum. 
Periploca greca. 
Roses, single, in great var. 
Smilax, hardy kinds. 
Tamus communis. 
Tropeolum pentaphyllum. 

es speciosum. 

Vitis, various. 
Wistaria frutescens. 


9 sinensis. 


These selections are only proposed as aids to those dealing with 


special positions, 


The most valuable selection and best guide to the 


material for the beginner will be found in Chapter XIV., on the prin- 
cipal types of Hardy Exotic Plants for the wild garden, 


RABBITS AND WOODS. 173 


RABBITS AND WOODS. 


This sad subject has been kept for the last, as the only disagree- 
able one in connection with the wild garden. All I have to say of 
it is, there should be no rabbits in the wild garden ; but the following 
suggestions may prove useful. 

The subject should be presented in a practical light to landowners 
and preservers of game, and if it can be shown that the preservation, 
or rather toleration, of rabbits on an estate is a dead loss both to the 
proprietor and his tenants, probably more active measures would be 
taken for their extermination. It is incalculable the injury they do to 
young trees alone ; indeed, where they prevail there is no chance of 
getting up cover except at an extravagant cost. Hares are less 
destructive, if they damage trees at all ; and it is said by experienced 
gamekeepers that they never thrive so well where rabbits abound. 
And as regards pheasants, they drive them away by eating down the 
evergreen cover so necessary to their existence in the way of shelter in 
winter. Pheasants will not remain in a wood where there is not 
shelter of this kind; and nothing are they more partial to than the 
Holly, whieh ought to abound in every wood, but which the rabbits 
destroy first. Here are two sorts of game—hares and pheasants—which 
many can never have enough of, and the existence of which is directly 
interfered with by the rabbits; they should be encouraged at the 
expense of the latter—not to speak of the expense incurred year after 
year making up losses in plantation, and the expense of wire-netting 
and labour, etc., in protecting the trees. The extermination of rabbits 
in this country is not such a difficult matter as might be imagined. 
When it was determined here a few years since to reduce their numbers 
to a minimum on the farm lands and woods, it did not require more 
than a couple of years to do so by shooting and ferreting during the 
season ; and they are now principally confined to one part of the 
estate—an extensive tract of waste land not of much use for any other 
purpose. I feel pretty certain that a few active poachers would under- 
take to clear an estate of its rabbits in a marvellously short time, and 
would be glad to pay a handsome consideration for the privilege of 
doing so. In whatever degree rabbits contribute to our food supply— 
and it is not much—they certainly destroy a great quantity of our corn 
crops, and are no profit to gentlemen or game preservers, and there is 
therefore no excuse for their existence. 

Hungry rabbits, like hungry dogs or starving men, will eat almost 


174 THE WILD GARDEN. 


anything that can be masticated and swallowed. Rabbits, as a rule, 
prefer to nibble over a pasture that contains short, sweet, wholesome 
grass, and a proportion of clover, dandelion, and daisies, but in and 
about woods where rabbits are numerous, the grass, from being closely 
and constantly eaten off, gradually disappears, and at the approach of 
winter is succeeded by moss, a very cold, watery, and innutritious 
substitute ; then rabbits are driven to seek food from other sources 
than grass, and the bark of small trees, the leaves, stalks, and bark of 
shrubs, and the protruding roots of forest trees, are eaten almost indis- 
criminately. Amongst evergreen shrubs, rhododendrons and box are 
generally avoided, but I have known newly-planted hybrid rhodo- 
dendrons to be partly eaten by rabbits. The elder is distasteful, and 
American azaleas are avoided. I have frequently seen Yew trees 
barked ; mahonias are devoured in these woods as soon as planted ; 
and periwinkle, which is named amongst rabbit-proof plants, is generally 
eaten to the ground in severe weather. Some of the bulbs and flower- 
ing plants named by your correspondent may well escape in winter, 
because they are not seen above ground, and where they grow, other 
more agreeable. herbage appears, so their immunity consists in being 
inaccessible in a hungry time. Where rabbits are permitfied, the fact 
that they require food daily, like other creatures, should be recognised. 
In the absence of wholesome food they will eat simply what they can 
get. A certain portion of grass land should be retained for them and 
managed .accordingly ; a few acres might be wired round, or, to be 
more explicit, surrounded with wire-netting, to the exclusion of rabbits, 
until the approach of wintry weather, when it could be thrown open 
for them. If this cannot be done, and frosty weather sets in, when 
the mischief to shrubs is consummated, trimmings ‘of quick hedges 
should be scattered about, and an allowance of turnips, carrots, or 
mangold wurzel made and doled out daily in bad weather. In my 
experience rabbits prefer newly planted trees and shrubs to those 
established. I have even had the fronds of newly-planted Athyrium 
Filix-foemina eaten, while other ferns have been untouched. ‘There is 
one hint I may give your rabbit-preserving readers: certain breeds of 
wild rabbits are much more prone to bark trees than others. The 
barking of trees is an acquired propensity more common to north- 
country rabbits than others. I should advise the destruction of those 
rabbits whose propensity for shrubs is very marked, and try warren or 
common rabbits from the south of England ; but the best advice I can 
give is to have no rabbits at all_—J. 8. 


_RABBITS AND WOODS. 175 


A correspondent who has given much attention to the subject 
(Salmoniceps) gives the following, as among the most rabbit-proof of 
plants :—“ Most of the Lily family are,” he says, “rejected by them, 
including Daffodils, Tulips, Snowdrops, Snowflakes, Lilies, Day Lilies, 
Asphodels, and others, and they cannot be too extensively planted ; 
but even in that tribe the Crocus (which is also named in the article 
in question) is greedily devoured. I gave—in an early number of 
your paper (see pp. 9 and 88, Vol. I.)—a list of all rabbit-proof trees, 
shrubs, and flowers then known to me, and I regret that, though keep- 
ing a watch upon the subject, 1 have not been able to add a single 
species to the list given below.” 


Androsemum officinale, | Hollies. Primrose, in var. 
Anemone coronaria. Honesty (Lunaria). Roses, 

japonica. Iris. Ruscus aculeatus. 
Arabis. Ligustrum vulgare. »  Tacemosus. 
Artemesia Abrotanum. Lilies (common orange | Scilla. 
Asphodelus albus. and white kinds). Solomon’s Seal. 
Aubrietia. Lily of the Valley. Lonicera, in var. 
Berberis Darwinii. Lycium barbarum. Stachys Janata. 
Canterbury Bells. Mahonia Aquifolium. Symphoricarpus 
Cineraria maritima. Monkshood. » Tacemosus, 
Columbine. ~ Muscari. Syringa persica. 
Common andjlrish Yews. | Narcissus. » vulgaris. 
Deutzia scabra. Ornithogalum. Tritoma. 
Dog’s-tooth Violet. Pansies. Violets. 
Elder. Periwinkle (large and | Weigela rosea. 
Euonymus. small). Winter Aconite. 
Fuchsia. Phlox, in var. Woodruff. 
Hibiscus syriacus. Poppy. Yucca gloriosa. 


Lists, however, and considerations of the above sort, are a poor 
substitute for what is really required in such cases—the extermination 
of pests which are destructive alike to field crops, to trees and shrubs, 
and to plants, and which offer at best a very scanty return for the 
havoc they commit. 


FINIS, 


Acantuus, 120 

Accident, a beautiful, 51 

Achillea, 122 

Achilleas, large white, 53 

Aconite, the Winter, 139 

Aconitum, 121 

Adam's Needle, 162 

Ajuga, 122 

Alkanet, 125 

Allium, the White, 123 

Allium, the Yellow, natural- 
ised, 42 

Alstreemeria, 123 

Althea, 123, 150 

American Cowslip, 136 

American Swamp Lily, 64 

American White Woot Lily, 


59 
Ampelopsis, ‘180 
Anchusa, 125 
Anemone, 124 
Anemone, Blue Apennine, 17 
Anemone fulgens, 23 
Anemones in the Riviera, 25 
Anthericum, 125 
Antirrhinum, 125 
Apennine Anemone, 7 
Aquilegia, 125 
Arabis, 126 
Arenaria, 126 
Arenaria balearica on a wall, 


88 
Aristolochia Sipho, 129 
Arum, 127 
Arundo Donax, 155 
Asclepias, 128 
Asphodel, 127 
Aster, 128 
Astragalus, 129 
Astrantia, 129 
Atragene Alpina, 30 
Aubrietia, 129 


Bamsoo, 130 

Bambusa, 130 

Baptisia, 130 | 

Barren-wort, 138 

Bear’s Breech, 120 

Bedding System, the, 2 

Bee Balm, 150 

Bell-flower, 130 

Bindweed, 134 

Bindweed, a South European, 


Bindweed, large white, 39 
Bitter Vetch, 151 
Blood-root, 15 


INDEX. 


Bloodwort, 157 

Blue Apennine Anemone, 17 

Blue Rock Cress, 129 

Bog Garden, 77 

Bog Gardens, 67 

Bohemian Comfrey, 11 

Burage, 12 

Borage family, 9 

Borago, 130 

Borago cretica, 13 

Bramble, 155 

Bramble, the Nootka, 40 

Brookside Gardens, 67 

Bugle, 122 : 

Bulbs, hardy, for naturalisa- 
tion, 172 

Bulbs and Tubers in grass, 15 


Cauua palustris, 135 

Callirhoe, 150 

Calystegia, 134 

Campanula, 130 

Candytuft, Evergreen, 145 

Cape Pond Weed, 75 

Catch-fly, 157 

Caucasian Comfrey, 9, 10 

Celastrus, 46 

Centaurea, 131 

Centranthus ruber, 131 

Cephalaria, 157 

Cephalaria procera, 33 

Cerastium, 131 

Cheddar Pink, 91 

Cheddar Pink, Saxifrage, etc., 
on wall, 89 

Cheiranthus, 131 

Christmas Rose, 143 

Clematis, 133 

Clematis erecta, 133 

Clematis flammula, 21 

Clematis, large white, on Yew 
tree, 44 

Clematis, the mountain, 22 

Clematis, the White-flowered 
European, 133 

Climbers, 166 

Climbing plants crucified, 45 


Climbing plants for Wild 
Garden, 8 

Climbing Rose isolated on 
grass, S7 


Colchicum, 132, 

Colony of Myrrhis odorata, 51 

Colony of Narcissus in shrub- 
bery, 57 

Colony of Summer Snowflake, 
119 


Columbine, 125 

Columbine, the Siberian, 126 
Columbines in Grass, v 
Comfrey, 157 

Comfreys, 11 

Common Lupine, 146 

Copse, Lily of the Valley in 


Coral-wort, 135 

Cornus canadensis, 133 

Coronilla varia, 135 

Cotton Thistle, 151 

Cow Parsnip, the Giant, 35 

Cow Parsnips, 143 

Crambe, 134 

Crane’s Bill, wild, 94 

Creeping Forget-me-not, 151 

Cretan Borage, 13 

Crocus, 1382 

Crocuses, 17 

Crocuses in turf, 20 

Culture in Woods, 64 

Cyclamen, 133 

Cyclamen, Ivy-leaved, 5 

Cyclamens in the Wild Gar- 
den, 134 

Cyperus longus, 73 

Cypripedium spectabile, 133 


Darropit, 151 

Day Lily, 143 

Day Lily by margin of water, 
76 


6 
Delphinium, 136 
Dentaria, 135 
Dianthus, 137 
Dielytra, 136 
Digitalis, 137 
Digging shrubbery borders, 
51 


Ditches, 36 

Dodecatheon, 136 

Dog’s-tooth Violet, 139 

Doronicum, 136 

Drapery for trees and bushes, 
43 


Dugand mutilated shrubbery 
in St. James’s Park, 111 
Dwarf Cornel, 133 : 


Ecutnops, 138 

Ellacombe, Rev. H. N., on 
the Rose, 81 

Enothera, 151 

Epigzea repens, 138 


178 


Epimedium, 138 

Eranthis hyemalis, 139 

Erica, 138 

Eryngium, 138 

Erythronium, ‘139 

Eupatorium, 137 

Evening Primrose, 151 | 

Evening Primrose at night, 4 

Evergreen Candytuft, 145 

Everlasting Pea, 148 

Exotic and British Wild 
Flowers in the Wild Gar- 
den, 17 


Ferns, 141 

Ferula, 140 

Flame Flower, 159 

Fleur de Lis, 145 

Flowers, Spring and early 
Summer, 166 

Forget-me-not, 149 

Forget-me-not, Creeping, 151 

Foxglove, 137 

Fritillaria, 140 

Fumaria, 136 

Fumitory, 136 

Fumitory, the Yellow, 
wall, 91 

Funkia, 139 

Funkia Sieboldi, group of, 140 


on 


GALANTHUS, 143 
Galega, 142 
Gardens of the future, 5S 
Gentian, 142 
Geranium, 141 
Geranium, a hardy, 141 
Geraniums in Grass, v 
Giant Comfrey, 13 
Giant Cow Parsnip, 35 
Giant Fennel, 140 
Giant Scabious, 33, 135 
Giant Sea-kale, 134 
Globe Flower, 159 

., Globe Flower order, 21 
Globe Flowers, 25 
Globe Flowers, group of, 21 
Globe Thistle, 138 
Goat's Rue, 142 
Golden Rod, 156 
Grape Hyacinth, 148 
Grape Hyavinths, 17 
Grass, double Crimson Po; 

nies in, 30 
Grass, Star of Bethlehem in, 
15 


Grasses for naturalisation, 171 

Great Siberian vegetation, 
type of, 35 

Green Hellebore in the Wild 
Garden, 26 

Gromwells, 11 

Gypsophila, 142 


Harpy flowers by brook-side, 
59 


6! 
Heath, 138 
Hedgerows, 36 
Helianthemun, 144 
Helianthus, 144 


Hellebore in Wild Garden, 26 
Helleborus, 143 
Hemerocallis, 143 

Hemp Agrimony, 137 \ 


* INDEX. 


Hepatica angulosa, 24 
Hepatica, common, 25 
Heracleum, 143 
Herb Paris and Solomon's 
Seal in copse by streamlet, 
67 
Hesperis, 145 
Honesty; 146 
Honeysuckle, 147 
Hop, the, 45 
Houseleek, 158 
Hovey, Mr., on tree drapery, 
4 


e 


7 
Hyperieum, 145 


IseEris, 145 
Illustrations, list of, xi 
Indian Cress, showy, 160 
Tris, 145 - 


Japan ANEMONE in the Wild 
Garden, 23 

Japan Knotweed, 152 

Japan Sedum in Wild Garden, 
92 


KirarBeia, 150 
Knap-weed, 131 
Knautia, 157 


LaNDWoRT, 126 

Large Achilleas, 53 

Large Bindweed, 39 

Large-flowered Clematis, 101 

Large-leafed Saxifrage, 97 

Larkspurs, perennial, 27 

Lathyrus, 147 

Lavender, Sea, 156 

Leopard’s Bane, 136 

Leueojum, 147 

Liane in the north, 49 

Lilies through carpet of 
White Arabis, 55 

Lilium, 146 

Lily, 146 

Lily, American Swamp, 64 

Lily, American White Wood,59 

Lily of the Valley in a copse, 
63 


Lily, Wood, 159 

Lily, Water, 151 

Lily, White Wood, 37 

Lithospermun  prostratum, 
7 


Longleat, Wild Garden at, 61 
Lonicera, 147 ~ 

Lords and Ladies, 127 
Lunaria, 146 

Lungwort, 154 

Lungworts, 11 

Lupine, common, 146 
Lychnis, 147 


Ma.iow, 150 


' Malope, 150 


Malva, 150 

Marsh Calla, 135 

Marsh Mallow, 123 

Marsh Marigold and Iris in 
early spring, 75 

Masterwort, 129 


' Matthiola, 149 


May-flower, 13S 
Meadow Rue, 158 


Meadow Rue in Wild Garden,1 

Meadow Rues, 31 

Meadow Saffron, foliage of, 132 

Menispermum, 47 

Menziesia, 138 

Mertensia virginica, 12 

Milk Vetch, 129 

Mimulus, 148 a 

Mocassin Flower, 133 

Molopospermum, 149 

Monarda, 150 

Monkey-flower, 148 

Monkshood, 121 

Moonseed, 47 

Mountain Clematis, 22 

Mouse-ear, 131 

Mowing Grass, 17 

Mulgedium Pluiieri, 6, 150 

Mullein, a tall, 161 

Muscari, 148 

Myosotis, 149 

Myrrh, 60 

Myrrhis odorata, a colony of, 
51 


Narcissus, 151 

Narcissus, colony of, in shrub- 
bery, 57 

New Hnglind, woods of, 58 

Night effect of Evening Prim- 


Tose, 4 
Nootka Bramble, 40 
Nuphar, 151 
Nursery for London Parks, 


118 
Nymphea, 151 


CnorTHeRa Lamarkiana, 4 
Omphalodes, 151 
Omphalodes verna, 10 
Onopordon, 151 

Orchard Wild Garden, 65 
Ornithogalum, 151 
Orobus, 151 

Oxalis, 152 

Ox-eye Daisy, the tall, 154 


Pontes in grass, 30 

Peony, 153 

Papaver, in var., 153 

Partridge Berry, $0 

Pea, 147 

Pea, Everlasting, 148 

Perennial Larkspurs, 27 

Perennial Larkspurs natur- 
alised in shrubbbery, 28 

Periwinkle, 161 

Phlomis, 153 

Physostegia, 154 

Phytolacca decandra, 154 

Pink, 137 

Plants, Annual and Biennial, 
for naturalisation, 171 

Plants, Aquatic, 171 

Plants chiefly fitted for the 
Wild Garden, 32 

Plants, climbing and twining, 
for copses, thickets, hedge- 
rows, and trees, 172 

Plants for bare banks, 164 

Plants for calcareous 
chalky soil, 169 

Plants, hardy, with tine foli- 

“ age, 165 


or 


Plants for hedge - banks and 
like places, 165 

Plants for moist rich soils, 
169 


Plants for naturalisation be- 
neath specimen trees on 
lawns, 107 

Plants for naturalisation in 
lawns and other grassy 
places, 172 

Plants for peat-soil, 169 

Plants for the Wild Garden, 

Ry 

Plants of vigorous habit for 
the Wild Garden, 104 

‘ Plants, selections of, for old 
walls,ruins, or rocky slopes, 
170 

Plants, selections of hardy, 
163 


Plants suited for 
gravelly soil, 170 

Polygonum cuspidatum, 152 

Poppy, 153 

Primrose, Evening, 151 

Pulmonaria, 154 

Pyrethrum, serotinum, 154 


dry and 


Ragsits and Woods, 173 
Reasons for the system, + 
Red Valerian, 131 

Reed, the Great, 155 
Results, 92 

Rheum, 155 

Rhubarb, 155 

Riviera, Anemones in the, 25 
Rocket, 145 


Rosa, 155 

Rose, 155 

Roses for the Wild Garden, 
hedgerows, fences, and 


groups, 81 
Roses in the Riviera, 85 
Rosy Coronilla, 135 
Rubus, 155 
Rudbeckia, 144 
Rush, flowering, 73 


SANGUINARIA canadensis, 157 
Saxifraga, He 
Saxifrage, 158 
Scabious the Giant, 33 
Scabious, 157 
Scilla, 157 
Scillas, 17 
Sea Holly, 138 
Sea-kale, the Giant, 134 
Sea Lavender, 156 
Sedum, 157 
Sempervivum, 158 
“Shady Lanes, 36 
Shrubbery borders, digging 
of, 51 
Shrubbery, margin of, 118 


' INDEX. 


Shrubbery, Perennial Lark- 
spurs naturalised in, 28 

Sida, 150 

Silene, 157 

Silkweed, 128 

Silphium, 144 

Snakes-head, 140 

Snapdragon, 125 

Snowdrop, 17 

Snowdrop - Anemone, colony 
of, in shrubbery not dug, 
115 


Snowdrops, 143 

Snowdrops, Wild, by stream- 
let, 142 

Snowflake, 17, 147 

Soils, 169, 170 

Solidago, 156 

Solomon’s Seal, 18 

Sowbread, 133 

Speedwell, 162 

Spiderwort, 159 

Spireea, 156 

Spring Flowers in the Wild 
Garden, 7 

Squill, 157 

Star of Bethlehem, 151 

Star of Bethlehem in grass, 15 

Starwort, 128 

Statice, 156 

St. Bruno's Lily, 125 

St. John’s Wort, 145 

Stock, 149 

Stonecrop, 157 

Sunflower, Perennial, 144 

Sun Rose on limestone rocks, 
144 

Sun Roses, 104 

Symphytum, 157 


TELEKIA cordifolia, 159 

Tew Park, 98 

Thalictrum, 158 

Thickets, 36 

Tiger Lilies in Wild Garden at 
Great Tew, 98 

Tradescantia virginica, 159 

Trailers, 166 

Trees and Bushes, 
for, 

= Sas Mr. Hovey on, 


drapery 


Trillium, 159 

Tritoma, 159 

Tritoma, group of, 160 
Trollius, 21, 25, 159 
Tropzolum speciosum, 160 
Tulip, 159 

Tunica, 142 

Turf, Crocuses in, 20 
Turk’s Cap Lily, 19 


VaLLey in Somersetshire, 70 
Verbascum, 161 
Veronica, 162 


Vetch, Bitter, 151 


“| Vinea, 161 


Vines, Wild, 48 

Viola, 162 

Violet, 162 

Virgin’s Bower, 21, 133 
Virginian Creepers, 130 
Virginian Poke, 154 


WALL Cress, 126 

Wallflower, 131 

Water Dock, Great, 72 

Water Lily, 151 

Water Lily, Yellow, 71 

Water Plants, 70 

Waterside Gardens, 67 

White Arabis, Lilies coming 
up through carpet of, 55 

wis Clematis on Yew tree, 


White Climbing Rose over 
old Catalpa tree, 84 

White Lily in Wild Garden, 
146 


Wild Garden in the orchard, 
5 


Wild Garden, Japan Anemone 
in the, 23 

Wild Garden, plants chiefly 
fitted for, 32 

Wild Garden, plants for, 120 

Wild Garden in America, 106 

Wild gardening on walls or 
ruins, 88 

Wild Garden, where to obtain 
plants, 120 

Wild Orchard, 65 

Wild Rose on a Pollard Ash, 


83 

Wild Vines, 48 

Willow Herb, 7 

Wilson, Mr. G. F., and wood- 
culture, 64 

Windflower, 124 

Winter Aconite, 15 

Winter Heliotrope, 7 

Wistaria, 45 

Wood and herbaceous Mea- 
dow-sweets, 105 

Wood-culture, 64 

Wood-culture at Bodorgan, 65 

Wood Lily, 159 

Wood Plants, American, 150 

Woodruff and Ivy, 108 

Woods and wogdland drives, 
51 

Woods of New England, 58 

Wood Sorrel, 152 

Wye Valley, 90 


Yarrow, 122 


4 Yellow Allium naturalised, 42 


Yucea, 162 


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