The wild garden, or the naturalization and natural grouping of hardy exotic plants with a chapter on the garden of British wild flowers

Cornell Aniversity Library

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Co | a 46/1877)

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the naturalization an

ich

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Combe in west country with PRIMROSES, KINGCUPS, and DAFFODILS.

THE WILD GARDEN

or the

Naturalization and Natural Grouping of
Hardy Exotic Plants with a Chapter on
the Garden of British Wild Flowers
’ By W. ROBINSON Author of
‘The English Flower-Garden’

Fourth Fdition

Illustrated by ALFRED PARSONS

‘Adspice quos submittat humus formosa colores

Ut veniant hederae sponte sua melius’
PROPERTI US

London John Murray Albemarle Street

m.dccc.xciv

SB
454
RI
\e74

a

Orford

HORACE HART, PRINTER TO THE UNIVERSITY

INSCRIBED
TO

THE VERY REVEREND
S. REYNOLDS HOLE, D.D.

DEAN OF ROCHESTER

BY HIS FRIEND THE AUTHOR

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I.
PAGE
EXPLANATORY : ‘ ‘ ‘ . F j ; I
CHAPTER II.
EXAMPLE FROM Harpy Butgs 1n Grass oF Lawns oR
MEapDows . a : : - . : : 12

CHAPTER III.

EXAMPLE FROM THE FORGET-ME-NOT FamiLty . . 24
CHAPTER IV.

EXAMPLE FROM THE GLOBE FLOWER ORDER. . 30
CHAPTER V.

PLANTS CHIEFLY FITTED FOR THE WILD GaRDEN 43
CHAPTER VI.

Ditcnes, SHADY Lanes, CopsEs, anD HEDGEROws . 48

CHAPTER VII.

CLIMBERS FOR TREES AND BUSHES. é 68

Contents

CHAPTER VIII.
SHRUBBERY, PLANTATION, AND Woop

CHAPTER IX.

Woop.ianp Drives anp Grass WALKS

CHAPTER X.

Tue Brooxk-sipDE, WaTER aND Boc GaRDENS

CHAPTER XI.

Witp GarpENInNG on Watts, Rocks, or Ruins

CHAPTER XII.

WILD AND OTHER Roses IN THE WiLpD GARDEN

CHAPTER XIII.

Some RESULTS

CHAPTER XIV.

Harpy Exotic FLowerinc PLants FOR THE WILD
GARDEN

CHAPTER XV.

SELECTIONS OF Harpy Exotic PLants FoR THE WILD
GARDEN

CHAPTER XVI.

Tue GARDEN OF BRITISH WILD FLOWERS AND TREES .

INDEX

ix

PAGE

75

94

I0o

114

T19

129

197

2Ir

275

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

+

PAGE
Combe in west country with Primroses, Kingcups, and

Daffodils. i ghey oe ee Frontispiece
Columbines and Gerentnte in meadow-grass . i . Xiii
A Golden Rod . : : . Xvi
Lilies coming up through aipel of White Arabis . xvii
Spirzeas, bushy and herbaceous ~ ow ox , XX
Large-flowered Meadow Rue . ‘ I
Night effect of Large Evening Primrose in the Wild Garden

To face page 4
Blue-flowered Composite (Mulgedium Plumieri) . ; 8
The Mountain Clematis .. : a II
Star of Bethlehem in Grass ; ; ‘ . 2
The Bell-flowered Scilla, naturalized F : : 14
Portion of field of Poet’s Narcissus in bloom To face page 22
‘Caucasian Comfreyin shrubbery .. 24
The Cretan Borage (Borago Cretieca) 4 28
Group of Globe flowers (Trollius) . f 30
The White Japan Anemone in the Wild Garden ‘ 32
Anemones in the Riviera . To face a 34
The Green Hellebore in the Wild Garnier 38
Tall Perennial Larkspurs, naturalized in Shrubbery (1878) 39
Double Crimson Pzeonies in grass at Crowsley Park 4
Type of erect Compositze for the Wild Garden 43
The Giant Scabious (Cephalaria procera) ‘ 44
Giant Cow Parsnip. ‘ ‘ To face page 44

Foliage of Teazle, on hedechank in spring. ‘ . 48

List of Illustrations xl

PAGE
The large white Bindweed_ 50
The Nootka Bramble . . , 52
The Yellow Allium (A. Moly) naturalized 54
Large White Clematis on Yew tree at Great Tew . 69
Climbing shrub (Celastrus), isolated on the grass. qI
A Liane in the North. Aristolochia and Deciduous Cypress 74
A beautiful accident.—A colony of Myrrhis odorata 80
The Lily of the Valley in copse i 87
Colonies of Poet's Narcissus and Broad- leayed Saxifraze
To face page 92
Solomon’s Seal and Herb Paris, in copse by streamlet . . 100
Colony of hardy exotic Flowers, naturalized i brook-side . 102
Cyperus longus . ; . 106
The Cape Pond Weed in an i Basligh, ditch i in winter 108
Day Lily by margin of water... 109
Marsh Marigold and Iris in early spring ‘ Ilo
The same spot as in opposite sketch, with dhurgrowth of Iris 111
Partridge Berry (Gaultheria) . : : 113
Arenaria Balearica, self-planted on wall at Great Tew : 114
Cheddar Pink, Saxifrage, and Ferns, on cottage wall at Mells 115
The Yellow Fumitory (Corydalis lutea) on wall 4 117
Purple Rock Cress (Mountains of Greece) .. 118

Wild Rose growing ona Pollard Ash in Orchardleigh Park,

To face page 120
White Climbing Rose scrambling over old Catalpa Tree

To face page 124

Climbing Rose on grass... 128
Autumn Crocuses in the Wild Garden 129
Crane’s-bill, wild, in grass . I3I
Tiger Lilies in Wild Garden at Great Tew To face page 134
Large-flowered Clematis . 3 : ; . . 138
Sun Roses (Cistus) . To face page 140
WoodruffandIvy ... . 144
Snowdrops by streamlet . 145
The Monkshood, naturalized. : : 147
The White Narcissus-like Allium, in the orchards of Provence 149
Siberian Columbine in rocky place . : 153

Tall Asphodelincopse_ . ; 154

xii List of Illustrations

PAGE

The foliage of the Meadow Saffron in Spring... 160
The White-flowered European Clematis (C. erecta) 161
Cyclamens in the Wild Garden oe £ -§ 163
A South European Bindweed . owe Ly . 164
A Sea Holly; Eryngium . 167
Groups of Siebold’s Plantain oe ; 2 8 ; 170
Ahardy Geranium . 172°
Everlasting Pea, creeping up stem in slant heryy : : 178
Type of fine-leaved umbellate plants seldom grown in gardens 180
The Bee Balm, Monarda. American wood plant . 5 . 181
The Great Japan Knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum) . 184
Phlomis . 185
The tall Ox-eye Date (Pyrethruin senodinain 186
The Great Reed of Southern Europe (Arundo Donax) 187
Telekia. Type of the larger Composites . ‘ 192
Group of Tritoma, in grass sae Lake sedi 193
Tall Mullein ‘ 195
Large White Aeros ere into wide masses Gua ghade 196
Ophrys, in grass. -: : . 197
Large-leafed Rockfoil in the Wild Carden . 210
Robinson’s Blue Windflower . : : ‘ . 216
Native Sun Rose in Somerset Combe : 222
The Field Rose (R. arvensis) . : ; To face page 228
Natural growth of umbellata plants . : ; . 239
The Vernal Gentian. (Engraved from a plofogragh 244
Snowflake (Longleat) ; ‘ : » 253
Giant Horse-tail (Equisetum Telmateia) . . 256
White Willow in Hampshire . Ti o face page 258
Crack Willow in Kennet Valley ; : . 263

The Black Poplar in the Kennét Valley Ti 0 face page 268

COLUMBINES and GERANIUMS in meadow-grass.

PREFACE

WHEN I began, some years ago, to urge the cause of
the innumerable hardy flowers against the few tender
ones, put out 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 some ways
in which it might be brought to our gardens; and
among them was the name and scope of the ‘Wild
Garden.’ I was led to think of the vast numbers

of beautiful hardy plants from other countries -which

XIV Preface

might be naturalized, with a very slight amount of
trouble, in many situations in our plantations, fields,
and woods—a world of delightful plant beauty that
we might in these ways make happy around us.
We can not only grow thus a thousandfold more
lovely flowers than were seen in flower gardens, but
also many which, by any other plan, have no chance
of being seen in gardens.

In this edition, by the aid of drawings, I have tried
to tell what the system is ;—if I were to write a book
for every page that this contains, I could not suggest
the many beautiful aspects of vegetation which the
Wild Garden may give us.

The illustrations are, with a few 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 at Cambridge, had
given rise to beautiful plant pictures. I cannot too
heartily thank him for the skill which he devoted to
the drawings, and for his success in showing the
motive of the ‘Wild Garden.’

There has been some misunderstanding as to the
term ‘Wild Garden.’ It is applied essentially to the
placing of perfectly hardy exotic plants under conditions

Preface XV

where they will thrive without further care. It has
nothing to do with the old idea of the ‘Wilderness.’
It does not 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 flowering under a grove of naked trees in
February ; by the Snowflake, tall and numerous in
meadows by the Thames side; by the blue Lupine
dyeing an islet with its purple in a Scotch river; and
by the blue Apennine Anemone staining an English
wood blue before the coming of our blue bells.
Multiply these instances a thousandfold, given by
many types of plants, from countries colder than ours,
and one may get a just idea of the ‘Wild Garden.’
Some have thought of it as a garden run wild, or
sowing annuals in a muddle; whereas it does not
interfere with the regulation flower garden at all.

I wish it to be kept distinct in the mind from the
various sorts of hardy plant cultivation in groups, beds,
and borders, in which good gardening and good taste
may produce many happy effects; distinct from the
rock garden in its many aspects—all asking for skill
and care; from the borders reserved for choice hardy
flowers of all kinds; from the hardy sub-tropical
garden or that of hardy plants of fine form; from

the ordinary type of ‘Spring Garden;’ and from our

Xvi Preface

own beautiful native flowers, delightful in our woods
and fields and hedgerows. In country 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 new and _ beautiful
pictures may be formed by its means as the swift

springs and summers pass.

May 28, 1881.

4 GOLDEN ROD.

LILIES coming up through carpet of WHITE ARABIS.

FOREWORDS TO NEW EDITION

THE wild rose has given her petals to the winds for
over twenty sumiers since this book with its solitary
wood cut first saw the light, and if these many years give
me any right to judge my own book, T may say that
much experience since tells me that the ‘Wild Garden’
desericd to live, and that such ideas carrted out with
sone regard to the sotl and other things affecting
plants in cach place, may be fertile tn making our open
air gardens more artistic and delightful.

The best thing [ have learnt from my own wild garden-
me ts that we may grow without care many lovely early
bulbs in the turf of meadows, t.e. fields mown for hay,
without in the least interfering with the use of the fields.

b

Xviil Forewords to New Edition

The Blue Anemones, Crocus, Snowdrops, Narcisses,
Snowflakes, Grape-Hyacinths, Dog’s-tooth Violets, Stars
of Bethlehem, Fritillaries, St. Bruno’s Lily, Snow-glories,
Wild Hyacinths, Scilla, and Wild Tulips best fitted for
this early-gardening in the meadow turf, wither before
the hay ts ready for the scythe, and we do not find
a trace of the leaves of many of them at hay time. Many
of the plants of the mountains of central Europe and
also of those of what we call the south and east, such as
those of Greece and Asia Minor, bloom with me earlier
than our own field or woodland flowers. Our feebler
sun awakes them in the snowless fields, and so we
enjoy many spring flowers while our grass is brown.
And if they come so early in the. cool and high ‘ forest
range’ in Sussex they will be no less early in the warm
sotls asin Surrey, or in the many valley sotls—sheltered
as they often are by groves and banks of evergreens. As
nearly every country house is set in meadows it is easy
to see what a gain this ts, not only for its beauty but
because it lets us make an end of the repeated digging
up of the flower garden for the sake of a few annual
and other spring flowers—themselves to be removed just
in the loveliest summer days.

This spring [ saw some evidence of what bold wild-
gardening may give us in its effects on the beauty of
landscape views. The picturesque view from Narrow-
water Fouse near Newry, across the park to the bay
and the mountains that guard it, was much enhanced
during March and the early part of the present spring

Forewords to New Edition XIX

by the great cloud of daffodils covering a mound in the
foreground. The daffodils (the double kind so common
in Ireland) spread over the mound in clouds, here and
there massed close. It was not only good as a picture
but as a lesson in the planting in the wild-garden of
such flowers—which are often dotted about separately,
much as fruit trees are in an orchard, instead of being
held together in masses and bold groups, running out
here and there into smaller ones.

Many of the reviewers of the book did not take the
trouble necessary to see its true motive, and some of then
confuse tt with the picturesque garden, which may be
formed in many costly ways, whereas the idea of the
wild garden 7s placing plants of other countries, as
hardy as our hardiest wild flowers, in places where
they wili flourish without further care or cost. As
I first used the word ‘wild garden’ in this book and
in the ‘Field’ newspaper, where some of the articles
appeared many years ago, [ wish to make tts aim and
meaning clear.

I am happy to be able to illustrate the book with good
wood engravings in these days of many ‘processes,’ often
called ‘improvements, in book illustration, but which, so
far, are its ruin. The few cuts done in the former
edition by such processes have been re-engraved on wood
for this. Some of the ideas in the book, such as the
beautiful effects one may get in hedgerows and by
grass-walks, are not illustrated as I hope they will be

in future editions.

XX Forewords to New Edition

Als good examples of wild.gardening are likely often
to lie out of my own path, and as distinct and unlooked
Jor results will often arise, I should be grateful to all
who will tell me of them in the hope of making the
book more suggestive in future, as among the ways of
escape from the death-note of the pastry-cook’s garden
there 1s none more delightful to all who have any grass
or fields or woods about them.

W. R.

April 18, 1894.

SPIRAAS, bushy and herbaceous.

THE WILD GARDEN

GHAPTER I.
EXPLANATORY.

ABOUT a generation ago a taste began
to be shown for placing numbers of ten-
der plants in the open air in summer,
to produce showy masses of colour.
The plants were mostly from sub-
tropical lands; placed annually in
the open air of our summer, and
in fresh earth, every year they
grew and flowered abundantly
until cut down by the first frosts.
The showy colour of this system
was very attractive, and

since its intro-
duction there
has been a gra-
dual rooting

: out of all the
LARGE-FLOWERED MEADOW RUE; type of plant mostly excluded
. i ea old favourites

2 The Wild Garden

in favour of this ‘bedding’ system. This was car-
ried to such an extent that it was not uncommon,
indeed it was the rule, to find the largest gardens
in the country without a single hardy flower, all
energies being devoted to the few exotics for the
summer decoration. It should be borne in mind that
the expense for this system is an annual one; that no
matter what may be spent in this way, or how many
years may be devoted to perfecting it, the first sharp
frost of November announces yet further labours.

Its highest results need hardly be described ; they are
seen in all our 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. 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 intro-
duction of fine-leaved plants, but all are agreed that
a mistake has been made in destroying all our old
flowers, from Lilies to Hepaticas, though few have
a fair idea of the numbers of beautiful hardy plants
which we may gather from every northern and temperate
clime to grace our gardens under a more artistic
system.

My object in the Wild Garden is now to show how
we may have more of the varied beauty of hardy

Explanatory a

flowers than the most ardent admirer of the old style
of garden ever dreams of, by naturalizing many
beautiful plants of many regions of the earth in our
fields, woods and copses, outer parts of pleasure
grounds, and in neglected 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
hill-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 id Windflowers, -and Columbines, and
Violets, and Crane’s-bills, and countless Pea-flowers,
and Moon Daisies, and Brambles, and Cinquefoils, and
Evening Primroses, and Clematis, and Honeysuckles,
and Michaelmas Daisies, and Wood Hyacinths, and
Daffodils, and Bindweeds, and Forget: me-nots, and
_blue Omphalodes, and Primroses, and Day Lilies, and
Asphodels, and St. Bruno’s Lilies, and the myriads
of plants which form the flora of the northern or
temperate regions of vast continents.

B2

4 The Wild Garden

It is beyond the power of pen or pencil to picture
the beauty of these plants. Innumerable and infinitely
varied scenes occur in all northern and temperate
regions, at many different elevations, the loveliness
of which it is impossible to portray; 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 realized 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 take
possession of whole woods ; but, with all our treasures
in this way, we have no attractions in or near our
gardens compared with what it is within our power
to create. There are many countries, with winters
colder than our own, that have a rich flora; and by
choosing the hardiest exotics and planting them
without the garden, we may form garden pictures.
To some a plant in a free state is more charming 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
or grass around.

Numbers of plants of the highest order of beauty
may be at home in the spaces now devoted to rank
grass and weeds, and by wood walks in our shrubberies.

Night effect of LARGE EVENING PRIMROSE in the Wild Garden (GEnothera Lamarckiana).

Explanatory 7

Among my reasons for thinking wild gardening
worth practising by all who wish our gardens to
be more artistic and delightful are the follow-
ing :—

First, because hundreds of the finest hardy flowers
will thrive much better in rough places than ever they
did in the old-fashioned border. Even small plants,
like the ivy-leaved Cyclamen, a beautiful plant that
we rarely find in perfection in gardens, I have seen
perfectly naturalized and spread all over the mossy
surface of a thin wood.

Secondly, because they will look infinitely better
than they ever did in formal nal beds, in “consequence of
fine-leaved | plant, “fern, and fic flower, and climber, grass
and trailing shrub, relieving each other in delightful
ways. Many arrangements will prove far more
beautiful than any aspect of the old mixed border,
or the ordinary type of modern flower-garden.

Thirdly, because 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 to many, with its bundles of
decayed stems tied to sticks. When Lilies are sparsely
dotted ed_through masses of shrubs, their flowers are

‘admired more than if they were in isolated showy

_ masses 5 when they ca out of of bloom a they are un-

when in rigid “aalicvel Sake a in | borders, “&e. In
a semi-wild state the beauty of a fine plant will show

8 The Wild Garden

when at its height; and when out of bloom it will

be followed by other kinds of beauty.
Fourthly, because it will enable us to grow many
plants that have never yet obtained

a place in our ‘trim gardéns.’ I
wry

“i E mean plants which, not so showy

as man: ns, are never
seen_ therein. The flowers of many

of these are of great beauty, especially

A tuft of one of these
in a border may not
be thought worthy of
its place, while in some

wild glade, as a little
b

ai an “ colony, grouped natur-
Vane \ AQ

ally, its effect may be
BLUE-FLOWERED COMPOSITE PLANT, fine foliage
and habit; type of noble plants excluded from
dium Plumieri

exquisite. There are

many plants too that,
grown in gardens, are no great aid to them—like the
Golden Rods, and other plants of the great order Com-
positee, which merely overrun the choicer and more
beautiful border-flowers when planted amongst them.
These coarse plants 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 plants like the winter
Heliotrope, and many others which, while not without

when seen in numbers.

Explanatory 9

use in the garden, are apt to become a nuisance
there. For instance, the Great Japanese Knotworts
(Polygonum) are certainly better planted outside of
the flower-garden.

Fifthly, because we may in this way settle the
question of the spring flower-garden. Many parts
of every country garden, and many suburban ones,
may be made alive with spring flowers, without inter-
fering at least with the flower-beds near the house.
The blue stars of the Apennine Anemone will be
enjoyed better when the plant is taking care of itself,
than in any conceivable formal arrangement. It is
but one of hundreds of sweet spring flowers that
will succeed perfectly in our fields, lawns, and woods.
And so we may cease the dreadful practice of tearing
up the flower-beds and leaving them like new-dug
graves twice a year.

Sixthly, because there can be few more agreeable
phases of communion with Nature than naturalizing
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 mountains and prairies
of the New World, the woods and meadows of all
the great mountains of Europe; from Greece and
Italy and Spain, from the 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.

10 The Wild Garden

home living souvenirs of the various countries he
has visited. If anything we may bring may not
seem good enough for the garden autocrat of the
day, it may be easy to find a home for it in wood or
hedgerow; I am fond of putting the wild species of
Clematis and other exotic climbers and flowers in
newly-formed hedgebanks.

Moreover, the great merit of permanence belongs
to this delightful phase of gardening. Select a rough
slope, and embellish it with groups of the hardiest
climbing plants,—say the Mountain Clematis from
Nepal, the sweet C. Flammula from. Southern Europe,
‘Virginian creepers,’ various hardy vines, Jasmines,
Honeysuckles, and wild Roses and briers. Arranged
with some judgment at first, such a colony might
be left to take care of itself; time would but add to
its attractions.

Some have mistaken the idea of the wild garden
as a plan to get rid of all formality near the
house ; whereas it will restore to its true use the flower-
garden, now subjected to two tearings up a year—
i.e. in spring and autumn; as may be seen in nearly
all public and private gardens, in France as well as
in England—new patterns every autumn and every
spring—no rest or peace anywhere. In the beautiful
summer of 1893, the flower-beds in the public gardens
of Paris were quite bare of all flowers in June,
before. the | wretched winter-nursed flowers had been
set out in their patterns. If such things must be

el ie ee

Explanatory

done in the name of flower-gardening, it were many

times better to carry them out in a place apart, rather

than expose the foreground of a
beautiful house or landscape to such
disfigurement. Spring flowers are
easily grown in multitudes away from
the house, and, therefore, for their
sakes the system of digging up the
flower-beds twice a year need not be
carried out. Wild gardening should
go hand in hand with the thorough
cultivation of the essential beds of
the flower-garden around the house,
and to their being filled with plants
quite different from those we entrust
to the crowded chances of turf or
hedgerow :—to rare or tender plants

The MOUNTAIN CLEMATIS.

or choice garden flowers like the Tea Rose and Carna-
tion—plants which often depend for their beauty on their
double states, and for which rich soil and care and

often protection are essential.

STAR OF BETHLEHEM in Grass.

CHAPTER II.

EXAMPLE FROM HARDY BULBS IN GRASS
OF LAWNS OR MEADOWS.

WE will now see what may be done with one type
of vegetation—hardy bulbs like Daffodils and plants
dying down after flowering early in the year, like
the Winter Aconite and the Blood-root (Sanguinaria).
How many of us enjoy the beauty which hardy
Spring flowers of these orders might give us? How
many get beyond the conventionalities of the flower-
garden, with its patchings, and taking up, and drying,
and playing with our beautiful Spring Bulbs? Garden
adornment with early bulbs is merely in its infancy;
at present we merely place a few of the showiest in
geometrical lines. The little done leads to such poor
results, that many people, alive to the charms of a
garden too, scarcely notice Spring-flowering Bulbs

Example from hardy bulbs in grass 13

at all, regarding them as things which require endless
care, and as interfering with the ‘bedding-out.’ And
this is likely to be the case so long as the most
effective of all modes of arranging them is unused.
Look, for instance, at the wide and 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, Crocus, Scilla, and WinterAeonite, they
would in spring surpass in charms the gayest of
‘spring gardens.’ Cushioned among the grass, the

flowers would unfold prettier than they can in the
regulation sticky earth of a border; in the grass of
spring, their natural bed, they would look far better
than they ever do on the brown earth of a garden.
Once carefully planted, they—while an annual source
of the greatest interest—occasion no trouble whatever.

Their leaves die down so early in spring that they
would not interfere with the mowing of the grass,
and we should not attempt to mow the grass in such
places till the season of vernal flowers had passed.
Surely it is enough to have a portion of lawn as
smooth as a carpet at all times, without shaving off
the ‘long 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 in it. If in a spot

14 The Wild Garden

where a wide carpet of grass spreads out in the
sheltered bay of a plantation, there be dotted the
blue Apennine Anemone, any Snowdrops, the Snow-
flake, Crocuses in variety, Scillas, Grape Hyacinths,
many Narcissi, the Wood Ane-
mone, and a oer Gene
flowers liking the soil, we
should have a picture of vernal
beauty, the flowers relieved by
grass, and the whole devoid of
man’s weakness for tracing wall-
paper patterns where everything
should be varied and changeful.
In such a garden it might be
clear that the artist had caught
the true meaning of Nature in
her grouping, without sacrificing pe :

anything of value in the garden.
Mowing the grass once a fort- ™ ae

0 . — The BELL-FLOWERED SCILLA,
night in pleasure grounds, as — xaturaizea wich our own WOOD

HYACINTH.

now practised, ts a costly mis-

take. We want shaven carpets of grass here and
there, but what nonsense it is to shave it as often as
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
countless flowers than a close surface without a
blossom? Think of the labour wasted in this ridicu-

lous work of cutting the heads off flowers and grass.

Example from hardy bulbs in grass 15

Let much of 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 hay
time; some who have carried out the ideas of this
book have waving lawns of feathery grass where they
used to shave the grass every ten days; a cloud
of flowers where a daisy was not let peep.

It is not only to places in which shrubberies, and
plantations, and belts of grass in the rougher parts of
the pleasure ground, and moss-bordered 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 many Daffodils, while in every case there may
be fringes of strong and hardy flowers in the spring
sun.

The prettiest results are only attainable where the
grass need not be mown till nearly the time the
meadows are mown. Then we may have gardens
of Narcissi, such as no one dreamt of 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 on fairly good soil in any part of our
country, beauty may be enjoyed such as has hitherto

16 The Wild Garden

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 them-
selves in pretty ways.

As further showing what may be done with the hardy
bulbs, not only outside the flower-garden but even
in what forms part of the farm, I print here a paper
read by me before the Royal Horticultural Society

in 1891.

Earty FLowerinc Buiss in Meapow Grass.

Having during the past five years planted several
hundred thousand bulbs and roots in meadow grass, the
results may, perhaps, be suggestive to others. An
advantage of this method is the delightfully - artistic
arrangements of which it permits. It is also a deliver-
ance of flower-beds from the poor thing known as
spring bedding. This system of ‘bedding,’ which began

Example from hardy bulbs in grass 17

in France, and is there still seen in all its bareness,
spread to many of our gardens; it consisted of putting
out in formal masses a few biennial plants, such as the
Wood Forget-me-not and Silene. This necessitated
a complete change in the contents of the beds every
year, or, rather, twice a year, and therefore prevented
their being given to the nobler kinds of flower
gardening. It is easy to have all the flower-beds proper
devoted to precious and enduring plants, such as Tea
Roses, Carnations, and the plants that require good
and constant culture and time for development, by
the aid of the wild garden. We begin with the blue
Apennine Anemone: of this I planted several thou-
sand roots in grass. Not having any beds or borders
near the house where I wanted it, I put it in meadows
around the house in light broken groups and masses.
It flowers and increases every year without the slightest
attention ; and, being early in growth as compared with
grass, disappears before the meadow grass has to be
cut in summer. This is an important point, and
shows what may be done with many beautiful spring
flowers. One has the pleasure of seeing them year by
year flowering in their seasons, and giving delightful
effects, as these Anemones did this year, both in groups
in the open sunny fields, and also clustering thickly
round the base of old Elm-trees on their margin.
Among the blue Anemone, here and there, stood
groups of Narcissus, and in cases where the Anemones
and Daffodils flowered together the effect was often
c

18 The Wild Garden

beautiful. This Anemone is hardy, and always grows
freely in grass, and never deteriorates. In Greece this
year I saw on the mountains acres of the blue Greek
Anemone, and think it is equally as hardy and as free as
the Italian one, and quite as useful for naturalization in
the grass. The simplicity of the culture of plants like
this, which thrive in meadow grass, and the foliage of
which withers before the grass need be mown for hay,
makes them a most important group, as so much
meadow grass comes near most country houses. A very
great number of the spring flowers of the northern
world may be treated in this manner, and give us
beautiful spring gardens.

The most important group of all these early flowers
is the Narcissus. Five years ago I planted many
thousands in the grass. I never doubted that I should
succeed with them, but I did not know I should succeed
nearly so well. They have thriven admirably, bloomed
well and regularly, the flowers are large and handsome,
and, to my surprise, have not diminished in size. In
open, rich, heavy bottoms, along hedgerows, in quite
open loamy fields, in every position I have tried them.
They are delightful when seen near at hand, and also
effective in the picture. The leaves ripen, disappear
before mowing time comes, and do not in any way
interfere with farming. The harrowing and rolling of
the fields in the spring are a little against the foliage,
and probably a better result could be obtained with the
finer Narcissus by wood walks and open copses, which

Example from hardy bulbs in grass 19

abound in so many English country places. With the
great group of forms of the common English, Irish, and
Scotch Daffodils I have had good results; they thrive
better and the flowers are handsomer than in the wild
plant—not uncommon in Sussex. The little Tenby
Daffodil is very sturdy and pretty, and never fails us.
The only one that has failed is the Bayonne Daffodil.
A very delightful feature of the Narcissus meadow
gardening is the way great groups follow each other in
the fields. When the Star Narcissi begin to fade a little
in their beauty the Poets follow, and as I write this
paper we have the most beautiful picture I have ever
seen in cultivation. Five years ago I cleared a little
valley of various fences, and so opened a pretty view.
Through the meadow runs a streamlet. We grouped
the Poet’s Narcissus near it, and through a grove of
Oaks on a rising side of the field. We have had
some beauty every year since; but this year, the plants
having become established, or very happy for some
other reason, the whole thing was a picture such as one
might see in an Alpine valley! The flowers were large
and beautiful when seen near at hand, and the effect in
the distance delightful. This may, perhaps, serve to
show that this kind of work will bring gardening into
a line with art, and that the artist need not be for ever
divorced from the garden, by geometrical patterns
which cannot possibly interest anybody accustomed to
drawing beautiful forms and scenes. I need say no
more to show the good qualities of this group of
ce

20 The Wild Garden

plants for wild gardening, many places having much
greater advantages than mine for showing their beauty
in the rich stretches of grass by pleasure-ground walks.
Various kinds of places may be adorned by Narcissi in
this way—meadows, woods, copses, wood walks, and
drives through ornamental woodland and pleasure
grounds, where the grass need not be mown until late
in the summer.

Dog’s-tooth Vziolet.—This beautiful and delicate-
looking plant surprises me by the free way it grows in
grass in several places where I have planted it, varying
a good deal, according to the soil, in its size, but never
failing to interest by its beautiful leaves and flowers.
It withers rather early, and is a perfect plant for
meadow culture.

Last autumn I made a trial of the Grape Hyacinth
(Muscari), and was delighted with the result this spring,
with the pretty clouds of blue, quite distinct in the
grass.

Snowdrops in various forms are indispensable, and
do fairly well, though they vary very much in the way
they thrive on different soils. They look much better
in the grass than in bare earth.

Among the flowers in the meadow grass there is
nothing more beautiful than the varieties of Snake’s-head
(Fritillaria). It is the very type of plant for this work,
and the white and pretty purple flowers are admired by
all who see them in the early grass.

The Crocus, from its early brilliancy, is indispensable,

Example from hardy bulbs in grass 21

and the hardier forms are able to take care of them-
selves. In all this kind of work, if we could get the
wild types of plant it would be all the better, because
such beauty as they possess is certainly never the
result of cultivation. When we buy bulbs highly cul-
tivated we may expect some reduction in the size of the
flower when it assumes a semi-wild state; but nobody
who cares for the form and beauty of the flowers will
mind this reduction. Flowers from bulbs planted
several years are somewhat smaller than the newly
planted kinds, but certainly no less beautiful. While
we have proof enough that Crocuses grow well in
meadow grass on a large scale, they seem particularly
suitable for growing under groves of trees, their growth
coming before the trees spread forth their leaves. In
many country places outside the garden proper there
are many spaces under trees often possessed by
Goutweed and other weeds which should be given to
the Crocus and like early flowers.

Tulips.—I have tried only one wild Tulip, the Wood
Tulip (T. sylvestris), sent me from Touraine to the extent
of a thousand roots, and I do not think we have lost
any ; they bloom gracefully every year. The shortness
of bloom which Tulips show should lead one to try the
wild kinds in grass. Their broad, fragile leaves are apt
to be injured by the harrow. They are better tried in
copses or drives through woods, where they are free
from this injury.

Stars of Bethlehem ( Ornithogalum).—The starry trusses

_—_—_—

22 The Wild Garden

of the common old border kind are quite different in
effect from our other early flowers, and very pretty.
In this genus there is much difference in habit, the
greenish, drooping-flowered kinds, like nutans, giving
quite a different effect from that of the common white
border kind. There is no difficulty about growing these
in grass.

The Snowflakes (Leucojum) do admirably, the early
one being a more precious flower than the Snowdrop,
useful to gather, and brightly effective very early. The

‘later ones are also graceful things, free and handsome
in rich grass.

Living in a world of Wood Hyacinths, there was less
need to try the Scillas than the non-British flowers,
which give us new aspects of flower life ; but so far the
results have been good with the Spanish Scilla and the
new Scilla-like plants (Chionodoxa), which are early and
disappear early.

To this sort of flower-gardening, which extends so
much the interest in flower life, the bulb merchants
might do great good by offering such bulbs and roots
as these at lowest possible rates by the thousand.
It would pay cultivators to grow such roots in quantity
for the public, as it now pays Lincolnshire farmers to
grow the Snowdrop for the trade in that popular
flower. The whole success of wild gardening depends
on arranging bold, natural groups with a free hand.
ee ee eee

rer ar

CHAPTER III.

EXAMPLE FROM THE FORGET-ME-NOT FAMILY.

I wILL now
try to show
° what may be
= done’ with

one type of
CAUCASIAN COMFREY in shrottey. Northern
| plants—the Forget-me-nots, one not
so rich as others in plants for the wild garden. Through
considering it, however, we may be able to form some
idea of what we may do by choosing from all the
plants that grow in the meadows and mountain-woods
of Europe, Asia, and America.

The Forget-me-not family embraces a number of
coarse weeds, but if it had only the common Forget-
me-not, would have some claims on us; but what lovely
exotic plants there are in this order that would afford
delight if met with creeping’ about along our wood’
and shrubbery walks! Nature, say some, is sparing
of her deep true blues; but there are obscure plants
in this order that possess the deepest, and most delicate

Example from the Forget-me-not family 25

of blues, and which will thrive in the wild garden.
The creeping Omphalodes verna even surpasses the
Forget-me-not in the depth and beauty of its blue,
and runs about quite freely in any shrubbery or open
wood, or even in turf in moist soil not very frequently
mown. Besides, in the garden border, it would be
a not very agreeable object when once the sweet
spring bloom had passed; whereas, in lanes, woods,
or copses, the low plants are not noticed when out
of flower, but live modestly till returning spring jewels
them with the charm of fine colour.

Another plant of the order is so 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 cauca-

sicum), which grows about twenty inches high, and
bears quantities of the loveliest blue pendulous flowers.
It, like many others, does well in a grove, or shrubbery,
filling in the naked spaces between the trees, and has
a quick growth but never becomes weedy. As if to
contrast with it, there is the deep crimson Bohemian
Comfrey (S. bohemicum), which is sometimes ‘startling
from the depth of its vivid colouring ; and the White
Comfrey (S. orientale), quite a vigorous-growing kind,
blooming in spring.

These Comfreys, indeed, are admirable plants for
rough places—the tall ones thriving in a ditch, and

flowering better than they do in the garden in prim

26 The Wild Garden

borders. There are about twenty species, mostly from
Southern and Central Europe, Asia, and Siberia.

I should perhaps omit the British Forget-me-nots,
wishing now chiefly to show what we may do with
exotics quite as hardy as our own wildlings, but where
a British plant is not wild within the district in which
we live, it may be brought into the wild garden with
good effect. When I went to Gravetye Manor there
was not a trace of the common water Forget-me-not
there, in either of the two lakes or in the woodland
streams that fed them. We had of course to get so
good a plant for the garden to carpet moist beds;
it grows very rapidly, and as when the plants were
thick the boys took baskets of them and threw
them into the streamlets and round the margin of the

ponds so that in a year we had delightfal protivs
of the. Forget-me-not by the wate he water in many places, an

as the ponds and streams of the place flow into the

Medway river, no doubt seeds and plants were
carried far down its banks. Also, as there was none
of our beautiful wood Forget-me-not in the place, I
sowed some in freshly sown turf and had the pleasure
of seeing it bloom for many years. Thus we may
not only introduce hardy exotic plants, but some fair
flowers of our own country. How many garden waters
do not show some of our handsomest native water
plants, as the flowering Rush, great Buttercup, and
Bog-bean? We have another Forget-me-not, not
British, which surpasses them all—the early Myosotis

Example from the Forget-me-not family 27

dissitiflora. This is like a patch of the bluest sky,
before our own Forget-me-not has opened, and is
admirable for banks in a wood or for moist stony
slopes. In carting away the soil to put in the foun-
dations of an addition to Gravetye house, many
loads of rubbish were thrown in a heap in Warrens
wood, where a year afterwards I came upon some
beautiful tufts of this which had planted themselves
from bits thrown out with the rubbish.

For rocky places and sandy banks we have the
spreading Gromwell (Lithospermum prostratum) of
a fine gentian-blue.

Good plants are the Lungworts (Pulmonaria), and often
destroyed through exposure on bare dug and often
dry borders. The old Pulmonaria (Mertensia virginica)
is one of the loveliest of spring flowers. It is rare
in gardens; if placed in a moist place near_a stream,

or in a peat or free sandy 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 loving a marshy place. These two plants alone
would repay a trial in the wild garden and may show
that for cultivation alone (apart from art, or arrange-
ment) the wild-garden idea is sometimes worth
carrying out.

Among annual flowers we have Borage, a few seeds
of which scattered over fresh ground soon germinate,
and form pretty patches.

The Cretan Borage is a curious old perennial,

28 The Wild Garden

seldom seen in gardens; for its growth is robust and
its habit coarse. It is, however, a good plant for
a rough place where the ample room which it wants
may be spared and where it may take care of itself,
showing among the hardiest of the early spring
flowers.

THE CRETAN BORAGE (Sorago Cretica); example of perennial too vigorous for flower-beds.

Thus, though I say little of the anet (Anchusa
tribe, several of which could be found worth a place
with our own British Evergreen Alkanet, it will be
seen that a garden of beauty may be reaped from
the Forget-me-not tribe alone. Any one could settle

Example from the Forget-me-not family 29

the matter to his satisfaction in a couple of years
with these plants alone, in a shrubbery, ditch, lane,
or copse, always provided 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 ditch, and therefore, once fairly started,
might be trusted to take care of itself. 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 shrubbery. The creeping Forget-me-not
(Omphalodes verna) is a little plant that creeps about
in grass not over a span high, or forms a carpet of
its own—these differences must be thought of, as
without knowing something of the habits and stature
of plants, mistakes will be made. These Borageworts,
as rich in blue as the gentians, are often poor rusty
things in exposed sunny borders, and much in the
way when out of flower, whereas in shady lanes,
copses, or shrubberies, in hedgerow-banks, or ditches,
we only notice them in their beauty.

GROUP OF GLOBE FLOWERS (Trollius) in moist place; type of nobler
Northern flowers little cultivated in gardens.

CHAPTER IV.

EXAMPLE FROM THE GLOBE FLOWER ORDER.

THE Buttercup order of plants embraces many
widely diverse in aspect from the common kinds that
burnish our meadows. In it, for the Wild Garden,
is the sweet-scented Virgin’s Bower (Clematis flam-
mula), a native of the south of Europe, but as hardy
in all parts of Britain as our native Clematis. And
as the Hawthorn sweetens the air of spring, so will
this add fragrance to the autumnal months. It is
never more beautiful than when crawling over some
low tree or shrubs, and I have planted it in newly
formed hedgerows. An open glade in a wood, or on
shrubby banks near, would be charming for it, while
in the pleasure ground it may be used as a creeper

over old stumps or trees. The Hair Bell Virgin’s

Bower (Clematis campaniflora), and the beautiful white

Example from the Globe Flower Order 31

Indian Clematis montana grandiflora, a native of
Nepaul, are as beautiful, and many others of the
family are worthy of a place, rambling over old
trees, bushes, hedgerows, or tangling over banks.
These single wild species of Clematis are more
graceful than the large hybrid kinds now common;
they are very hardy and free. In genial sea-shore
districts a beautiful pale kind, common in Algeria,
and in the islands on, and the shores of, the Mediter-
ranean (Clematis cirrhosa), will be found charming—
nearly evergreen, and flowering very early in spring
—even in winter in some places and in mild years.
Next in this order we come to the _Windflowers,

_or Anemones, and more beautiful flowers do not
adorn this world of flowers. Have we a bit of
rich grass ‘land not mown? If so, the beautiful
Alpine Anemones (A. alpina and A. sulphurea) may
be grown there, though they are rare and ‘slow’ to
establish. Any sunny bushy bank or slope t to adorn
with charming early flowers? For this we have
Anemone blanda, a lovely Greek kind; place it in
open bare spots, as it is dwarf, and it will perhaps
at Christmas, and onward through the spring, open
its large blue starry flowers. The common Poppy _
Anemone _ (A. _coronaria) will be happiest in open,

bare, sandy or rocky places in loam; and the showy
scarlet Anemone will do best in rich but not heavy
soil. Of other Anemones, hardy, free, and beautiful
to run free in our shrubberies and pleasure grounds,

a2 The Wild Garden

the Japan Anemone, its white varieties, and the
Snowdrop Windflower (A. sylvestris), are among the
best of the exotic species. The Japan Anemones
grow so strongly that they will thrive even among
stiff brushwood, brambles, &c.; and scattered along
the low, tangled margins of shrubberies.

The WHITE JAPAN ANEMONE in the Wild Garden.

Few plants are more lovely in the wild garden than
the White Japan Anemone and the various other tall
Anemones of the same country. The wild garden is
a home for numerous plants, to which people often
begrudge room in their borders, such as the Golden
Rods, Michaelmas Daisies, Compass plants, and a host
of others, which are beautiful for a season only, or

Example from the Globe Flower Order 33

perhaps too rampant for what are called choice bor-
ders 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 coarsest. Partial
shade seems to suit it; and in any case the effect of
the arge white flowers is, if anything, more beautiful
in. halfshady 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 forms), it is is one of the prettiest flowers
of any clime, and should be in every garden, in the
borders, and scattered in woods and_ shrubberies.
I have planted many thousands of it in various
soils, and it never fails, though it shows a great
difference in growth and freedom of bloom, according
to the soil, being much larger for example on warm free
Irish limestone soils than on cool soils in Sussex. But
it is so well worth growing everywhere that for it
alone it would be worth while to form a wild garden!
Near to it is the also beautiful blue Windflower of the
Greek hills, in effect like the blue Apennine Wind-
flower, but more varied in size and colour to the south,
and in some of its forms earlier in bloom in spring. This
might perhaps not have the same love for the grass as
the Italian blue Anemone, but if not it would be easy
to naturalize in bare or stony places. The yellow
A. A. ranunculoides, a doubtful native, found in oné or two

Srna at
spots, but not ‘really British, is strange and charming
but flowers well only on chalk.

ee ae Se ea

34 The Wild Garden

The large Hungarian Hepatica (angulosa) grows
freely among low shrubs and in half-shady spots, and
we all know how readily the old Hepatica grows on
garden soils of fair quality. There are many forms of
the common Hepatica (Anemone Hepatica) grown in
gardens, and all the colours of the species should be
represented in every collection of spring flowers,
where the soil is favourable to these plants, but
Hepaticas are often evergreen plants, and being very
dwarf ask for more care in naturalizing them than is
needed for vigorous plants of the same order, some of
which will hold their own among the coarsest weeds.

There are many of the Ranunculi, not natives of
Britain, that would grow as freely as our native kinds.
Many may remember the pretty button-like white
flowers of the Fair Maids of France (Ranunculus
_aconitifolius fl. pl.), in 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
charming beauty, is R amplexicaulis, with flowers of
pure white, and simple 1 leaves of a glaucous green and
graceful form; a hardy and pretty 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 valuable as giving us a distinct form.

Of the Globe Flowers (Trollius), there are various
kinds apart from the native one, all rich in colour and
good inform. These are among the noblest wild-garden

ANEMONES in the Riviera.

Example from the Globe Flower Order 37

plants—quite hardy, free of growth in the heaviest of
soil and wettest of climates, a a “lovely ‘type “of e early
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 colonies, in cool grassy places, where
many other plants would perish, but where they will
get on well, even among docks or the coarsest native
plants. I put them in wet hollows at Gravetye that no
man could clear of weeds and had the pleasure of
seeing their handsome flowers come instead.

The Winter Aconite (Eranthis hyemalis) should be
naturalized 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 without
sacrifice of space, and will be noticed only when
bearing a bloom on every little stem. On heavy
soils it is not so free or bright as on free and
limestone ones. That fine old plant, the Christmas
Rose (Helleborus niger), likes partial _ shade_ better
than full exposure, and should be used abundantly,
given rather snug and warm positions, so that its
flowers may be encouraged to open well and fully.
Any other kinds may also be used. Recently many
kinds of Helleborus have been added to our gardens ;
and all of them are not so conspicuous at first sight

38 The Wild Garden

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 will do 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 or-
dinary garden
border. Of the
difference in the
effect in the two
cases it is need-
less to speak.
Some of the as
Monkshoods are THE GREEN HELLEBORB in the Wild Garden,
handsome, but
they are 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
rough places. They are robust enough to grow any-
where in _shady or half-shady spots; and their tall spikes
of 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

Example from the Globe Flower Order 39

company with the Butterbur and the Hemlock. The
larger rich blue kinds, and the blue and white one,
are 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 forms when flower-time is gone, no longer tied

into bundles or cut in by the

knife, will group finely with
other vigorous herbaceous
vegetation.
The Delphiniums, or tall Pe-
“rennial Larkspurs,
are amongst the
most beautiful of
all flowers. They
embrace almost
every shade of blue,
and, being usually
of a tall and strong
type, will make way
among vigorous
Severe IA ee ese rietts weeds, pruee 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 seen was
a colony of tall Larkspurs. Portions of old roots had
been chopped off by the men when a bed of these

40 The Wild Garden

plants was dug in the autumn, and the refuse thrown
into a near plantation, far in among the shrubs and
trees. Here they grew in half-open spaces, so far
removed from the margin that they were not dug
and were not seen. When I saw the Larkspurs in
flower 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. This case points out 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 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. Herbaceous Pzeonies are
amongst the most free, vigorous, and hardy of perennial
plants, and in free good soil with them alone most novel
and beautiful effects may be carried out in most places
where there is room. Even in small gardens, a group
or two outside the margin of a shrubbery would be good.
The effect of the blooms amongst the lo Fass is

ne ee ner eer ee pene

finer than any they present in borders, and when out of
flower they are not in the way. It is almost needless

Example from the Globe Flower Order 41

to speak here of the great variety of forms now obtain-
able amongst these Herbaceous Pzeonies, the fine
double forms of which deserve the best cultivation in
beds and borders—the hardy free-growing wild kinds
will often come in for the wild garden. My friend’s
Peeonies formed a group that could be seen from
a distance; when I saw them they were surrounded

DOUBLE CRIMSON PONIES in grass at Crowsley Park.

by long and waving grass. I cannot give any idea of
the fine effect.

The blue alpine Clematis-like Atragene alpina is one
of my favourite flowers—seldom seen out of a botanical
garden. It likes to trail over old stumps or through
bushes, or over rocky banks. Speaking of such plants
as this, one would like to draw a sharp distinction
between them and the various weedy and indistinct

42 The Wild Garden

subjects that are now creeping into cultivation owing to
the revival of interest in hardy plants. Many of these
have some botanical interest, but they can be only
useless in the garden. Our chief danger now is getting
into cultivation plants that are neither very distinct nor
very beautiful, while perhaps we neglect many of the
really fine kinds. This Atragene is a precious plant
for low bush and bank wild gardening.

Among plants which one rarely sees in a flower-
garden are the Meadow Rues; yet there is a quiet
beauty about them. As some will grow often in a
hedgerow or lane or byway, or in a copse, or under
the shrubs, in places usually abandoned to common
weeds, there is no reason why they should not be
rescued from the oblivion of the botanic garden.

CHAPTER V.

PLANTS CHIEFLY FITTED FOR THE WILD GARDEN.

A Goop reason for one
form of the Wild Garden is
that it offers us a way of
growing a number of exotic
plants not suited for garden

culture in the old sense.
Many of these plants have much
beauty when in flower, and at other
seasons, but they are so vigorous in
growth that they overrun all their
more delicate neighbours. Many, too,
are so coarse that they are unfit for
choice borders, and after flowering
they leave a blank or a mass of un-
sightly stems. These plants are not
Type of srest COMPOSITE 6s pretty In gardens, and are a main

cause of the neglect of hardy flowers ;
yet beautiful at certain stages. A tall Harebell, stiffly tied
up in a garden border, is at best of times an unsightly

object ; but the same plant growing amongst the long

44 The Wild Garden

grass in a thin wood is lovely.
The Golden Rods and Michael-
mas Daisies used to overrun
the old mixed border, and were
with it abolished. But these
seen together in a New England
wood in autumn are a picture.
So also there are numerous
exotic plants of which the in-
dividual flowers may not be so
striking, but which, grown in
colonies, afford beautiful aspects
of vegetation. When I first
wrote this book, not one of
these plants was in cultivation
outside botanic gardens. It
was even considered by the
best friends of hardy flowers
a mistake to recommend them,
for they knew that it was the
mastery of these weedy vigorous
plants that made people give up
hardy flowers for the glare of
bedding plants. The ‘ wild
garden’ then, in the case of
these particular plants, opens up
to us a new world of infinite
beauty. In it every plant
vigorous enough not to require
the care of the cultivator or

THE GIANT SCABIOUS (8 feet high).
(Cephalaria procera.) Tail herba-
ceous plant, best fitted for the Wild
Garden.

GIANT COW PARSNIP. Type of Great Siberian herbaceous vegetation.
For rough places only.

Plants chiefly fitted for the Wild Garden 47

a choice place in the mixed border will find a home.
Of such plants there are numbers in every northern
country. The taller Yarrows, the stately Aconites, the
vigorous, and at certain seasons handsome, “ Althzeas,
Angelica with its fine foliage, the herbaceous kinds of
Aralia with fine foliage from the American woods, also
the Wormwood family (Artemisia), the stronger kinds
of American Cotton-weed (Asclepias), certain vigorous
Asparagus, Starworts in great variety, Betonica, pretty,
and with delicate flowers, but hardly fit for the mixed
border, various vigorous Grasses, showy Buphthalmums,
handsome Bindweeds, too free ina garden, the stout
Campanulas, exotic Thistles, numerous Centaurea,

somewhat too coarse for the garden ; and among other
hardy plants, the following are chiefly suitable for the
wild garden :

Crambe. Helenium. Rhaponticum.
Digitalis. Helianthus. Rheum.
Dipsacus. Heracleum. Rudbeckia.
Doronicum. Inula. Scolymus.
Echinops. Lavatera. Silphium.
Elymus. Ligularia. Solidago.
Epilobium. Mulgedium. Symphytum.
Eupatorium. Onopordon. Veratrum.
Ferula. Phytolacca. Verbascum.
Funkia. Polygonum. Vernonia.

Galega.

CHAPTER VI.

DITCHES, SHADY LANES, COPSES, AND HEDGEROWS.

Foliage of TEAZLE, on hedge-bank in spring.

Men seek sunny spots for their

gardens, so that they
would scarcely per-
haps care for these for
a garden! Yet there
are ditches, and shady
nooks in every dis-
trict, that may be made
more beautiful than
many a ‘flower-gar-
den.’ But what would
grow in them? Many
of the beautiful wood
plants of the north—
things that do not care

for sunny hillsides or meadows, but take shelter in woods,
or are happy deep between rocks, or in caves beneath
the great boulders on many a mountain gorge, and
garland the flanks of rock that guard the rivers on their
way through the hills. And as these dark walls, ruined

Ditches, Lanes, Copses, and Hedgerows 49

by ceaseless flow of the torrent, are often beautiful, so
may we adorn the shady dykes and lanes. For while
the nymph-gardener of the ravine may depend 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 > shady
American woods, the twin flower of Northern Europe,
and find both thrive on the same spot. In North
America in the woods and near them I often saw the
wet ditches filled with noble ferns. And not only may
we be assured that numbers of the most beautiful plants
of other countries will thrive in deep ditches and in like
positions, but also that not a few of them, such as
the white wood Lily, will thrive much better in them
than in the open garden, the results widely differing
according to the nature of the soil and many other
things—not always easy to understand the action of.
The Trillium has a flower as fair as any white lily, but,
in consequence of being a shade-loving plant, it often
perishes in a dry garden border, while in a shady moist
dyke it will thrive as in its native woods; and, if in
moist, free soil, prove as fair as anything seen in
our stoves.

Our wild flowers take possession of the hedges
that seam the land, often draping them with such
inimitable grace that half the conservatories in the
country, with their small red pots, are poor compared
with a few yards’ length of the blossomy hedgerow

E

50 The Wild Garden

verdure. Wild Roses, Purple Vetch, Honeysuckle,

<— fee
and Virgin’s Bower, clamber above smaller, but not
teat hn Be oy

less pretty, wildlings, and, throwing veils of graceful
life over the »

hedgerow, a
remind us of. ile. ay
x a ON

the plantlife Se oe
in the thick- 2 Ses OF

act N44
ets of low aN

shrubs on the

Alpine mea-
dows. Next
to the most .
beautiful as- h.
pects of Al-

pine flowers, there
are few things in
plant-life more
lovely than the delicate
tracery of low-climbing things
wedded to the shrubs in all
northern and temperate regions.
Often perishing like grass, they are
safe in the earth’s bosom in winter;

. ~ ‘ THE LARGE WHITE BIND-
In spring, finding the bushes once 55D. type of nobler

climbing plants, with annual

more enjoyable, they rush over them ‘Siurbeie, 8" “4

as children from school over a meadow of cowslips.
Over bush, over brake, on mountain or lowland -copse,
holding on with delicate grasp, they engrave them-

Ditches, Lanes, Copses, and Hedgerows 51

selves on the mind as the type of graceful plant-life.
Besides climbing Pea-flowers and Convolvuli, of which
the stems perish in winter, we have the great tribes of
wild vines, noble in foliage, the many _Honeysuckles,
from coral red to pale yellow, all beautiful; and the
Clematidze, varied, and lovely, some with small flowers
borne in showers like drops from a fountain jet, and
often sweet as Hawthorn blossoms.

This climbing vegetation may be trained and tor-
tured into forms in gardens, but never will its beauty
be seen until we entrust to it the garlanding of shrub,
and copse, or hedgerow, fringes of plantation, or
groups of shrubs and trees. All that need be done
is to put in a few tufts of a kind, and leave them
alone, adapting the plant to the spot and soil. The
large Hungarian..Bindweed would be best in rough
places, out of the pale of the garden, so that its roots
might spread where they could do no harm, while a
fragile Clematis might grow over a tree and star its
green with fair flowers. In a wood we see a Honey-
suckle clambering up through an old Hawthorn tree,
and then struggling with it as to which should give
most bloom—but in gardens not yet. Some may say
that this cannot be done in the garden, but it can be;
because, for gardens we can select plants from so many
countries, and adapt them to our particular wants and
soils. We can effect contrasts, in which nature is often
poor in one place, owing to the few plants that naturally

inhabit one spot of ground. Foolish old ‘laws’ laid
E2

52 The Wild Garden

down by landscape-gardeners—perpetuate the notion
that a.garden is a ‘work of art, and therefore we
must not attempt in it to imitate nature!’ the true.
“garden differing from all other arts in this that it

gives us the living things themselves,
and not merely representations of them

in paint or stone or wood.
Where there are bare slopes,
an excellent effect may be ob-
tained by planting the stouter
climbers, such as the Vines,
* Mountain Clematis, and Honey-
* suckles, in groups 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.
fee MOORE ees Endless charming combina-
ssamnvey. tions «may be made in. this
way in many spots near country houses. The
following are among the climbing and clinging
hardy plants most suitable for garlanding copses,
hedges, and thickets :—Everlasting Peas (many kinds),
the Honeysuckles, Clematis (wild species mainly), the
common Jasmine, Brambles, Vines (American and the
common varieties), single Roses, Virginian creepers
(Ampelopsis), the large Bindweed (Calystegia dahurica),

Aristolochia Sipho, and A. tomentosa, and several of the

Ditches, Lanes, Copses, and Hedgerows 53

perennial Tropeeolums (T. pentaphyllum, speciosum,
and tuberosum). The hardy Smilax and the Canadian
Moonseed, too, are very handsome, and suitable for this
kind of gardening.

Among the plants that are suitable for hedgerows and
lanes, &c. are—Acanthus, Viola, both the sweet varieties
and some of the large scentless kinds, Periwinkles,
Speedwells,; Globe Flowers, Trilliums, Plume Ferns
(Struthiopteris), and many other kinds, the Lily of the
Valley and its many varieties and allies, the Canadian
Blood-root, Winter Greens (Pyrola), Sina Seal,
and ie species, May -Apple, Orobus in
variety, many Narcissi, the Common Myrrh, the
perennial Lupin, hardy common Lilies, Snowflakes,
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 that
will repay for shelter, the European and hardier
kinds of Gladiolus, such as segetum and Colvillei, the
taller and more vigorous Crane’s-bills (Geranium), the
Snake’s-head (Fritillaria) in variety, wild Strawberries
of any \ variety < or species, Giant Fennels, Dog’s-tooth
Violets in spots bare in spring, the Winter Aconite, the
May Flower, for sandy poor soil under trees, Toothworts
(Dentaria), the ‘coloured’ forms of Primroses, ‘ Bunch’
Primroses, Ox-lips, Polyanthus, the hardy European
Cyclamens, Crocuses in places under trees not bearing
leaves in spring, the yellow and pink Coronilla (C.

54 The Wild Garden

montana and C. varia), many of the taller Harebells,
Starworts (Aster), the Monkshoods which people fear in
gardens; the different species of Allium often not
welcome in gardens, some of which are beautiful, as,
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.

When I first wrote the Wild Garden, it was to

THE YELLOW ALLIUM (A. Moly) naturalized.

encourage the gardener to put some beautiful life
in his garden grass, shrubberies, and half waste places
—if ashamed of that beautiful life among his Perilla
and dark Beet and Alternanthera. But now I want
the fields to be gardens too, since at Gravetye I found
I could do so much in the meadows mown for hay.
The Wild Garden I see now need not stop at the
pleasure-ground fence. Among the ways one may
enjoy it most is in the making of living fences. In

Ditches, Lanes, Copses, and Hedgerows 55

our country the system of keeping stock in the open
air, instead of in sheds, makes a fence a necessity as
all know to their cost, who have to look after a country
place or farm of any size. But we live in mechanical
days, when many think that among the blessings
and fine discoveries of the age is that of making
a gridiron fence! and so we see some of the fairest
landscapes disfigured by a network of iron fencing.
“And when a man throws away beautiful living fences
and gives us miles of ugly iron in the foreground of
a fair landscape, I think of the Devil setting up as
an economist. Artistic, too, no doubt some of these
“fmprovers think themselves!

Iron Fences and our Landscapes.

The iron fence bids fair to ruin the beauty of the
English landscape, unless men see its ugliness and
its drawbacks as a fence, its great cost, and the further
cost of tinkering and daubing it with tar or paint. With
bullocks on one or both sides of an iron fence, its
fragility as a fence is soon seen. It is no use as
a shelter, nor as a protection, as it only forms a ladder
for all who want to get over with ease. As a boundary
fence it means the loss of all privacy. Estates of much
natural beauty have their charms stolen away by iron
fences. Used to fence the pleasure ground or by
drives, the effect is bad to any one who knows how
much more beautiful live fences are. There is nothing
an iron fence does that an ‘old-fashioned’ one will not

56 The Wild Garden

do better, while it always looks well with its Ivy, Ferns,
Primroses, and varied life. The bad opinion of the
old-fashioned fence arose from its being so often
neglected, and injured by trees until no longer
effective.

It is not only the tradesman emerging from the
city who fancies there is no fence so perfect as an
iron one. Such an idea would be excusable in
mechanics, and many others who have not studied
the question of fences from the point of safety, en-
durance, and beauty, and who fear the expense and
trouble of forming a living fence. But I regret to see
the plague of iron fencing in some of the finest country
places and marring the foreground of good views.

No Fence so good as a live one on a bank.

One objection to the live fence is its weakness at
first, and the need of protecting it when small, but
these difficulties are not insurmountable. It is usual to
plant Quick small, and then protect it with elaborate
fencing on either side—wearisome work, for which
there is no need if people would take the trouble
to get plants strong enough to form a good fence
to begin with. With stout Quick, and a mixture of
Holly, or other strong bushes, a good fence can be
made at once without protection being needed. In
every country place it would be easy to have a few
lines of young and vigorous Quick put out in fields
in lines a yard or so apart, where they might get

Ditches, Lanes, Copses, and Hedgerows 57

stout, and be ready for fencing at any time. Where
there are underwoods with Quick growing in them,
it is often easy to grub up bushes of it, cut them down
half way, and plant them in a fence, always on a bank.

I have done this with success and without losing
a bush, but should prefer to have a few lines of stout
grown Quick ready to take up at any time. Most
fences should be on banks with ‘dicks’ where the
ground requires them, because the bank itself forms
a fence against lambs and small animals, and the
added soil that goes to make the bank gives much
better growth. Three years ago I formed a fence
of this sort, every bush of which was gathered in
the underwood near ; the line of Quick was so strong
that there was no need to fence them. To prevent,
however, any chance of cattle rushing through, a thin
Larch pole was run through along and just below
the top of the fence, supported by the bushes, and
no animal has since passed the fence or injured it.
The waste slender tops of Larch lying in a wood
near were used. This fence will be good for as many
years as it is wanted, will form a shelter as well as
a fence, and will not want any attention for many years
to come. It should be clearly understood that in the
formation of this fence we had not even the cost of
the ordinary ‘stake and heather’ protection commonly
' used in re-making rough fences. The tough bushes
did it all themselves, the sod bank helping them in
all ways. Consider this as compared with the costly

58 The Wild Garden

galvanized or iron fence, with its dangers, ugliness,
and coldness!

By far the best fence for farm and general work
is the living fence—the most satisfactory and least
expensive in the long run, and the most beautiful in
its effect upon the landscape and for its varied life.
I mean the living fence that is not too trim, and annual
trimming is not necessary. Small, ‘skinny’ Quick
fences are not so handsome as rough ones. The con-
stant clipping of fences is needless in many grazing
and woody districts. In good arable farms it may
be desirable, but in most districts where fields are
large the fence should also be a shelter—a_ bold,
free-growing screen, with Bramble, wild Rose, Ferns,
Ivy, and other scrambling things that like to live in
it. I have many such fences that do not want attention
for years at a time—on banks, as they always should:
be. They are better furnished at the bottom than
some of the constantly clipped hedges. To plant on
a bank may in some very dry soils, and where there
is a low rainfall, be a mistake, but the bank itself
doubles at least the depth of the soil, and the pro-
tection of the bank and its little dick is a great gain
to fencing, by allowing Briers and wild Roses to fill
in the bottom of the hedge, and preventing small
animals from making tracks through. My fences
round woods are only re-made when the underwood
is cut, say every ten years, and that is sufficient. The
mass of wood. behind and the strong growth in the

Ditches, Lanes, Copses, and Hedgerows 59

fence itself are such that no animal makes an attempt
on them. The only source of weakness in such places
is hedge trees, and they should be removed.

A hedge can be kept in good order for generations
by cutting and laying it every ten or dozen years,
and the owner of such a fence deserves to suffer if
he does not take care that this is done when the time
comes round. The labour for it is enormously less
than the cost of forming and tarring the iron fence
and keeping it in repair.

Bushes to use and avoid in Fences.

To use bad fencing plants is folly, the money is
thrown away, and the work never done. I have planted
some thousands of Quick this season, in lines 3 feet
apart, for the sake of getting strong bushes to make
fences, and some Cockspur Thorn, of which I saw
an excellent fence in France in 1892. I am not so sure
about the Cherry Plum, which grows well in some
places, but is not so tough as a Thorn, and in some
cold soils, where the Quick is all we want, the Cherry
Plum will not thrive. A few Sloe bushes may be
used, but they are not so tough as Quick. A few
seedling common Hollies not over 3 feet high are
good, and, where there are not many rabbits to bark
it, nothing is more successful than Holly. Hollies
grow under trees better than any other fence plant.
From the protection they give to stock, it is surprising
that they are not more largely grown for shelter in

60 The Wild Garden

_ stock-raising districts, and not clipped but grown
naturally. One very often sees beautiful, almost
natural fences of Holly and Quick in the forest
districts of the south of England, and among Holly
hedges well formed in better land, those at Woolver-
stone, in Suffolk, are excellent. Except, however,
in open woodless districts where rabbits are few,
Hollies are sure to be barked when rabbit food is
scarce. I have planted several thousands within a few
years, and none are intact that are not protected by
wiring. Sweet Brier, Dog Rose, and cut-leaved

SS
Bramble are very good to mix, and beautiful too in

a rough, wild-looking hedge.

It is as necessary to avoid bad fencing plants as to

select and grow good ones. The worst is the common
Privet, the ghost of what a fence plant should be.
Its rapid growth deceives, and it is often used with
a dangerous sharp-pointed iron fence outside as a guard,
and perhaps, at the same time, to be the death of some
animal. Privet is a rapid grower, or seems so at first ;
it is never so strong a grower in the end as Quick,
Holly, or wild Rose. The quicker the Privet grows
the worse it is, and the plant should never be seen in
a fence. Laurel is a soft useless fence plant, apt to
be killed in cold districts and in valleys. Spruce is
sometimes used in hedgerows, and is most unfitted
for them for many reasons. The common Elder is
always a source of weakness in a fence, and should
never be planted or allowed to live in a fence.

Ditches, Lanes, Copses, and Hedgerows 61

Oak and other not ugly Fencing.

Where there are beautiful views, people who enjoy the
landscape will do well mot to mar them with iron fencing.
In some cases good views are kept by a sunk fence,
and to prevent this from looking hard or deceptive in
any way I throw a garland of wild Roses along the top
of the wall, which marks the position of the fence, and
always looks well. The groups of wild Roses I set out
in a colony along the sunk fence made at Grave-
tye are charming at all seasons. In many other cases,
along important drives perhaps commanding interest-
ing views, a finer thing by far than any iron fencing
is the strong split Oak post-and-rail fence. There are
many estates where Oak is abundant, and where the
men split it up into stout heartwood posts and rails.
This is not necessarily a dear fence, and it is a very
beautiful and efficient one if well done. In colour
it is perfect, improving as it gets older. Such a visible
tangible fence will last for many years, and might
come in the foreground of a picture by Corot or
Turner. A few Sweet Briers or wild Roses stuck
in the post-holes often turn out very pretty. For
dividing lines in stockyards, too, nothing is so good and
safe as a split Oak fence. Where good effects are
thought of, nothing is more important than good post-
and-rail fences in certain places on the farm, where
we want to keep animals back without hiding the
view, and where shelter is not required. Oak park

62 The Wild Garden

fencing is pretty, and in many cases efficient, but
too expensive to be done on a large scale for field
work. Nor should I rank it as high as a good live
fence, because of its cost, repairs, and the quickness
with which it is often destroyed when old.

The Fence as a Shelter.

Apart from the ugliness of the iron fencing, its
giving no shelter whatever is one of its worst points,
as a good live fence gives excellent shelter for sheep
and other animals. The prim, neat little hedge is
not so good as a shelter, but better than an iron
fence. A well-grown fence, cut down and re-made
after a lapse of say ten years, gives good shelter.
There are many such shelter fences, with Holly and
Thorn allowed to grow at will, with an interlacing of
Ivy, all seated on a good bank. Such lines as these
in the direction of the prevailing winds could not
fail to be helpful for stock in exposed fields. We
have plenty of materials to form such fences as hardy
and enduring as the bank itself. We might even
have them evergreen if we used the Holly largely.
The shelter of a good line of naturally-grown Holly
on the north side of a high field in an exposed district
would be equal to that of a shed. There would be
no great difficulty in establishing such Holly fences
in open farming districts where rabbits do not abound,
but it is not so easy in wooded districts. Seedling
plants, not large—i.e. 1 foot to 3 feet high—

Ditches, Lanes, Copses, and Hedgerows 63

are the best to use. It is a good plan to buy some
very small seedling Hollies, and let them get strong
in a nursery, so as to be able to get a few when
mending or making fences. The more ordinary
materials, too, with an occasional Holly intermixed,
give very efficient shelter indeed. The Ivy runs
through such fences and makes them very pretty,
tying them together with its graceful lace work, and
its growth seldom chokes the Quick or other plants.

The Fence Beautiful.

So far this about the true British fence is to lead
to what I want to emphasise—that the best and safest
live fence may be beautiful as well as enduring and
effective. If my reader will go so far as to form the
right fence, then he has it in his power to make
a very beautiful one, and to prove that use and beauty
are one even in a fence. Wild rough fences in many
countries are often pretty with Ivy, Clematis, Thorn,
Fern, wild Rose, Honeysuckle, Brier and Sloe, but
the trim clipped fence made of one sort of bush or
tree only is stupidly ugly. We may make fences
for miles, for ever beautiful yet always varied as one
goes along. But to do this one must never deviate
from the best fencing plants as a centre to the
fence—Quick, Holly, and Cockspur Thorn, and while
keeping to this central idea of the resisting and
enduring bushes, add what beauty we can, and that
is much! And as this is the Wild Garden its main

64 The Wild Garden

idea may well be kept in view; for though we
may make a fence of beautiful native plants, fences
in pretty positions near the house may be made more
beautiful and interesting by adding perfectly hardy
plants of other countries. It gives us a means of
varying fences which is often surprising, and we may
tie them together with graceful climbers which are
not of our own country, though none surpass our
Honeysuckle wreathed over a fence. I use Sweet
Brier largely, and have for several years planted thou-
sands in fence making. As this plant is not native in
all parts of our country, it may be considered as worth
introducing as any exotic! The odour from the early
days of spring fills the field, and then there are
the summer flowers, and the bright Hips for autumn
and winter days. Its advantages are that cattle do
not eat it, and that the flower or fruit-laden branches
swing careless into the field, when Hazel and other
things would be eaten back to the stump. The shoots
are so fiercely armed with spines that cattle respect
it, and it is a fine aid in live fence making. In
building our fence some young Sweet Briers should be
put alongside the bank, while Quick and the essential
fencing plants that we may prefer for the spot go on
the top. The same thing applies to the wild Roses,
the common Dog Rose of England being excellent.
Other Roses will be found useful, such as the Japanese
and the Needle Rose (R. acicularis). Different kinds
of Bramble too are excellent, and often beautiful in

Ditches, Lanes, Copses, and Hedgerows 65

flower, fruit and leaf. There is great variety among
our Brambles, and not a few foreign ones are worth
introducing, if we can get them. Anyone who notices
English landscape beauty in spring will know how
much we gain from Crab and Sloe, and May Blossoms
in the fence. More beautiful things we cannot have,
but it is wise to add to them as we can in various
ways. Various bushes often abundant in gardens may
be introduced here and there. I have used some of
the dwarf Japan Crabs and Apples, the common Medlar,
the Quince, the Japan Pear, which in some places
comes so easily from seed, sowing the seeds on
banks as well as planting. The beautiful ‘ Pyracantha’
is a dwarf evergreen shrub, which I look forward to as
an excellent evergreen fence plant.

It is not only this kind of shrub we may use, for
beautiful climbers, such as the wild species of Clematis,
which are often easily raised from seed; or small
plants may be got for a few pence from English
or continental nurseries. I speak of such kinds as
the Virgin’s Bower (C. Viticella), C. Flammula, C. mon-
tana, C. graveolens, C. campanulata and other wild
kinds, many of them yet to be introduced. The
gardeners are not always alive to their charms, and
if we get them at all, we may sometimes have to put
them in newly-made fences, in which they do and
look well. The large Bindweed and other climbers
may also be used in these free fences. Our common
Ivy is a delightful plant in fences, and some of the

F

66 The Wild Garden

less common and more graceful kinds (when plentiful
in gardens) may be used. The same is true of many
hardy climbers. It is not only shrubs and climbers
we may add to our fences, but hardy flowers of the
more vigorous kinds, which indeed often thrive well
in hedge banks. I have planted in them bulbs of
Narcissus, Tulip, Violets, Wild Strawberries, Star-
worts, Moon Daisies, and various vigorous plants
which grow perhaps too well in the garden. They do
not add to the strength of the fence, but when large
rough fences are made they often adorn it, whereas
the shrubs above mentioned, Wild Roses and Briers,
tie the fence together, and add security as well to
its beauty.

In certain parts of Kent, on the. hills, we see a very
picturesque fence, of unclipped Yew, creeping in dark
single files across the hills, here and there bearing
garlands of wild Clematis. A fence suggested by this
may often be useful in gardens, and be improved upon.
I mean an unclipped fence of native Evergreens, not
planted close, and among them, at intervals, flowering
shrubs. Where Yew is used for this, such a fence
should not be put in open fields, but in country places
there is often occasion for such a free dividing line, to
separate orchards and other enclosures from roads or
woods. Such a fence I made to protect the west side
of the new orchard at Gravetye, running from the moat
up the hill, using Yew in this case, as there was no
grazing on either side; between the Yews were

Ditches, Lanes, Copses, and Hedgerows 67

planted Medlar, Sloe, Quince, Wild Rose, Sweet Brier,
Wild Raspberry, and, here and there, Virgin’s Bower
and other Clematises, and the large Bindweed, which
could do no harm there. This fence is meant to be
a good shelter as well as a division, and such fences
should not be clipped if their shelter is to be
thought of. They are also much more beautiful
unclipped, and where planted on the cold sides of
orchards or fields are valuable for the warmth and
shelter they give. The Holly in such positions,
carrying garlands of Wild Rose, is very beautiful.

CHAPTER VII.
CLIMBERS FOR TREES AND BUSHES.

Tue numerous hardy climbers are rarely
seen to advantage, owing to their being
stiffly trained against walls, and many
of them have gone out of cultivation
for this reason. One of the happiest
ways of enjoying them is that of
training them in free ways over trees;
in this way many beautiful effects may
be secured. In some low trees a grace-
ful creeper may garland their heads;
, in tall ones the stem only. Some vigo-
rous climbers in time ascend tall trees,

and there are few more beautiful than
a veil of Clematis montana over a tall tree. Many
lovely kinds may be grown, apart from the popular
climbers, and there are graceful wild Clematises
which have never come into gardens. The
same may be said of the Honeysuckles, wild Vines,
and various other families. Much of the northern

Climbers for Trees and Bushes 69

tree world is garlanded with creepers, which we may
grow in similar ways, and also on rough banks and
in hedgerows. The trees in our pleasure grounds,
however, have the first claim.

LARGE WHITE CLEMATIS ON YEW TRES AT GREAT TEW. ,C. montana grandiflora.)

Sometime ago I saw a Weeping Willow, on the
margin of a lake, its trunk clothed with Virginian
Creeper, and the effect in autumn, when the sun
shone through the drooping branches of the Willow

70 The Wild Garden

—whose leaves were just becoming tinged with gold
—upon the crimson of the creeper-covered trunk was
very fine. The Hopis avery effective plant for draping
trees, 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 from the
top of the bush, and throws its long, graceful wreaths
of Hops over the dark green foliage, the contrast is
most effective. The Wistaria is a host in itself, and
should be freely planted against Pines and other
trees, also by itself on banks and in the open; its
use on houses is too limited for the noblest of hardy
flowering climbers. I have planted many against
Pines and other trees in plantations.

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 Holly, which
had been taken entire possession of by a wild Honey-
suckle, 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. The Holly had endured
the subjection for many years, and still seemed to put forth
sufficient shoots and leaves annually to ensure a steady
support to its companion.’

The Honeysuckle in question is an example of what
might be done with such handsome climbers. The

Climbers for Trees and Bushes 71

climbing Honeysuckles are now numerous as delight-
ful, and require very little encouragement to garland
a plantation, and flourish in hedgerow or on bank
without care.

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

‘Some years ago
we planted three
or four rows of
climbers in nursery
rows, about 100
feet long; these
consisted of the
‘Virginian Creeper,
the Moonseed
(Menispermum),
Periploca greeca,
and Celastrus scan-
dens; subsequent-
ly, it happened that
four rows of Arbor-

CLIMBING SHRUB (CELASTRUS), ISOLATED ON THE

vitees were planted GRASS; way of growing woody Climbers away from walls
or other supports.

on one side, and
about the same number of rows of Smoke trees, Phila-

delphus, and Dogwood (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-vitees and shrubs were thinned until what
were too large to transplant remained. The land was
not wanted then, and the few scattered trees and climbers

72 The Wild Garden

grew on until the climbers had fairly taken possession
of the trees, and they are now too beautiful to disturb!
Some of the Arbor-vitee are overrun with the Moonseed
(Menispermum), whose large leaves overlap one another
like slates on a roof. Over others, the leaves of the Peri-
ploca scramble, and also the Celastrus, and on still others
the deep green leaves of the Ampelopsis completely fes-
toon the tree; from among the tops of the Sumach the
feathery tendrils of the Ampelopsis, and, just now, its
deep blue berries, hold full sway. The Apios tuberosa
is indigenous, and springs up everywhere as soon as our
land is neglected. This also has overrun several trees,
and coils up and wreaths each outstretching branch with
its little bunches of fragrant brownish flowers. One Hem-
lock Spruce has every branch loaded with the Apios and
profuse with blossoms. When such strong climbers as
Bignonia and Wistaria take possession of a shrub they
generally injure it; but the very slender stems of Meni-
spermum 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-vite.’

But the noblest kind of climbers forming drapery
for trees are not so often seen as some of the general
favourites mentioned above. A neglected group are
the wild Vines, plants of the highest beauty, which,
if allowed to spring through the tall trees, which
they would quickly do, would soon charm by their
bold grace. With these might be associated
certain free-growing species of Ampelopsis. In the
garden of MM. Van Eden, at Haarlem, I was surprised
to see a Liane, in the shape of Aristolochia Sipho

se yo8

SS

74

or Dutch-
man’s Pipe,
which had
grown high
into a fine
old decid-
uous Cy-
press.When
Isawit early
inspring the
leaves had
not appear-
ed on either
the tree or
its compan-
ion, and
the effect of
the old rope-
like stems
was very
picturesque.
The Aristo-
lochia as-
cends to a
height of
over thirty-
five feet on
the _ tree,
which was a
superb one.

The Wild Garden

=n sone un

A LIANE IN THE NORTH. Aristolochia and Deciduous Cypress.

CHAPTER VIII.
SHRUBBERY, PLANTATION, AND WOOD.

Ir must not be thought that the wild garden can be
formed only in places where there is some extent of
rough pleasure ground. Pretty results may be had
from it in even small gardens, on the fringes of
shrubberies and plantations, and on open spaces
between shrubs, where we may have _ plant-beauty
instead of garden-graveyards—the dug shrubbery
borders seen in gardens, public or private. Every
shrubbery that is so needlessly dug over every winter
may be full of beauty. The custom of digging
shrubbery borders prevails now in almost every
garden, and there is no worse custom! When winter
is once come, almost every gardener, with the
best intentions, prepares to make war upon the roots
of everything in his shrubbery. The practice is to
trim and to mutilate the shrubs and to dig all over
the ground that is full of feeding roots. Choice shrubs

76 The Wild Garden

are disturbed, herbaceous plants are disrooted, bulbs
are injured, the roots as well as the tops of shrubs are
mutilated, and a miserable aspect is given to the
borders; while the only ‘improvement’ that comes
of the process is the darkening of the surface of the
upturned earth!

Illustrations of these bad practices are seen by the
mile in our London parks in winter. Walk through
any of them at that season and observe the borders
around masses of shrubs. Instead of finding the earth
covered with vegetation close to the margin and each
shrub grown into a fair example of its kind, we find
a wide expanse of dug ground, and the shrubs upon
it with an air of having recently suffered from a whirl-
wind, that led to the removal of mutilated branches.
Rough pruners go before the diggers and 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. The same thing occurs everywhere
—in botanic gardens as well as in our large West-end
parks, and year after year the brutal process is repeated..

While such evil practice is the rule, we cannot have
a fresh carpet of beautiful living things in a plantation.
What secrets one might have in the hidden parts of
these now dug shrubberies—in the half-shady spots
where little colonies of rare exotic wildings might
‘thrive! All the labour that produces these ugly dug

Shrubbery, Plantation, and Wood 7

borders is worse than thrown away, and the shrubs
would even do better if left alone.

If no annual digging is to be done, nobody will
grudge a thorough preparation of the ground at first.
Then the planting should be so done as to defeat the
digger, and this could best be done by covering the
whole surface with groups of free-growing hardy plants
and of dwarf Evergreens. Happily, there is quite
enough of these to be had suitable for every soil.
Light, moist, peaty or sandy soils, where such things
as a ree Cneorum would spread
forth its neat bushes, would be better than a stiff soil;
but for every soil good plants might be found. The
dwarf Evergreen Sun Roses (Helianthemum), Ever-
green Candytuft (Iberis), Purple Rock Cress (Aubrietia),
Arabis, Alyssum, dwarf shrubs, little conifers like
the a1 creeping Cedar and the Savin, and Lavender in
spreading groups and colonies would help well. All
these should spread out into wide groups covering
the margin and helping to cut off the stiff line which
usually borders a shrubbery, and the margin should
be varied also as regards the height of the plants.

In one spot we might have a wide-spreading colony
of the prostrate Savin bush with graceful evergreen
branchlets; in another the dwarf Cotoneasters might
form the front, relieved in their turn by “Scotch or
pretty Wild Roses of dwarf stature ; and herbs, dwarf
evergreen or grey shrubs, and stout herbaceous plants,
in colonies between the trees.

78 The Wild Garden

In forming a garden plantation of evergreen or other
trees, the best way is not to plant in the far too thickly set
way that is usual, but rather openly, and then cover all the
space between the trees with groups of easily increased

hardy flowers. This was done at Gravetye, in the belt
of evergreen trees I planted west of the house, using
Starworts (Aster),

among other plants Compass plants, Starwo
Lavender, Moon Daisies, Geraniums (hardy spreading
kinds), Jerusalem Sage (Phlomis), Fuchsia, scarlet
Bee Balm (Monarda), Evening Primrose, Sea Lyme
Grass (Elymus), Alum root (Heuchera), Stenactis
speciosa, Prairie Sunflowers, Rheum Emodi, Globe
. Thistle,and Golden Yarrow. The effects were the best
we had, the plants giving little trouble after planting,
but, on the other hand, saving us trouble. Before
we planted in this way weeds were a constant trouble,
but the vigorous colonies of plants wanted all the
good of the ground for themselves, and took care of
the weeds for us! Certainly it was very much less
trouble than an ordinary mixed border; there was
no staking of any kind, and the stems were not cut
down till late in spring; they looked very pretty in
colour in winter. This, like every other plan, must
be changed in the course of years; when the trees
meet there will be less need of the plants, but it is
a system that can be easily suited to the circumstances
as they arise.

All that the well-covered shrubbery would require
would be an occasional weeding or thinning, and in

Shrubbery, Plantation, and Wood 79

the case of the choicer plants, a little top-dressing
with fine soil. In suitable soils such dwarf plants
as Forget-me-nots, Violets and Primroses might be
scattered, so as to give the borders interest even at
the dullest seasons; but in large and new plantations
and shrubberies the best plants are those that give bold
effects and are very hard to kill.

In beds of choice shrubs, the same plan on a small
scale will do, but in this case rare plants might often
be planted, and that is flower gardening. But the
theme of this book is the planting of things that will
take care of themselves once fairly started, and we
only come into the shrubberies to save them from
ugliness and dreariness by a modification of the same
plan, which to succeed must be done in a bold and
simple way. -To do it well, one should have a few
nursery beds of hardy flowers, or frequently divide
and make groups of those that grow and increase
rapidly. The rule should be—never show the naked
earth: clothe it. It need hardly be said that this
“greumient against digging applies to two or three
beds of shrubs and to places where the ‘shrubbery’
is little larger than the dining-room, as much as to
the large country seat, public park and_ botanic
garden.

One of the prettiest plant pictures I have ever seen
was in a shrubbery forming a belt round a botanic
garden. In the inner and hidden parts, probably
from want of labour, the digging had not been done

80 The Wild Garden

for 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.
Among the tufts of Myrrh some tall white Harebells
__came, also thrown out of the flower-beds in the garden
to get rid of them, and the effect of these, standing
above the spreading foliage of the Myrrh in the shade

4 BEAUTIFUL ACCIDENT,—A colony of Myrrhis odorata, in shrubbery not dug,
with white Harebells here and there.

of the trees, was very beautiful. The front of the
shrubbery in which this picture was found was as
stiff and hideous as usual—raw earth, full of mutilated
roots, and shrubs cut in for the convenience and the
taste of the diggers. This was in the shrubbery
surrounding the Botanic Garden at Cambridge, where
Mr. Parsons made a sketch of it here engraved on
wood.

Shrubbery, Plantation, and Wood 81

There are some advantages, too, in leaving the leaves
to nourish the ground and protect it. Here is a note
-from a friend inquiring about what he thinks difficulties,
and an answer to it :—

‘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. The first storm that came would whirl the
disturbed leaves all over the place.’

How do the swarming plants of the woods and
copses of the world exist in spite of the slugs? In
the garden we may please ourselves as to leaves, and
besides all gardens are frequently enriched by soil
and other things, but not one leaf would I ever allow
to be removed from a clump of shrubs or trees on
lawn or pleasure ground, and I should prefer the leaves
all over the place to dug borders. In a plantation
of choice trees, their branches resting on the ground,

G

82 The Wild Garden

with low shrubs and hardy plants like, say, Starworts
between, there are impediments to the leaves rushing
abouk a the way mentioned. Our annual cong

other, and ar are e shielded ons hard “Host. and a heat by
layers ‘of fallen leaves, which gradually sink into light
soil for the young roots, are practices that must be
given up by all who look into the needs of our hardy
garden flora. In my plantation 10,000 stems of
Starworts and other plants all the winter standing
brown in their place, keep hold of all the leaves that
may get among them!

Woops.

Woods vary so much in their character and the
plants growing beneath the trees, that we may for
ever see different effects, and a thousand things may
be suggested to us by woods. In Pine woods in
mountain districts we may see sheets of Ferns and
even alpine flowers in them, and our own southern
Pine woods in Surrey and Hants often spring out
of gardens of lovely Heaths. In the same parish we
find woods so close with oaks and underwood, that
only tall and stout flowers like wood Angelica, showy
Ragwort, large wood Grasses and Foxglove, French
Willow and Bracken will grow—these, too, if one goes
into the wood and looks at them, often giving us
pictures. But this little book cannot tell us the lessons

Shrubbery, Plantation, and Wood 83

to be learnt about flowers in the woods of the world,
whether in those set out by man for his use, or in the
great and more stately woods of the earth mother,
as, say, in those of the mountains of California, a garden
woodland with lovely Evergreens set below great
Pine trees, and on the ground lace-work of delicate
Ferns and a thousand flowers.

Here is a letter from an observer of what goes on in
the woods of New England.

‘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, Trillium, Blood-root,
Star-flowers, Solomon’s Seal, Gold Thread, trailing Arbutus,
and a host of pretty little flowers, all bright, arising from
their bed of decaying grass and tree leaves, and many of
them in perfection, too, before a tree has spread a leaf;
nourished 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
a scorching sun. And early as the earliest, too, the out-
skirts of the woods and meadows are painted blue and
white with hosts of Violets 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 beautiful. Every nook and cranny among them, and
every little mat of earth upon them, is chequered with the
flowery print of the Canada Columbine, the Virginia

G2

84 The Wild Garden

Saxifrage, and the grey Corydalis. What can be prettier
than the Partridge Berry (Mitchella repens), the ‘Twin:
flower __(Linnzea_borealis)—does well with us—Creeping
Winter Green (Gaultheria procumbens), Bearberry (Arctos-
taphylos Uva-Ursi), Cowberry (Vaccinium Vitis-idzea), 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
Club Moss (Lycopodium lucidulum) ?

‘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 rocky bed came a little stream of water, bordered on both
sides with patches of Blood-root, with large blossoms,
clasped erect in their own leaf-vases and sparkling in the
sun, while the sward and other vegetation around were yet
dormant. 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 of rich
woodlands.

‘ Hereabouts, 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
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 is dry in summer, wherein is
collected a mass of leaf-soil. Here the Yellow Dog’s-tooth

Shrubbery, Plantation, and Wood 85

Violet runs riot, and forms the densest kind of matted sod,
all bespeckled with yellow blossoms before a tree has
spread a leaf. When Blackberry bushes get a growing and
sprawling everywhere, the trees expand their leafy shade,
and grass and weeds grow up and cover the surface of the
earth, it is all too late for evil, the early flowers’ mission
for a year is ended; it has blossomed and retired.’—
W. Fatconer.

THE Woop Witp GarDEN.

Longleat is one of the first places in which the
idea of the wild garden in English woods was ably
carried out by the late forester, Mr. Berry. With
such a fine variety of surface and soil, the place
offers many positions in which the plants of other
countries as cold as our own could be so planted
that they would take care of themselves in the woods.
A forester’s duties make it difficult for him to carry
out such an idea, and even to know the plants
that are likely to succeed is in itself a 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 ground vegetation.
To get the necessary quantities of plants, a little
nursery in which could be raised numbers of the
more vigorous perennials, bulbs and climbers was
required. If the Wzld Garden is to be carried out on
the old dotting principle of the herbaceous border,

.

86 The Wild Garden

its charming effects cannot be realized. 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 to make pretty colonies
of plants, one or two kinds prevailing in a spot; in
that way we may secure distinct effects in each place,
and better means of meeting the wants of a plant,
inasmuch as, dealing with a colony we can easily
see the result of putting the plants in any soil or
place. Among the plants used are vigorous hardy
climbers on old trees, Thorn and other bushes of
little value—Japanese and other Honeysuckles, Vir-
ginian creepers, Clematis, Wistarias and others. A
part of the arboretum is devoted to these plants, and
forms a wild garden, where the Poet’s Narcissus may
be found among Sweet Briers, Lilacs and many kinds
of fragrant shrubs and stout perennials. While carry-
ing out wild gardening, pure and simple—that is to
say, the naturalization of foreign hardy plants—beautiful
native kinds were also planted when not naturally
wild in the neighbourhood. Thus the Lily of the
Valley has been brought in quantities and planted
wide along the drives, and so have the Meadow
Saffrons and the Snowflakes and Daffodils. To group
and scatter these in a natural and pretty way has
required care, the tendency of the men being, almost
in spite of themselves, to plant in stiff and set or too
regular masses.

Few things are more delightful to anybody who

Shrubbery, Plantation, and Wood 87

cares about hardy plants than naturalizing the Lily
of the Valley in woody places about a country house. It
is in every garden, and very often so crowded and so
starved that it seldom flowers well. A bare garden
border is not so suitable for it as a thin wood or little
openings in a copse, where it enjoys enough light. And
by planting it in various positions and soils, we may
secure an important difference as to bloom. On a cool

THE LILY OF THE VALLEY IN COPSE.

northern slope it blooms ten days later than on a warm
garden border. Recently different varieties of Lily
of the Valley have been collected, and are cultivated.
This fact should be noted by any who would, in places
where the Lily of the Valley does not grow wild, desire
to establish it.

There are advantages in plantation culture for many
hardy plants—the shelter, shade, and soil affording
for some things conditions more suitable than garden

88 The. Wild Garden

borders. The warmth of the wood, too, is an ad-
vantage, and the fallen leaves help to protect the plants
in all ways. In a hot country, plants that love cool
places could be grown in a wood, while they would
perish if exposed. Mr. G. F. Wilson has made him-
self a remarkably interesting wild garden in a wood,
from which he sent me in the autumn of 1880 flowering
stems of the American Swamp Lily (L. superbum)
11 feet high. These Lilies grow in a woody bottom
where rich dark soil has gathered, and where there
is shelter and shade.

Mr. Wilson sends me (August, 1893) a list of the
things that did best in his wood wild garden. Lilium
auratum (many thousands), and some of its varieties
such as platyphyllum and rubro-vittatum; Lilium
superbum (many), L. pardalinum and varieties, L.
Szovitzianum, L. giganteum, L. cordifolium, Leichtlinii,
and others in smaller quantities. Iris Keempferi, raised
in most part from seed, in different parts of the garden
from 5000 to 6000 clumps, Iris siberica and orientalis in
large quantities, and other Irises in smaller numbers.
Most of the plants liking heath soil such as heaths
Andromeda, Ledum, Gaultheria procumbens, Linnza
porealis, Pyrola, Shortia galacifolia, Galax aphylla,
Xerophyllum asphodeloides, Gentians — Gentianella,
G. septemfida in large quantities, G. asclepiadia blue
and white, hundreds of clumps, a number of other
Gentians in smaller quantities, and many Hypericums.
‘Rhododendrons grow so freely in our wood that we

Shrubbery, Plantation, and Wood 89

planted an acre with seedlings which were crowding
their parents.’

‘Though the wood comprises but a few acres, there is
a wide range of soil and aspect in it. The wood is chiefly
of Oaks ; beneath them is a great depth of leaf soil—a soil
in which many plants will thrive if the exposure is right for
them. A better place for shade-loving plants could not well
be found. Outside the wood is a wide stretch of sloping
treeless ground fully exposed, consisting of a good loam,
and between it and the wood is a low-lying portion through
which runs a little stream ; in another place is a deep bog
where one might sink knee-deep in soft mud, and where
Calthas and such plants thrive.

‘Lilies abound everywhere in the wood, and may be
counted by the thousand under various conditions of soil
and aspect. For Lilium auratum, total shade is worse than
full exposure, particularly if the season be a wet one. The
healthiest plants are well sheltered and have a partial shade.
Here North American Lilies of the superbum and pardalinum
types may be seen probably finer than in their native haunts.
The tall stems of the Swamp Lily rise up midst brushwood
and carry huge heads of flowers that make the slender stems
bow with every breath of wind. Never till now had we
seen large colonies of Lilies of the dahuricum and elegans
type, the effect of which was charming. Just at the bottom of
the slope, in a deep loam, where they were fully exposed,
they were the finest, some of the stems being 4 feet and
5 feet high, and loaded with blossoms. Higher up were
masses of Lilium monadelphum and its varieties, called
severally Szovitzianum, Loddigesianum, and colchicum, all
uncommonly fine, the stems tall and stout, and carrying huge

90 The Wild Garden

heads of flowers. In this spot the soil is a deep loam,
neither too light nor too heavy, but of such a character as
just to suit this Lily as well as all the Martagons, the old
white L. candidum, testaceum, and, in fact, all the European
kinds.

‘Besides Lilies may be noticed here—other interesting
results—gigantic tufts of Funkias in the shadiest part of the
wood, for, as a rule, they like sun. It is clear they are not
fastidious in this respect, for finer tufts we have not seen ;
those who would relieve the monotony of woodland walks
might plant by the margins tufts of F. Sieboldi, F. ovata
and F, subcordata, avoiding the small-growing kinds, especially
those with variegated foliage. One of the greatest successes
has been with the charming little Epigaea repens or May
Flower of the N. American woods. Here it forms quite
a carpet, amidst the fallen leaves, and under these con-
ditions pretty Linnzea borealis also grows.’— Garden.

A great many beautiful plants haunt the woods,
we cannot change their nature easily: and even if we
grow them well in open places, their bloom will not
be so enduring as in the wood. The secret of
wild gardening is adapting plants to the soil. The
Solomon’s Seal is typical of certain wild garden plants
that do not go off early, like Daffodils and Crocus,
and therefore require a different position—the friendly
shelter of wood or copse. In my district there was
not a bit of it wild, and it was important to secure so
beautiful a thing in large groups, without giving any
of the flower garden to it—I mean places where we

Shrubbery, Plantation, and Wood gl

wanted to grow our Roses and Carnations, and the
many things on which the beauty of the flower-garden
depends throughout our summer. So I put it pretty
freely under a plantation of Hollies, right out of the
garden, in a place never disturbed, and there it takes
care of itself, and flowers abundantly without any
kind of attention. A prettier thing could hardly be
seen in masses. At about the same time roots of it
were scattered in the Moat shaw where there were
large oaks overhead, and the usual underwood.
They have done pretty well every year since, but
each year they get stronger, and this year we have
been surprised at their beauty, especially in the
lower and richer parts of the copse, where they
found a depth of washed down soil near a small
stream. It is delightful to creep through the under-
growth and see their beautiful forms a yard high or
more fully blown and very much prettier than in
a mass in the pleasure garden, because they grow
separately, and one gets the full value of the arching
and bell-laden stem growing out of sheets of Bluebell.
No manure or attention has even been given beyond
planting—taking a basket of roots, making a few
holes in the copse here and there at not too regular
intervals and letting the plants alone ever since. In
districts where Solomon’s Seal grows in the woods
there is no need to plant it, but there are many
places where it does not; and where there are no
woods it is sure to make a charming feature in the

92 The Wild Garden

shrubbery. I remember, at Angers, seeing some forms
of it tall, and natives of central France—at least, I
was told so by M. Boreau, the then director of the
Angers garden. There is also a tall American kind,
which would be very charming if naturalized in similar
places. In the same wood with Solomon’s Seal
I have also been planting Narcissus stella, which
naturalized in this way, and blooming at the same
time, has made the pretty copse a charming spring
garden. Solomon’s Seal in masses shows good colour
of the leaves in autumn.

In the hot days of May, 1893, in walking fron
Compiegne to Pierrefonds, in the Forest of Compiegne,
we passed by many acres of Lily of the Valley in bloom
under trees. It was one of the few things that retained
its delightful freshness in the greatest drought within
living memory. As people so often ask for plants
suitable for growing in bare places under trees, they
might try the Lily of the Valley. It is so common
in gardens, and gets so thick when planted in rich
ground, that many ean spare some for trial. It is
a mistake to suppose that it requires rich ground.
The attempt to grow Grass in shady and _ half-shady
places is often a failure, and it is well to know of
some plants that will grow in such situations. The

Lily of the Valley is one of the things that will

form a carpet and require no attention. It would be

hardy a Solomon’s Seal, bale Woodruff.

pretty to_vary its mass here and there with groups of

Colonies of POBT’S NARCISSUS aud BROAD-LEAVED SAXIFRAGE.

CHAPTER IX.
WOODLAND DRIVES AND GRASS WALKS.

In the larger country places the often noble oppor-
tunities for beautiful woodland drives are not always
seized, sometimes because people have the primitive
and wholly inartistic idea that the proper way to make
a drive is to plant two or four lines of trees along it.
These are often set far too close, and as they are
rarely thinned in time, the whole ends in a gloomy
tunnel without air, light, or shade. Even where the
avenue is not the ‘leading feature, drives through
woods and parks are too narrow.

Fine airy effects might be got by breadths of low
covert or fern beside drives, and these drives should
take the line of easiest grade, and the best for views
where possible. There is no reason why drives should
not pass under trees here and there, but, generally,
a better effect is got by keeping the groups and fine
trees a little off the drive, and having bold groups of

Woodland Drives and Grass Walks 95

hardy shrubs and carpets of plants as a foreground
to the woodland picture.

Here and there, as at Penrhyn, are some beautiful
glades of wild Fern coming near the drives, and there
is a lovely example at Powys of what our native plants
do in the foreground of a really picturesque drive.
But by a little forethought we may easily get finer
things in this way from Thorns, Foxglove, or Willow
herb, wide sheets of large Ferns with breaks of Wild
Roses, large rambling colonies of Sweet Brier, lovely
fields of native Heaths, double Furze as well as the
single kind, Broom on poor banks and Partridge Berry
in half-shady places—a host of beautiful things that
would spread about and give excellent covert as well
as pretty effects.

Of regularly formed roads—those made of gravel,
flint, or other stone—there are three times too many
in most country seats. It is wise economy to reduce
these to the real needs of the place. All places are the
uglier for being beset with gate lodges, which are
usually ugly in themselves and lead to needless cutting
up of beautiful ground, the increase of gates, and the
springing up of the iron fiend in every direction. As
the artistic and true way is to reduce as much as possible
these needless drives often made for mere show, or to
save five minutes, let those we keep be as good in
grade and view as we can make them, and have as
many picturesque charms as we may give them.

We never have enough of Grass walks and drives.

96 The Wild Garden

When we want a way merely for our own convenience,
by far the best is a Grass drive or walk through pretty
woodland scenery, over park, hill, or by stream or river.
A delightful privilege which English gardens have,
more than others, is that of having Grass walks of the
finest texture and verdure. At Holwood, in the late
Lord Derby’s time, it was pleasant to see the number
and the delightful charm of the Grass walks there.
Around our houses we must have good firm walks;
but once free of the house and regular gardens, one
may break into the graceful Grass walks without injury
to anything. Some prefer gravel walks in winter, but
the gravel walk is not always much drier than a well-
made Grass walk; however, as we use our gardens
most in summer, it does not matter so much. Even
on heavy soils Grass walks may be delightful the
greater part of the year, and on dry soils we need not
fear the wet.

It is not only the effect of Grass walks that is in their
favour—they area great economy. They can be cleaned
with one-fourth of the labour which the gravel walks
take. Once free of the garden, it is rather in the
rougher parts of the pleasure ground and about the
park that Grass walks are made with the best results.
The line of ground should be studied both for ease in
walking and mowing, and for the sake of the best views.
Nothing in gardening rewards us so well as well
thought out Grass walks and drives. If, as they should
be, the gravel walks about the house are reduced to

Woodland Drives and Grass Walks 97

the strictly necessary dimensions, it is surprising how
much the wearisome trouble of hoeing is done away
with. The toilsome labour of ripping up walks, raking,
and hoeing, seen in so many gardens, need not, happily,
go on. It only makes matters worse by softening
the walks, for the hoeing is a serious labour in the hot
days and is absolutely unnecessary.

Having our Grass drive or Grass walk, what shall
we place beside it? Our British plants are as fair as
any others, and we may see as beautiful groups of fern,
heather, thorn, and bramble as are given by the flora
of any country. Still, those who care for the plants
of other countries have by the Grass walk a charming
opportunity of adding other pretty things to our own
wild flowers.

There is much difference in districts as to their
wild flowers and the effects from native plants. Some
places may be full of beautiful things—others have very
few. What a place has in this way depends upon the
cultivation and the quality of the land, and other con-
ditions which need not be gone into; it is enough to
know that these differences exist. Where the natural
vegetation is poor, there is all the greater need for
adding beautiful things of easy naturalization. Our
wood anemone is pretty in the fields and groves in
spring, but the blue Apennine anemone, which is quite
hardy, gives us a wholly distinct and charming colour,
and this is true of other things. The high mountain
plants of the Alps of Europe, to whose flora many

H

98 The Wild Garden

early flowers belong, give us the precious gift of earli-
ness; crocus, narcissus, and scilla, all come before our
own early flowers awake, while nearly all are as hardy
as our own native flowers. Then there are many
hardy climbers which, if we planted them among trees,
would be quite as beautiful as any native climbers,
of which the number is too small. The Indian
Mountain Clematis is hardy, and as easy to establish
as our native Clematis, while it is more beautiful, and
there are other beautiful plants one may add to our
own, though, generally, it will be safer to trust to our
native flora by drives. The prettiest brake of shrubs
I ever saw was an immense group of the common
Barberry at Compton Winyates, laden with berries
weeping down with glowing colour.

Much may be done in the direction of Grass walks
to take them not only where the views and landscape
charm us, but also where the native flora shows itself
best. Very often our common ferns in the west country
and in moist districts make themselves great ferneries
which ought to be seen. The idea that the fernery can
only be made with heaps of old stone or other rubbish
is too absurd to be worth disputing. The plants rarely
grow naturally in that way, and the most vigorous and
effective of ferns, which make evergreen covert and
give such cool and beautiful effects, certainly do not.
There are also numbers of fine hardy North American
and other ferns tempting us to naturalize them, but for
all artistic ends our native ferns are sufficient.

Woodland Drives and Grass Walks 99

Still those who have ever seen the fine North
American hardy ferns in their own country, sometimes
in more severe climates than that of our own country,
will often be tempted to naturalize the more vigorous
kinds—success in which will depend on the positions
chosen for them.

CHAPTER X.

THE BROOK-SIDE, WATER AND BOG GARDENS.

SOLOMON’S SEAL AND HERB PARIS, in copse by streamlet.

In the
water, at
least, plants
do not trou-
ble us for
attention.
If we take
the trouble
to establish
them _ the
rest is easy,
and _there-
fore those
living near
lake or
stream may
find much

interest in adorning them with beautiful flower life of
our own and other lands. The richness of our own

Brook-side, Water and Bog Gardens 101

country in handsome water-plants is not known to
many even of those who know our wild flowers
—until perhaps they row up a back-water of the
Thames, where the water-plants are often superb, or
see the great size and variety of those by the Norfolk
Broads.

Nearly all landscape gardeners seem to have put
a higher value on the pond than on the brook as an
ornament to the garden; but many pictures might be
formed by a brook on its way through glade or
meadow. No such beauty comes through the pond,
which gives us water in repose—imprisoned water ;
while the brook ripples between mossy rocks or flower-
fringed banks, its margin, too, giving an excellent place
for hardy flowers. Hitherto we have only used in such
places water or bog plants, but the improvement of the
brook-side will be most readily effected by planting
the banks also with vigorous hardy flowers, making
it a wild garden, in fact. Many of our finest herbaceous

plants, from Iris to Meadow-sweet, thrive in the moist
News

soil; many hardy flowers, also, that do not in nature
‘prefer such soil, exist in health in it. Plants on the
bank would have this merit over water-plants, that
we could fix them, whereas water-plants are apt to
spread too much and often one kind exterminates
the rest. The plants, of course, should be such as
would grow freely among Grass and take care of
themselves. If distinct groups were encouraged, the
effect would be all the better. The common way of

102 The Wild Garden

repeating a plant at intervals would spoil all: groups
of free hardy things, different in each place, as one
passed, would be best; Day Lilies; Iris, many; Gun-

nera ; Starwort ; American swamp Lilies in peaty soil ;
er te a aan ane TET TNR ere eae

COLONY OF HARDY EXOTIC FLOWERS, naturalized by brook-side.

the deep rose variety of the Loosestrife; Golden
Rods ; the taller and stouter Bell-flowers (Campanula) a
the Compass plants _ (Silphium) ; Monkshoods; the
free-flowering _Yuccas ; the hardiest flame-flowers

(Tritoma); the stouter kinds of Yarrow (Achillea) ; the
perennial Lupin; the red and other Meadow-sweets

ee,

Brook-side, Water and Bog Gardens 103

as well as our own wild kind—these are some of
many types of hardy flowers which would grow freely
near the water-side apart wholly from the plants that
naturally frequent the water. With these hardy plants
too, a variety of the nobler hardy ferns would thrive,
as the Struthiopteris ; and the Royal Fern would also
come in well here. _

We will now consider the plants that naturally
belong to the water. Water-plants of northern .and
temperate regions add much to the beauty of a garden
if well chosen. A great deal of variety may be added
to the margins, and here and there to the surface, of
water, by means of hardy aquatics. 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 ‘between wind
and water. In others, water-plants thicken till they
become an eyesore—not only submerged weeds, but
such as the Water Lilies when matted together. A
plant or group of plants of the Water Lily, with
its fine leaves and -flowers, is beautiful; but when it
runs over a piece of water and water-fowl cannot make
way through it, then even this fine plant loses its
charms. No garden water, however, should be without
a few groups of the Water Lily. Where the bottom
is not rich enough, earth might be gathered in certain
spots for the growth of the Nympheea, and thus grown
it would not spread much. In the summer of 1893,

104 The Wild Garden

at Middleton Hall, Tamworth, I saw the finest example
I remember of its beauty, not only in growth and large
flowers, but in effect over a lake—in masses and
sheets divided by open water—an enormous sheet
of Water Lilies, and the picture, in association with
a pretty old manor house, was lovely. The flowers
were very large, and of two forms—one with a bronzy-
green outer division of the flower, and a flush of delicate
pink inside ; the other, a smaller form, pure white with
dark green outer divisions; so we have at least two
forms of our native Water Lily, and there may be others.
In the numerous waters which have to be occasionally
cleared of sediment in gardens and parks, instead of
throwing all the mud on to the land, it would be better
to put some of it in masses near the margins of lakes
in which Water Lilies and other vigorous plants might
grow, and front which they would not wander far. It
is one way and the best of keeping rambling water-
plants in groups, instead of spread all over the water.
The Yellow Water Lily (Nuphar lutea), though not so
beautiful as the preceding, is worth a place; then there
is the large N. advena, a native of North America,
which pushes its leaves boldly above the water,
and is bold in habit. The American White Water
Lily (Nymphza odorata) is a noble species, and there
are other spécies, while our gardens have lately been
enriched with a series of noble hybrids of these plants,
soft yellow, rose, and of other good colours. When
these are increased the hardiest of them will be good

Brook-side, Water and Bog Gardens 105

to add to our water-gardens. A very pretty effect is
that of a sheet of Villarsia belting round the margin
of a lake near a woody recess, and before it, in deeper
water, a group of Water Lilies. The Villarsia is
a pretty little water-plant, with Nymphza leaves and
‘golden flowers, which give a beautiful effect under
a bright sun. It is not very common in Britain,
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
Bog-bean (Menyanthes trifoliata), with flowers fringed
on the inside with white filaments, and the round buds
blushing on the top with rose. It will grow in a bog
or any moist place, in or by the margin of water. For
grace, no water-side plant surpasses Equisetum Tel-
mateia, which, in deep soil, in shady places near
water, often grows several feet high, the long, close-
set, slender branches depending 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, and
will run by thousands through the worst and stiffest
soil.

As a picturesque plant on the margin of water,
Hydrolapathum); its fine leaves of a lurid red in
the autumn—a grand ‘foliage’ plant, and, unlike

few are finer than the Great Water Dock. (Rumex

many water-plants, not spreading much. This plant,
like many others named here, needs no care after

106 The Wild Garden

planting, and thus is a true wild-garden plant.
The Cat’s-tail (Typha) must not be forgotten: the
narrow-leaved one (T. angustifolia) is more graceful
than the common one (T. latifolia). Carex pendula
is excellent for the margins of water, its elegant
drooping spikes being
quite distinct in their
way. It is common in
England, more so than
Carex pseudocyperus,
which grows well in a
foot or two of water or
on the margin of a
muddy pond. Carex
paniculata forms a thick
stem, often 3ft. or 4 ft.
high, somewhat like a
tree Fern, with luxuriant
masses of drooping
leaves, and on_ that
account is transferred to

moist places in gardens,

CYPERUS LONGUS.

and cultivated by some,

though generally these large specimens soon perish.
Scirpus lacustris (the Bulrush) is too good a plant to be
ee sometimes attaining a height of
more than 7 ft. and even 8 ft., look very imposing ; and

Cyperus longus is also a fine plant, reminding one of
the Papyrus when in flower. It is found in some of

Brook-side, Water and Bog Gardens 107

the southern counties of England. Poa aquatica
might also be used. Cladium Mariscus is another
distinct water-side plant which is worth a place.

If one chose to name the plants that grow in British
and European waters, a long list might be made, but
plants having no distinct character or no beauty of
flower would be useless, it is only by a selection of the
best plants that gardening of this kind can charm us.

Those who plant the flowering Rush_ (Butomus
umbellatus) in blossom are ‘not likely to omit it now.

“Te is a native of the greater part of Europe and Asia,
and of the central and southern parts of England
and Ireland. Plant it not far from the margin, and it
likes rich muddy soil. The Arrow-head. (Sagittaria),
frequent in England and Ireland, |, but not in Scotland,
might be associated with this; and there is a finer
double exotic kind, which is really a handsome plant,
its flowers 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 wide ditch, and was
very handsome in flower. It forms large egg-shaped
tubers, and in searching for these, ducks destroy the
plants occasionally. Calla palustris is a beautiful bog-
plant, and nothing gives a better effect creeping over
rich, soft, boggy ground. It will also grow by the
side of water. Calla eethiopica (the beautiful Lily of
the Nile) is hardy in the south if planted rather deep.
Pontederia_cordata is a stout and hardy water-herb,

ee,
= aii penis tere

108 The Wild Garden

with erect habit, and blue flowers. The Sweet-flag
will be associated with the Water Iris (I. Pseudacorus),
and a number of exotic Irises will thrive in wet ground,
such as I. sibirica, ochreleuca, graminea, and others.
The Cape Pond Flower (Aponogeton distachyon) is
a native of the Cape of Good Hope, a singularly pretty
plant, which is hardy in our climate, and, from its
sweetness and curious beauty, a good plant to have.
It frequently succeeds in water not choked by weeds,

THE CAPE POND WEED in an English ditch in winter.

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. As beautiful as
any plant is the Water Violet (Hottonia palustris). It
occurs most frequently in the eastern and central

Brook-side, Water and Bog Gardens 109

districts of England and Ireland, and is charming in
ditches. A companion for the Marsh Marigold (Caltha)
and its varieties is the very large and showy Ranun-
culus Lingua, which grows in rich ground to a height
of 3 feet or more.

If with our water-garden we combine the wild-
garden herbaceous plants—I mean
the handsomer of the hardy flowers
that love moist or heavy

soil—some of the loveliest
effects in gardens will be
ours. The margins of lakes
and streams are happily
not upturned by the spade
in winter; and here-
abouts, just away from
the water-line, many
a vigorous and hardy
flower (among the
thousands now in our
gardens) may be grown
and will afterwards take
care of itself’ The
Globe flowers form
beautiful effects in such positions, and would endure
as long as the Grass. Near the various Irises that
love the water-side might be planted those that thrive
in moist ground. The singular Californian Saxifraga
peltata is a noble plant for the water-side. It would

DAY LILY by margin of water.

1IO The Wild Garden

require a very long list to enumerate all the plants
that would grow near the margins of water, apart
from the true water-plants; given a strip of ground
beside a stream or lake, a garden of the most delightful
kind may be formed of them. 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 so undesirable—a general admixture of the whole,

MARSH MARIGOLD AND IRIS in early spring. (See p. 111.)

and greatly add to the effect, which is very fine indeed
where both the surface of the water and the banks are
gay with flowers.

An interesting point in favour of the wild garden zs

the succes ssion of fects which it may afford, and which
are shown by the illustrations on these pages, both
showing a succession of life on the same spot of
ground.

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

dry garden borders, but must be cushioned on moss, or

Brook-side, Water and Bog Gardens 111

grown in moist peat soil. Many beautiful plants, like
the Wind Gentian and Creeping Harebell, grow on our
own bogs and 1d marshes, much as these are now en-
croached upon. But even those who see 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 the boggy wood. In our own country,

The same spot as in opposite sketch, with aftergrowthb of Iris, Meadow-sweet, and
Bindweed. (See p, 110.)

we have been so long encroaching upon the bogs that
some of us come to regard these as exceptional tracts
all over the world. But 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 from the railroads, one sees
the vivid spikes of the Cardinal-flower springing 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.

112 The Wild Garden

One wonders how the trees exist with their roots in such
a bath. And where the forest vegetation disappears
the American Pitcher-plant (Sarracenia), 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 the swamp Magnolia (M. glauca) among
them. In some parts of Canada, where the painfully
straight roads are often made through woody swamps,
and where the few poor ‘houses’ offer little to cheer
the traveller, he will, if a lover of plants, find con-
servatories of beauty in the ditches and pools of dark
water beside the roads, fringed with a profusion of
stately ferns, and often filled with masses of the pretty
arrow-head.

Southwards and seawards, the bog-flowers become
tropical in size and brilliancy, as in the splendid
herbaceous Hibiscus, while far north, and west and
south along the mountains, the beautiful Mocassin-
flower (Cypripedium spectabile) grows the queen of the
peat waste. Then in California, all along the Sierras,
there are a number of delicate little annual plants grow-
ing in small mountain bogs long after the plains have
become quite parched, and flowers have quite gone from
them. But who shall tell of the beauty of the flowers
of the marsh-lands of this globe of ours, from those of
the vast bog wastes of America, to those of the breezy
uplands of the high Alps, far above the woods, where
the mountain bogs teem with Nature’s most brilliant

Brook-side, Water and Bog Gardens 113

flowers, joyous in the sun? No one worthily; for
many mountain-swamp regions are as yet as little
known to us as those of the Himalaya, with their giant
Primroses and many strange flowers. One thing, how-
ever, 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 anyone who has seen our pretty Bird’s-eye
Primrose in the oozing mountain bogs of Westmore-
land, or the Bavarian Gentian in the spongy soil by
alpine rivulets, or the Gentianella (Gentiana acaulis) in
the snow water.

Bogs are not often found near our gardens nowadays,
but, wherever they are, there are many handsome
flowers from other countries that will thrive in them as
freely as in their native wastes, and among these the
strange and beautiful Pitcher Plants of the bogs of
North-Eastern America which are hardy here too.

PARTRIDGE BERRY (Gaultheria),

CHAPTER XI.

WILD GARDENING ON WALLS, ROCKS 1 OR RUINS.

TuerRE are hundreds of

mountain and rock-plants
which thrive better on an
old wall, a ruin, a sunk
fence, a sloping bank of
» stone, with earth behind,
i or a ‘dry’ wall than they
Ml! do in the most carefully
prepared border! Many
an alpine plant, which
may have perished in
its place in the garden,
thrives on an old wall near
at hand, as, for example,

ee the pretty Pyrenean _

ARENARIA BALEARIGA, selfplanted on wal Erinus, the silvery Saxi-
Sle nee

at Great Tew,

frages of the Alps, Pinks

Pane aae
1 The rocks meant here are natural ones—not the absurdities too often
made in gardens,

Wild Gardening on Walls and Rocks 115

like the Cheddar Pink, established on the walls at
Oxford, many Stonecrops, Houseleeks, the Purple Rock
Cressand Arabis. —

In the gardens at Great Tew, in Oxfordshire, the
charming Balearic Sandwort, which usually roots over
the moist surface of stones, planted itself high up on
a wall in a small recess, where half a brick had been
displaced. It is suggestive, as so many things are,
of the many plants that may be grown on walls.

A mossy old wall, or ruin, gives a home for many
rock-plants which no_ specially-prepared situation

CHEDDAR PINE, SAXIFRAGE, AND FERNS, on cottage wall at Melle, Somerset.

equals; but even on well-preserved walls we can

establish rock-plants which year after year will repay

us for their planting or sowing. Those who have

observed how dwarf plants grow on the mountains,

or on stony ground, must have seen in what hard

places many flourish, fine tufts sometimes springing
12

116 The Wild Garden

from a chink in an arid rock or. boulder. They are
‘often stunted in these conditions, but always more endur-
ing than when growing on the ground. Now, numbers
of alpine plants perish if planted in the ordinary soil of
our gardens, and even do so where much pains are taken
to grow them. This results from over-moisture at the
root in winter, the plants being made more susceptible
of injury by our moist green winters inducing them
to make a lingering growth. But by placing many
of these fragile plants where their roots have a dry
if poor soil they remain in perfect health. Many
plants from latitudes a little farther south than our
own, and from alpine regions, show on walls and
rocks a dwarf, sturdy growth, which enables them
to endure a winter quite different from that of their
native countries.

In many parts of the country there are few oppor-
tunities for this gardening; 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 seeds of Arabis, Aubrietia, Erinus, Acanthus,
Saxifraga, Viola, Stonecrops, and Houseleeks, would
give rise to a garden of rock blossoms that would
need no care from the gardener. Growing such
fine alpine plants as the true Saxifraga longifolia of
the Pyrenees on the surface of a rough wall is quite
easy.

A few seeds of the Cheddar Pink, for example, sown
in a mossy or earthy chink, or even covered with a

Wid Gardening on Walls and Rocks 117

dust of fine soil, would soon take root; and the plant
would live for years in a dwarf and perfectly health-
ful state. The seedling roots’ vigorously into the
chinks, and gets a hold which it rarely relaxes. The
names of some of the plants that will grow on walls
will be found at the end of this chapter.

In forming dry or rough walls to support banks we
may easily plant many kinds of rock-plants so that they
will grow well thereon, but that work belongs rather

THE YELLOW FUMITORY (Corydalis lutea) on wall.

to the planting of a rock-garden, whereas the whole
aim of this book is to take advantage of surfaces
already at hand for us.

118 The Wild Garden

Some or THE Famities oF Rock anD ALPINE PLANTS
FoR Watts, Rocks, aND Ruins IN Britain.

Achillea. Coronilla. ’ Lychnis (rock and
Alyssum. Corydalis. mountain kinds).
Antirrhinum. Dianthus. Saxifraga.
Arabis. Draba. Sedum.
Arenaria. Erinus. Sempervivum.
Aubrietia. Erodium. Silene.
Campanula Gypsophila. Thymus.

(mountain kinds). Helianthemum. Tunica.
Centranthus. Hutchinsia. Veronica (rock and
Cheiranthus. Iberis. mountain kinds).

PURPLE ROCK CRESS (Mountains of Greece’.

CHAPTER XII.
WILD AND OTHER ROSES IN THE WILD GARDEN.

PEopLeE who shake their heads about naturalizing
plants in grass, and say it cannot be done, will hardly
say we cannot enjoy the Wild Roses of Europe and
Northern Asia in any rough place. These do not
want our assistance to trail over the mountains and
adorn the river-bed rocks down to the shore. If the
soil of the hillside and the stony waste is enough
for them, surely the rich fields of lowland England,
and its hedgerows, and the good soil which is found
near most country houses will nourish Wild Roses
as well as the mountains and heaths. Our own Wild
Roses—we know what they do in the midlands, the
west country and on the hills, but not many have a
just idea how many beautiful Wild Roses there are in
the world that are as hardy as our Sweet Brier. If at
present many Wild Roses cannot be had at nurseries,
there are some interesting kinds that can be, and there
is scarcely a country of Europe or Asia that one goes

120 The Wild Garden

into, in which the seeds of beautiful Wild Roses may
not be gathered, and they are easy to raise.

It will not do to put Wild Roses in the flower-garden,
where we want choice cultivated flowers; but there are
ways in which any Wild Rose we bring or gather
might be delightfully used, i.e. in the shrubbery, and in
forming fences and also in beds in the rougher parts of
pleasure grounds. It is a very common thing to see
the sunk fence, which has been made in so many places,
without any plant life upon it, though some is needed
for marking the drop and to some extent garlanding the
brow of the fence. In my own garden, where I made
a sunk fence, we planted groups of various Wild Roses
from one end to the other—bold running groups 5 to
7 feet wide, and few things have given us so good
a return ; they do not grow high, they garland the sunk
fence and add to its effect from both sides and give
pretty effects of flower and fruit. I use the Sweet Brier,
the American Glossy Rose, the Japan Rose, Scotch
Rose, Carolina, and the Russian Wild Rose, and any
Wild Roses that are plentiful and grow freely, and
take care of themselves.

How may we get a slight idea of the riches of the
world in Wild Roses? I thought I had some notion of
it myself till I went to Lyons last September (1892) to
get Tea Roses for my garden. These roses of garden
origin are the loveliest things raised or grown by man:
sweet with all the delicate fragrance of the morning air
on down or Surrey heath, having the colours of the

WILD ROSE growing on a Pollard Ash in Orchardleigh Park, Somerset.

Wild Roses in the Wild Garden 123

cloud, and all that is loveliest in form of bud and bloom.
But these precious roses are things of cultivation only.
Without the good gardener’s spade and knife they
would soon become a tangle with less meaning and
beauty than the Wild Brier. Their size and beauty are
not to be had without good cultivation, and nothing can
so well show us the difference between the Wild Garden
and the flower-garden than these fairest garden roses
and the Wild Roses of the hills, growing in the same
place in quite different ways.

Having got my garden roses a friend happened to
say that the Wild Yellow Rose, that has given us
the Austrian Yellow Rose, was wild in the district, and
I bought a flora of the country to see something
about its Wild Roses’. In it the Wild Roses are
grouped as shown below, and the numbers given
represent the species in each section. And this, it will
be noted, is only in one region of France.

SECTIONS. SPECIES. SECTIONS. SPECIES,

L SYSTYLA. 5 VI. MONTANA. it
IL GALLICANE. 24 VII. CANINA. 46
Il. PIMPINELLIFOLI&. 12 VIII. RUBIGINOSA. 33
We ALPINA. 9 1x. TOMENTOS. 4
“v. SABINIA. 5 x. POMIFER. 8

Here in one district of France, exposed to the alp
wind and frost, we have nearlytwo hundred kinds of

fe PE ay ee ee ee
Wild Rose: it shows how rich the northern world is
in rose beauty—at least to all to whom the earth-born

1 Etude des Fleurs. Renfermant la Flora du bassin moyen du Rhone et
dela Loire. Par L’Abbé Cariot. Lyon, 1889.

124 The Wild Garden

loveliness of the leaf, bud, blossom, and fruit of the
Wild Rose is visible. And these roses want no budding,
pruning, or learned cultivation of any kind; but let no
one suppose I wish them to take the place of our
lovely Tea Roses in the flower-garden. There are, at

least in my own garden, places for both.

The Rev. H. N. Ellacombe writes as to old
garden Roses among bushes:

‘IT have here a large 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, &c. If grown against a tree of thin foliage, such
as a 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.’

pa, Tree,

WHITE CLIMBING ROSE scrambling over old Catal;

Wild Roses in the W, wld Garden 127

Mr. Greenwood Pym writes, referring to the above
note :—

‘I have two large 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 feet of the lawn. Of these one is
Crateegus 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 1% 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. A smaller plant
of the same Rose has recently been trained up a large Arbor-
vitee 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-vitee and Ivy.’

‘We have,’ says a correspondent, ‘a collection of Roses, but
one of the most attractive is an old double white Ayrshire
Rose, growing in a group of common Laurel. We cannot
tell how old the plant may be, but it has probably been in its
present situation for thirty years, struggling to keep its place
among the tall Laurels, sometimes sending out a shoot of
white flowers on this side and sometimes on that side of the
clump, and then scrambling up to the tops of the tallest limbs
and draping them with its blossoms throughout June and
July. Nearly three years ago the Laurels were cut down to
within 6 feet of the ground, leaving the straggling limbs
of the Rose amongst them, and since then it has thriven

128 The Wild Garden

amazingly, and now seems to gain the mastery, the plant
being now over 7o feet round. Within this space the
plant forms an irregular undulating mound, in all parts so
densely covered with Roses that not so much as a hand’s
breadth is left vacant anywhere, and the Laurel branches are
quite hidden, and in fact are now dying, smothered by the
Rose. 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 had been cut just
at the opening stage—when they are neater and whiter than
a Gardenia—to send away. Except against walls, there is no
need to prune climbing Roses. Left to themselves, they give
the best bloom in deep, strong soil, and with a fair amount of
light on all sides.’

CLIMBING ROSE on grass.

AUTUMN CROCUSES in the Wild Garden.

CHAPTER XIIL
SOME RESULTS.

Detaits of a few of the results obtained, where the
system has been tried, in addition to those already given
of Longleat, may not be without interest. How much
a wild garden intelligently made may effect for a country
seat is shown at Crowsley in Oxfordshire. It is one of
the first-formed wild gardens existing, and in May was
full of charms. No garden yields its beauty so early in
the year, or over a more prolonged season, than the wild
garden, as is abundantly evidenced here. The maker
of this wild garden had no inviting site with which to
deal; no great variety of surface, no variety of soil for
plants of widely different habitats to be grown; he had
only a neglected plantation, with a poor gravelly soil

K

130 The Wild Garden

and little variety of surface beyond a few gravel banks
thrown up long before. The garden is on each side of
a Grass drive, with scattered trees on the one hand and
rather shady ground on the other. The most beautiful
aspect at the end of May after an ungenial spring, which
had not allowed the Pzonies 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 flowers that, like the
Daffodils, fear no weather, yet with hues that cannot be
surpassed by tropical flowers. Ifthis wild garden should
teach only effective ways of using the many beautiful Iris
in our garden flora, it would do good service. The
Irises are perfectly at home in the plantation and among
the Grass and wild flowers. When they go out of
flower, they will not be in the way as in a ‘mixed’
border, but rest in the grass till awakened in spring.

In the wild garden the fairest of our own wild flowers
may be happily grouped with like plants from other
countries. Here the sturdy Bell-flowered Scilla (S.
campanulata) grows wild with our Wood Hyacinth; the
white and pink forms also of the last-named look
beautiful here associated with the common well-known
form. The earlier kinds of Scilla are past; they are
nice for the wild garden, especially S. bifolia, which
thrives freely in woods. The Lily of the Valley did not
inhabit the wood before; it was pleasant to thin out
some of its matted tufts in the garden and carry them
to the wild garden, where they are now in bloom. The

Some Results Cor

Solomon’s Seal, which is often charming on the fringes
of shrubberies, is here arching high over the Woodruff
and other woodland flowers, among which it seems
a giant, showing fine form with every leaf, and stem, and
blossom. The vigour and grace shown by this plant in
rich soil are delightful, The greater Celandine (Cheli-
donium majus) and its double form are very pretty here
with their tufts of golden flowers, taking care of them-
selves. The same
may be said of the
Honesty, the com-
mon Columbine,
and Allium Moly,
an old plant, which

CRANB’S BILL, wild, in grass. ‘
is one of the many

at home in the wild garden, and better
left out of the garden proper. The
myriads of Crocus leaves dying off with-
out the indignity of being cut off or tied
into bundles as is common in gardens,
the dense growth of Aconite and Snow-
drop leaves, of coloured and common Primroses and
Cowslips, suggest the beauty of this wild garden earlier
in spring. The yet unfolded buds on the many groups
of Peeonies, promise noble effects early in June; so
do the colonies of the splendid Eastern Poppy (Papa-
ver orientale) and the Lilies, and Sweet Williams, and
Lupins, which will show their blossoms above or
among the summer Grass in due time. The most
K 2

132 The Wild Garden

brilliant effect I have ever seen in any garden was
in a corner of this wild garden in summer, when
many great oriental Poppies stood in ranks with the
Lupins and Columbines, all growing close together
in long grass in a green bay of the plantation.
Among the best of the Borageworts here, are the
Caucasian Comfrey (Symphytum caucasicum), an
admirable wood or copse plant, and red-purple or
Bohemian Comfrey (S. bohemicum), which is very
handsome. And what lovely effects from the Forget-
me-nots—the wood Forget-me-not, and the Early
Forget-me-not (M. dissitiflora)—are seen here! where
their soft clouds of blue.in the Grass are much prettier
than when set in the brown earth in a prim border.
Here the pushing of the delicate Grass blades through
the blue mass, and the way in which the fringes of the
tufts mingle with the other plants, are very beautiful.
Some gravel banks are covered with Stonecrops,.
Saxifrages, and the like, which would, as a rule, have
a poor chance in Grass. Some of the prettiest
effects of this wild garden result from the way in
which dead trees have been adorned. 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 fine Ivy, a wild Vine,
or a Virginian Creeper, has all it requires, a firm
support on which it may arrange itself after its
own natural habit, without being mutilated; it gives
no trouble to the planter, and has fresh ground

Some Results 133

free to itself. Even when an old tree falls and tosses
up a mass of soil and roots the wild gardener is
ready with some handsome Bramble or wild Vine to
scramble over the stem. Ferns are at home here in the
shady corners; all the strong hardy kinds may be so
grown, and they look better among the flowers than
in the ‘hardy Fernery’ 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 weed, and overruns plants
of greater value. Such plants as Heracleum, Willow
Herb, and many others, which not only win, but destroy
all their fellows, in the struggle for life, should be
planted only in outlying positions, islands, hedges, and
small bits of isolated wood or copse, where their effects
might be seen in due season, and where they might
ramble without destroying. 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. 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 1,100 species,
mostly arranged in borders. From these, from time to
time, over-vigorous and over-abundant kinds may be
taken to the wild garden. In a large collection one

134 The Wild Garden

often finds kinds fit for freedom. The many plants
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 plants that now adorn it throughout the year.

Tew Park will long be interesting, from the fact that
it was there J. C. Loudon practised agriculture before
he began writing the works that were such a marked
addition to the garden literature of England. The
Grove there is a plantation of fine trees, bordering
a wide sweep of grass that varies in width. This grove,
unlike much of the rest of the ground, does not vary in
surface, or varies but 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 overcrowded trees
removed. It was found, after deeply digging the
ground, and sowing the Wood Forget-me-not in its place,
that Gout-weed disappeared. The effect of broad
sheets of this Wood Vood Forget- -me- endl (Maesotersylva ica).
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
plants being more compact, the colour was fuller; but
one charm of the wild garden is that the very changes

‘MOD Ferp J Uspreg PILM UI SAITIT UAOLL

Some Results 137

of plants from what may be thought their most perfect
state of blossom, may be itself a new pleasure instead of
a warning that we must cut them down or replace them.
Not to mow is almost a necessity in the wild garden,
and as there is often in large gardens much more mown
surface than is necessary, many will not regret it.
Here the Grass is left unmown in many places. 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
wanted as a carpet, Grass may often be allowed to grow
even in the pleasure ground ; quite as good an effect is
afforded by 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 hardiness,
like Grasses in summer life and winter rest, like Grasses
in stature. Whatever plants may seem best to associate
together 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 northern
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. The varieties of Columbine in the Grass were
perhaps the prettiest flowers at the time of my visit.
The white, purplish, and delicately-coloured forms of

138 The Wild Garden

this charming old plant, just seen above the tops of the
long Grass, growing singly, in little groups, or in colonies,
formed a June garden of themselves. Established
among the Grass, they will henceforward, like it, take
care of themselves. The rosy, heart-shaped blooms of
the Dielytra spectabilis are seen at some distance through
the Grass, and, so grown, furnish a bright and pretty

LARGE-FLOWERED CLEMATIS,

effect. Tyee Paeonies succeed, 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 graceful, even now, before they flower,
being quite 6 feet high. In the wild garden, apart
from the naturalization of free-growing exotics, the
establishment of rare British flowers is one of the
most interesting occupations; and here, under a Pine
tree, the modest, trailing Linnza borealis of the

Some Results 139

northern Fir-woods is beginning to spread. The Fox-
glove was not originally found in the 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 planted and is
spreading rapidly. Many climbing Roses and various
other climbers have been planted at the bases of trees
and stumps. A White Indian Clematis here, first trained
ona wall, sent up some of its shoots through a tree close
at hand, and now the long shoots hang from the tree full
of flowers. The large plumes ofthe nobler hardy Ferns
are seen here and there through the trees and Grass,
and they are better here among the Grass and flowers,
half shaded by trees, than in the ‘hardy Fernery.’ The
wild garden of the future will be also the true home of
all the larger hardy Ferns. The rivals of the Ferns in
beauty of foliage, the Ferulas, and other hardy 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 high walk
quite away from trees, open and dry, with banks on each
side—a sun-walk, with Scotch Roses, Brooms, Sun
Roses, Rock Roses, and things that love the sun, like
the plants of the hot and rocky hillsides of the Mediter-
ranean shores. Spanish Broom, Lavenders, Rosemary,
Thyme, and Balm, are among the plantsthat thrive as well
ona sunny sandy bank in England asin Italy or Greece.

140 The Wild Garden

True taste in the garden is, unhappily, much rarer
than many people suppose. No amount of expense,
rich collections, good cultivation, large gardens, and
plenty of glass, will suffice. A garden of a few acres
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 of design.
This is partly owing to the fact that the kind of know-
ledge 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 know-
ledge of the wealth of beauty which the world contains
for our gardens; and yet this knowledge must not
have a leaning, or at any rate but a very partial leaning,
towards the Dryasdust. The disposition to ‘dry’
everything, to concern oneself entirely with nomen-
clature and classification, is not the gardening spirit
—it is the Ue we want. The garden of the late
Mr. Hewittson, at Weybridge, had some of the most
delightful garden scenes. Below the house, on the
slope over the water of Oatlands Park, and below
the usual lawn beds and trees, there is a piece of heathy
ground—charming beyond any power of the pencil
to show. The ground was partially clad with common
Heaths with little green paths through them, and
naturalized in the warm sandy soil were the Sun Roses
which are shown in the foreground of the engraving.
Here and there among the Heaths, creeping about in
a perfectly natural-looking fashion, too, was the Gentian-

y+)

(Surre:

on sandy slope.

SUN ROSES (Cistus) and other exotic hardy planta among heather,

Some Results 143

blue Lithospermum prostratum. Among these groups
were the large Evening Primroses and Peruvian Lily
(Alstrcemeria), the whole relieved by bold masses of
flowering shrubs, so grouped as not to show a trace
of formality. All this was done without in the least
detracting from the most perfect keeping. The garden
is more free from 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 changed into
what I think you would call a wild garden, and we have
cheerfulness and beauty 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
Ranunculuses, together with Osmundas, Hart’s-tongues, and
other Ferns. Many large-growing Carex and large Rushes
are also here. Little flats were formed 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, and Narcissi. The Rhododendrons were thinned and

144 The Wild Garden

interspersed with Azaleas, and other handsome-foliaged shrubs,
to give brightness to the spring flowering, and rich colour to
the foliage in autumn. In the spaces between we introduced
Wild Hyacinths everywhere, and in patches among 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, &c. We have also planted bulbs very
extensively, and as they have been allowed to grow on un-

WOODRUFF AND IVY

disturbed we have now large patches of Daffodils, Narcissi,
and other spring flowers in great beauty. 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, to close the year,
a glorious show of Foxglove flowers worth all the trouble.
A wild garden of this sort is a very useful reserve ground,

Some Results 145

where many a plant survives after it has been lost in the
borders. 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.

Wm. BrockBANK.’

Brockuurst, Dinssury. (In Garden.)

SNOWDROPS, by streamlet.

CHAPTER XIV.

HARDY EXOTIC FLOWERING PLANTS FOR THE

WILD GARDEN.

WuerEVER there is room, plants for the Wild Garden
should be at first grown in nursery beds to ensure
a good supply. The many nursery collections of hardy
plants being now more numerous 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, which publish 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 flower-gardens; orchards
and cottage gardens in pleasant country places may
supply good plants from time to time; and those who
travel may bring seeds or roots of plants they meet
with in cool or mountain regions Bulb and seed-
merchants should offer hardy bulbs in large quantities
for wild gardening, and at nearly wholesale rates. Few
plants, vigorous and hardy in the British Islands with-
out any attention after planting, are included here :—

Hardy Exotic Flowering Plants 147

Bear’s Breech, Acanthus.—Vigorous perennials with hand-
some foliage, mostly from Southern Europe. Long cast out
of gardens, they are now receiving more attention, and in no
position will they look better than planted here and there on
the margin of a shrubbery, where the leaves of the Acanthus
contrast well with those of the ordinary shrubs or herbaceous
vegetation. Hardy
in all soils, they
flower most freely
in free loamy soils.
Not varying very
much in character,
all obtainable
hardy species
would group well
together. The most
vigorous kind at
present in cultiva-
tionisthe onecalled
A. latifolius, which
is almost ever-
green, and a fine
plant when well
established. Few
plants are more

THE MONKSHOOD, naturalized,

fitted for adorning

rough and stony 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 because

they have not been available in ‘flower gardening.’
Monkshood, Acouitum.—Tall, handsome perennials, with

very poisonous roots, which make it dangerous to plant

L2

148 The Wild Garden

them in or near gardens. Being vigorous they spread freely,
and hold their own amongst herbaceous plants and weeds.
Masses of them seen in flower in half-shady places in rich
soil give a fine effect. There are many species, nearly all 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. Spreading groups of
Aconites in bloom in open spaces in shrubberies have a finer
effect than when the plants are tied into bundles in trim borders.
The old blue-and-white kind is charming, and attains stately
dimensions in good soil. The species grow in any soil, but
on cold heavy ones are often somewhat stunted in growth.

Bugle, A4juga.—Not a very numerous family 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, Achilicaa—A numerous family of hardy plants
spread through Northern Asia, Italy, Greece and Turkey,
Hungary, 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. fili-
pendula) are stately herbaceous plants, with handsome
corymbs of yellow flowers attaining a height of 3 feet or
4 feet; growing freely in any soil, they are well worthy of
naturalization. Various other kinds would grow quite as
well in plantations and rough places as the common Yarrow.
The vigorous white-flowering kinds are fine for shrubberies,
where their many white heads of flowers give a pleasing

Hardy Exotic Flowering Plants 149

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 open
shrubberies or copses, as a rule allowing one species to
establish itself in each place and assume an easy and broken
boundary.

Allium.—Plants scattered in abundance throughout the

Ki AN

Mat
ee
ss

Mi d

"i

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.

northern temperate and alpine regions of Europe and Asia,
and also America. Some are so beautiful as to claim a place
in gardens notwithstanding their disagreeable odour. It is
only in the wild garden, however, that this family finds
a fitting home. One of the prettiest 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

150 The Wild Garden

remembered by many travellers. It would thrive in warm
and sandy soils, and there is an allied species (A. ciliatum)
which does well in any soil, gives a similar effect, and
produces myriads of star-like white flowers. Singular effects
may be produced from species less showy and more curious
and vigorous, as, for example, the old yellow A. Moly.

Alstremeria.—All who care for hardy flowers must admire
Alstreemeria aurantiaca, especially spreading into healthy
masses, and when there is a great variety in the height of the
flowering stems. A valuable quality of the plant is, that it
spreads freely in any light soil, and is quite hardy. For dry
places between shrubs, for dry or sandy banks (either planted
or bare), 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 warm soils,
but often slow and dwarf on cold soils.

Marsh Mallow, Althea.—These are plants rarely seen out
of botanic-gardens, and yet, from their vigour and showy
flowers, may be effective in the wild garden. The common
Hollyhock is an Althea, and in its single form is typical of
the vigorous habit and good showy flowers of other rampant
species, such as A. ficifolia. A group of these plants would
be effective near a wood walk, no flower garden being large
enough for their extraordinary vigour.

Alyssum.—In spring every single little shoot of the wide
tufts and flakes of these plants sends up a little fountain of
small golden flowers. For bare, stony, or rocky banks, and
for 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, &c.,
where the vegetation is not very coarse, but are best for
rocky or stony places, or old ruins, and thrive freely on

Hardy Exotic Flowering Plants 151

cottage garden walls in some districts. There are many
species, natives of Germany, Russia, France, Italy, 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 contribute much 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; many 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 grove, where the Apennine Windflower
would contrast charmingly with the Wood Anemone so
abundantly scattered in our 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 afterwards become leafy and shade them from the
scorching heats of summer.

St. Bruno’s Lily, Axthericum.—One of the most lovely
effects in the alpine meadows of Europe is that of 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 on their
Grassy meadows. 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 pretty. They are not

152 The Wild Garden

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.
The kinds best worth growing are natives of the alpine
meadows of Europe.

Alkanet, Anchusa.—Tall 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 districts, is an excellent
wild garden plant.

Snapdragon, Axtirrhinum.-—The common Snapdragon
and its beautifully spotted varieties are easily naturalized on
old walls and ruins by sowing the seed in 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, <Aquilegia.— 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 naturalized. In bare places in elevated and moist
districts some of the beautiful Rocky Mountain kinds would
be worth a trial. In ‘places where wild gardens have been
formed the effect of Columbines in the Grass has been
beautiful—the flowers group themselves in all sorts of pretty
ways, showing just above the long Grass. The tall and
handsome A. chrysantha of Western America is the most
hardy and enduring of the American kinds. The Colum-

Hardy Exotic Flowering Plants 153

bines are a northern and alpine family, most abundant in
Siberia.

Wall Cress, Arabis.—Dwarf mountain plants, often
producing myriads of white flowers, suitable for sandy or
rocky ground, where the vegetation is very dwarf. With
them may be asso-
ciated Cardamine
trifolia and Thlaspi
latifolium, = which
resemble Arabis in
habit and flowers.
All these are suited
for association with
the purple Aubrie-
tia or yellow Alys-
sum, and in bare
and rocky for gra-
velly places, and old
walls.

Sandwort, Are-
narta.—Of these
little plants there
are certain kinds

that are vigorous
and useful, such as

SIBERIAN COLUMBINE in rocky place.

A. montana and A.

graminifolia. The small alpine species are charming for
rocky places, and as for the little creeping A. balearica, 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 czespitosa, better known as Spergula pilifera, might

154 The Wild Garden

be grown in gravel and sandy places. In certain 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.

Asphodel, Asphodelus.—The Asphodels are among the
plants that have
never been popu-
lar, the habit of
the species being
somewhat coarse
and the flowering
period not long;
and yet they are of
a distinct order of °
beauty, which well
deserves to be seen
in open spaces in
shrubberies. The
plants are mostly
natives of the coun-
tries round the
Mediterranean,
and thrive freely in

ordinary soils.
Lords and
Ladies, Avum.—Mostly a tropical and sub-tropical family,
some plants of which grow as far north as Southern Europe.
These are quite hardy in our gardens. The Italian Arum
deserves a place in the wild garden, from its fine leaves
in winter. It should be placed in sheltered places where

TALL ASPHODEL in copse.

Hardy Exotic Flowerig Plants 155

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 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 flowers,-common in fields and on river banks in
North America and Canada, where they sometimes become
troublesome weeds. Of the species in cultivation, A. Cornuti
and A. Douglasi could be naturalized easily in rich deep
soil. The showy and dwarfer Asclepias tuberosa requires
very warm sandy soils to flower as well as in its own dry
hills. A good many of the hardy species are not introduced ;
some of them are water-side plants, such as A. incarnata, the
Swamp Silkweed of the United States.

Starwort, Aster.—A very large family of vigorous, often
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 charming in autumn. With the Asters may be
grouped the Galatellas, the Vernonias, and also the handsome
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—-the best of the Asters or Michaelmas

156 The Wild Garden

Daisies will form a very interesting aspect of vegetation.
It is that which 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, 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 far north of that
quarter of the world.

‘In my own garden, at Gravetye, many thousands of these
Asters were massed in picturesque ways for the first time:
almost every kind in cultivation in gardens in broken but
effective groups between the cedars, yews, and other ever-
green trees near the house. The trees were planted in
a much more open way than is customary, thus avoiding
a crowded growth. The Asters kept the ground quite
furnished and clean, and were often very beautiful in the
autumn winds. They were never staked and perfectly hardy
they required no attention after planting. As these plan-
tations, however, were really part of the garden, some more
attention was given the Starworts than would have been the
case in a wild garden; that is to say that after two or three
years in the same place they were moved, to encourage
growth and a longer bloom. The more vigorous of the
species—and indeed all of them—may be naturalized in open
woods or copses, or by river banks and in hedgerows.

Milk Vetch, Astragalus.—A numerous family of hardy

Hardy Exotic Flowering Plants 157

plants, little seen in our gardens, though hundreds of them
are hardy, and many of them among the prettiest of the Pea
flowers that adorn the mountains. They are best for rocky
or gravelly soils, 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 flowers
are not such as recommend it for the flower-garden. The
species from the Mediterranean region might be successfully
introduced on banks 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.

Blue Rock Cress, Audrietia—Dwarf rock plants, with
purplish flowers, quite distinct in aspect and hue from
anything else grown in our gardens, and rarely perishing
from any cause, except from being overrun by coarser
plants. 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

158 The Wild Garden

may be formed of these plants, and in spring they will be
sheeted with purple flowers, no matter what the weather.

Great Birthwort, Aristolochia Sipho.—A great climbing
plant for covering arbours, banks, stumps of old trees, and
also wigwam-like bowers, formed with branches of trees.
It is American, and will grow as high as 30 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
effect.

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 that are worthy of
a place in our groves, garlanding trees as they do in
a grand way.

Bamboo, Bambusa.—In many parts of England, Ireland,
and Wales, various kinds of Bamboos are more hardy,
and perhaps near the sea thrive freely. Their beauty is the
more precious from their being wholly distinct in habit from
any other plants or shrubs that we grow. They are so
tall and so enduring that they will thrive among the
strongest plants or bushes, and the partial shelter of the
thin wood saves their leaves from the effects of violent
winds. By quiet Grass walks, in sheltered dells, in the
shrubbery, or in little glades in woods, the Bamboos 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

Hardy Exotic Flowering Plants 159

all delight in rich, light, and moist soils, and in our country
some shelter helps them.

Baptisia.—A strong Lupin-like plant seldom grown in
gardens, but beautiful when in bloom for its long blue
racemes of pea flowers, growing 3 to 4 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_ retty plant, naturalized in stony places, old
quarries, and the like.

Bell-flower, Campanula.—Beautiful and generally blue-
flowered herbs, varying from a few inches to 5 feet in
height, and abundant in northern and temperate countries.
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. In such
positions the seeds need only to be scattered. C. rapuncu-
loides and C. lamiifolia do finely in shrubberies or copses,
as, indeed, do all the tall-growing kinds, and 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 have them growing among the grass—
the effect is far more beautiful than that which they show in
the garden border.

Red Valerian, Centranthus ruber.—This showy plant is
seen best only on banks, rubbish-heaps, or old walls, in which

160 The Wild Garden

positions it endures much longer than on the level ground, and
becomes a long-lived perennial with a shrubby base. Grows
apace on old bridges, banks, chalk pits, and on stone heaps.

Knap-weed, Centaurea.-Vigorous perennial or annual
plants, seldom so pretty as autumn-sown plants of our corn
bluebottle (C. Cyanus). They are scarcely important enough
for borders; hence the wild garden is the place for them.
Among the best are macrocephala, montana, babylonica, and
uniflora, the last being more suitable for banks.

Mouse-ear, Cerastium.—Dwarf plants with many white
flowers. Half
adozen or more
of the kinds
have silvery
leaves, and will
grow in any
position where
they are not
choked by
coarser plants.

Wallflower,
Chetranthus. —

The foliage of the MEADOW SAFFRON in Spring.

The varieties of the common Wallflower have great beauty
for rocky places and old walls. 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, Colchicum.—In addition to the Meadow
Saffron, dotted over the moist fields in various parts of
England, there are several other species that could be
naturalized in grassy places, and they would be useful
where plants that flower in autumn are sought.

Hardy Exotic Flowering Plants 161

Crocus.—One or two Crocus are naturalized in England.
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 pretty varieties of vernus are
well worth planting in grassy places and on sunny slopes.
C. Imperati is an early kind, and the autumnal Croci are
charming.

‘In the plantations here,’ writes a friend, ‘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
ofthousands. 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); but they grow so thickly that it is im-
possible to step where they are without treading on two or three
flowers. The effect produced by them in spring is magnificent.
I have transplanted a good many roots to the wild garden, to the
great improvement of the size of the blooms; they are so matted
together in the shrubberies, and have remained so long in the same
place, that the flowers are small.’

In my own garden the prettiest early effects are those
of Crocus in the grass, which come up year after year
without attention
of any kind, and
which no manure
or ‘compost’ of
any kind has once
touched.

Virgin’s Bower,

Clematis.— Mostly

THE WHITE-FLOWERED EUROPEAN CLEMATIS (C. erecta).

climbing or trail-

ing plants, free, often luxuriant, sometimes rampant, in habit,

with bluish, violet, purple, white, or yellow flowers, and
M

162 The Wild Garden

sometimes deliciously fragrant. They are best 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 objec-
tionable railings, rough bowers, chalk pits, hedges, &c., and
occasionally for isolating in large tufts in open spaces where
their effect could be seen from a distance. Not particular
as to soil, the stronger kinds 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.

Dwarf Cornel, Cornus canadensis.—This charming little
plant, beautiful from its white bracts, thrives in moist, sandy,
or peaty spots, in which our native heaths—Mitchella repens,
Linnzea borealis, and the Butterworts would be likely to
thrive.

Mocassin Flower, Cypripedium spectabile—The hand-
somest of hardy orchids, found far north in America, and
thriving perfectly in England and Ireland in deep rich
vegetable soil. In places where the soil is not naturally
peat or rich vegetable matter this fine plant will succeed on
the margins of beds of rhododendrons, &c. 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 naturalization; the mocassin flower is the best as
well as the most easily tried.

Sowbread, Cyclamen.—It was the sight of a grove nearly
covered with Cyclamen hederzefolium, near Montargis,\ in
France, that first led me to think of how many plants
might be trusted in like ways. Both C. hedereefolium and
C. europzeum may be naturalized with ease on light, loamy,

Hardy Exotic Flowering Plants 163

or other warm 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
naturalize these charming flowers, now rarely seen out of
the greenhouse. The best positions would be among dwarf
shrubs, 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. hederzefolium (and perhaps some of the

CYCLAMENS in the wild garden: from nature.

others) ground under trees, bare, or with a very scant vege-
tation, would do quite well if the soil were free and warm.

The Giant Sea-kale, Crambe.—C. cordifolia is a fine
perennial, but its place is on the turf in rich soil. It has
enormous leaves, and small whitish flowers in panicles.
It is one of the finest plants in a wild garden in Oxford-
shire of about 5 acres, associated with Rheums, Ferulas,
Gunneras, Centaurea babylonica,y Arundo Donax, and
Acanthus.

Bindweed, Calystegia.—Climbers, with handsome white
or rosy flowers, often too vigorous to be agreeable in
gardens. C. dahurica, larger than the common kind, is

M 2

164 The Wild Garden

handsome trailing through shrubs, in rough places, or over
old stumps.

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.
We possess a great privilege in
being able to grow the fair flowers
of so many regions in our own.
This beautiful pink Bindweed is,
so to speak, the representative in
the south of our own Rosy Field
Bindweed, but it is perfectly hardy
and free in our own soils. Its
botanical name is Convolvulus
althezoides. I put the Great
Bindweed in the banks when
forming fences, as in these it is
a harmless as well as a beautiful
‘weed.’

Marsh Calla, Calla palustris.—
A creeping Arum-like plant, with
white flowers showing above a low

carpet of glossy leaves, admirable
A SOUTH EUROPEAN BINDWEED

creeping up the stems of anIrisin fOr naturalization in muddy places,
icicle moist bogs, on themarginsof ponds.

Rosy Coronilla, Coronila varia.—On grassy banks, stony
heaps, rough rocky ground, spreading over slopes or any
like positions. A very fine plant for naturalization, thriving
in any soil,

Giant Scabious, Cephalaria.—Allied to Scabious but
seldom grown. They are worth a place for their fine vigour

Hardy Exotic Flowering Plants 165

alone, and the numerous pale yellow flowers will be admired
by those who do not limit their admiration to showy colours.

Coral-wort, Dentarta.—Showy perennials, the purplish
or white flowers of which look like a stock-flower, are distinct
in habit and bloom, and too rarely seen 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, Doronicum.—Stout, or dwarf perennials,
hardy, free, and with very showy flowers; well suited for
naturalization 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 naturalize on rich and light sandy loams, among
dwarf herbs, low shrubs, &c., in sheltered and sunny spots.
Jeffrey’s American cowslip (D. Jeffreyanum), a vigorous
kind, is also worth a trial.

Fumitory, Fumaria, Dielytra—Plants with graceful leaves
and gay flowers suited for association with dwarf plants on
open banks, except D. spectabilis, which in deep peat or
other rich soil will grow a yard high. The little Fumaria
bulbosa is one of the dwarf plants that thrive under the
branches of trees, and Corydalis lutea thrives in almost every
position from the top of an old castle to the bottom of a well
shaft. I saw Dielytra eximia naturalized in Buckhurst Park,
in a shrubbery, the position being shady. Its effect was
charming, the plumy tufts being dotted over with flowers,
it thrives and spreads freely in shady spots. The blossoms,
instead of being of the usual crimson hue, were a delicate

166 The Wild Garden

pale rose, no doubt owing to the shade; and, as they drooped
over the graceful leaves, they looked like snowdrops of
a faint rosy hue.

Delphinium, Perennial species.—Tall and beautiful plants,
with flowers of many exquisite shades of blue and purple.
They are well suited for rich soil in glades, 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 I have ever seen among natu-
ralized plants was a colony of tall Larkspurs (Delphiniums).
Portions of old roots of various kinds had been trimmed off
where a bed of these plants was being dug, and in the autumn
the refuse had been thrown into a near shrubbery, far in among
the shrubs and tall trees. Here they grew in half-open spaces,
which were so far 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 they mingled with
and were relieved by the trees above and the shrubs around.
This suggests that we might make wild gardens from the
mere parings and thinnings of the borders in autumn, where
there is a collection of hardy plants.

Pink, Dianthus.—Beautiful dwarf mountain plants, with
flowers mostly of shades of rose, sometimes sporting into
other colours in gardens. The finer alpine kinds would be
likely to thrive only on bare stony ground, and with plants
of like size. The bright D. neglectus would thrive in any
ordinary soil. Some of the kinds in the way of our own
D. casius grow well on old walls and ruins, as does the
single carnation ; indeed, many kinds of pink would thrive
on old walls far better than on the ground.

Hardy Exotic Flowering Plants 167

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

Hemp Agrimony, Exupatorium.
—Vigorous perennials, with white
or purple fringed flowers.
Some of the American kinds
might well be associated with 4 SEA HOLLY; Eryngiam.

our own wild one—the white
kinds, like aromaticum and ageratoides, being beautiful and
distinct.

Sea Holly, Eryngium.—Distinct and beautiful perennials,
with usually spiny leaves, and flowers in heads, sometimes
surrounded by a bluish involucrum, the stems of a fine
amethystine blue. They are handsome on margins of
shrubberies and near wood-walks, thrive in ordinary free
soil, and will take care of themselves among grasses and
all but the most vigorous plants. They often come freely from

168 The Wild Garden

self-sown seed and may be easily naturalized on warm soils
and in sunny places.

Heath, Erica, Menziesia.—The brilliant Erica carnea is so
charming that it well deserves naturalization among our
native kinds. The beautiful St. Daboec’s heath (Menziesia
polifolia), though found in the west of Ireland, is to the
majority of English gardens an exotic plant. It will grow
almost anywhere in peaty soil. In the country place no kind
of gardening is more delightful than the growth in rather
bold groups and masses of all hardy Heaths, native or other.
It is gardening that may be done in a bold and careless way,
and the growth after a few years left to mingle with the grass
and other vegetation around. The Heaths beds after a year
or two’s growth look well throughout the year, and are often
beautiful with bloom. Such bold groups would seldom come
into the flower-garden, and they are best placed by grass-
walks in the pleasure ground preferring open and raised
ground. The natural soil for such plants would seem to
be peat, but it is not necessary for their culture. At
Gravetye where there is no peat I planted many Heaths
which did well.

Barren - wort, Epimedium.—Interesting perennials, with
pretty flowers, and finely formed leaves. They like peaty
or free moist soils, among low shrubs or on rocky banks.
The variety called E. pinnatum elegans, when in deep peat
soil, forms tufts of leaves nearly a yard high, and in spring
bears long racemes of handsome yellow flowers.

Globe Thistle, Echinops.—Large perennials of fine port,
from 3 feet to 6 feet high, with spiny leaves and numerous
flowers in spherical heads. These thrive in almost any position,
and hold their ground amid the coarsest vegetation. Of
a ‘type’ distinct from that of our native plants, they are also

Hardy Exotic Flowering Plants 169

well fitted for naturalization—E. exaltatus and E. ruthenicus
are among the best kinds.

May-Flower, Epige@a repens.—A small creeping shrub,
with pretty and fragrant flowers, which come soon after the
melting 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 wherever I saw it,
it seemed to form a carpet under three or four layers of
vegetation,—that is to say, it was beneath pines, medium-
sized trees, tall bushes, and dwarf scrub, the plant itself was
not more than one or two inches high. It can be naturalized
in pine woods on a sandy soil.

Dog’s-tooth Violet, Erythronium.—This beautiful plant,
some years ago rarely seen in our gardens, adorns many
a dreary slope in the Southern Alps, and there is no difficulty
in the way of adding its charms to the wild garden.

The Winter Aconite, Eranthis hyemalis.—Classed among
British plants but really naturalized. Its yellow 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 almost anywhere, and is one of the plants that
thrive under the spreading branches of summer-leafing trees,
as it blooms and ripens 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 coarse
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. The winter
Aconite does not thrive in some cool soils.

Plantain Lilies, Funkia.— The conditions in the wild

170 The Wild Garden

garden are sometimes more suitable to many plants than
borders, the plants remaining longer in bloom in the shade
and shelter of shrubby places than when exposed. As an
instance of this, I saw Funkia ccerula showing great size and
beauty in a shady drive at Beauport, near Battle. The plant
was over a yard high, and bore many stately stems hung
with blue flowers. The Plantain Lilies are plants for the wild
garden, not being liable to the accidents that are fatal to Lilies
and other plants exposed to the attacks of slugs and rabbits.

Groups of SIEBOLD’S PLANTAIN LILY.

Snake’s-head, Fritillaria.— The beautiful British Snake’s-
head (F. Meleagris) grows wild, as most people know, in
meadows in various parts of England, and should be
established in the meadows 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,
would be worthy of a position also. Of such is F. tristis,
and the Crown Imperial would do on the fringes of
shrubberies. The Golden Fritillary is charming, and when
plentiful will be lovely in the wild garden.

Hardy Exotic Flowering Plants 171

Giant Fennel, /Feru/a.—Noble herbaceous plants of the
parsley family, with exquisitely cut leaves; forming magni-
ficent tufts of verdure, like the most finely-cut ferns. The
leaves rise very early in spring, and go at the end of
summer, and the best way to plant them is in places occupied
by spring flowers, among which they give a fine effect.
With the Giant Fennels might be grouped various other
plants of this distinct family of plants, so far very little seen
in gardens.

Ferns.—No plants may be naturalized with 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 Canada thrives in any cool place, or dyke,
or in a shady wood, but the soil must be leafy and good.
The small ferns that find a home on arid alpine cliffs may
be established on old walls and ruins. Cheilanthes odora,
which grows on the sunny sides of walls in Southern France,
should be in the south of England, the spores to be sown in
mossy chinks of the walls. The climbing fern Lygodium
palmatum, which I saw with great pleasure running through
native shrubs in cold New Jersey, and which goes as far
north as cold Massachusetts, will climb up the undershrubs
in England. There is no fern of the numbers that inhabit
the northern regions of Europe, Asia, and America, that may
not be tried with confidence. One could form a rich and
stately type of fern vegetation without employing one of our
native kinds at all, though the best way will be to associate
all so far as their habits 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,

172 The Wild Garden

in the spots overshadowed by the branches of summer
leafing trees. There are few kinds of gardening more
interesting than naturalizing the fine hardy ferns of North
America. Those having peaty and leafy soils have a great
advantage, as many of the plants grow in these soils natur-
ally; though the ferns will often grow in loamy soils they
do not endure so long or spread so rapidly. The great
ferns, like the Feather Ferns that live in the ditches and
wet hollows in American woods, are not so difficult, and
will grow in any moist deep peat.

Geranium, Geranium Erodium.—Handsome perennials,
mostly with bluish,
pinkish, or deep rose
flowers. Some of the
stouter kinds of the
hardy geraniums, such
as G. ibericum and

hig G. Armenum, are the

A hardy GERANIUM. very plants to take

care of themselves in

open places. With them might be grown the fine Erodium

Manescavi; and where there are very bare places, on which

they would not be overrun by coarser plants, the smaller
Erodium, such as E, romanum.

Goat’s Rue, Galega.—Tall and graceful perennials, with
numerous pink, blue, or white flowers, G. officinalis and its
white variety are among the pretty tall border flowers, and
they are useful for planting in rough places, as is also the
blue G. orientalis and G. biloba, being all free growers.

Gypsophila, Gypsophila—Neat perennials, hardy, and
with myriads of flowers, mostly small, and of a pale pinkish
hue. They are best suited for rocky or sandy ground, or

Hardy Exotic Flowering Plants 173

even old ruins, or any position where they will not be
smothered by coarser vegetation. Like them in character is
the pretty little Tunica Saxifraga, which grows on the tops of
old walls and sand heaps in Italy and in Southern Europe,
and will thrive on bare places with us.

Gentian, Gent:ana.— Dwarf, and usually evergreen, alpine
or high-pasture plants, with large and numerous flowers often
handsome, and frequently of the most vivid blue. The large
G. acaulis (Gentianella) would grow as freely in moist places
on any of our own mountains as it does on its native hills;
indeed, it would flourish 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, I have often 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 Snow-
drop when naturalized in the grass are well known to all, but
many of the new kinds, such as Elwesi and G. plicatus, have
claims also in that respect, all of which would be as easily
naturalized as the common Snowdrop. For some account of
the various kinds of Snowdrop that have come into our
gardens of recent years see the article in the ‘ English Flower-
garden.’

Cow Parsnips, Heracleum.—Giant herbaceous plants,
mostly from Northern Asia, with huge 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 for any place where bold
foliage may be desired. In planting them it should be
borne in mind that their foliage dies down and disappears
at the end of summer. When established they often sow

174 The Wild Garden

themselves, so that seedling plants in abundance may be
picked up around them; but it is important not to allow
them to become giant weeds. To prevent this, it may, in
certain positions, be desirable to prevent them seeding.

Day Lily, Hemerocallis. Vigorous plants of the Lily order,
with long leaves and large and showy red-orange or yellow
flowers, often scented delicately. There are two types, one
large and strong like H. flava and H. fulva, the other short and
somewhat fragile like graminea. The larger kinds are valu-
able plants for the ‘Wild Garden,’ thriving in any rich soil.

Christmas Rose, Helleborus.—Stout dwarf perennials,
with showy blooms appearing in winter and spring when
flowers are rare, and with handsome leathery leaves.
They thrive in almost any soil; but to get their early bloom
good, it is well to place them on sunny banks in groups,
and not far from the eye. They form beautiful ornaments
near wood walks, where the spring sun can reach them.
There are various kinds useful for naturalization, especially
on warm chalky soils.

Sun Rose, Helianthemum.— Dwarf spreading shrubs, bear-
ing myriads of flowers in a variety of colour. The most
satisfactory way of employing these in our gardens is to
naturalize them on banks or slopes in the half-wild parts of
our pleasure grounds, where there is sandy or warm soil.
They are best suited for chalk or rocky districts, where they
thrive and make a brilliant display. ;

Perennial Sunflower, Helianthus, Rudbeckia, Silphium—
Stout and 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. Asarule these are all better fitted for rough places
than for gardens, where, like many other plants mentioned in

Hardy Exotic Flowering Plants 17s

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 naturalization.
H. giganteus, common in thickets and swamps in America,
and growing as high as Io feet, is also desirable. The showy
and larger American Rudbeckia, such as laciniata, triloba,
and also the small but showy hirta, belong to the same type.
All these plants, and many others of the tall yellow composites
that one sees among herbaceous vegetation in America,
would give showy effects in autumn, and might perhaps
interest those who only visit their country seats at that time
of year. The Silphiums, especially the compass plant (S.
laciniatum), and the cup plant (S. perfoliatum), are in general
character like Helianthus.

St. John’s Wort, Hypericum.—The well-known St. John’s
Wort does only too freely in many places ; there is scarcely
one of its numerous brethren which will not thrive in 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 handsome flowers like the
St. John’s Wort. It should be noted that the common St.
John’s Wort so exhausts the soil of moisture that it sometimes
is the cause of the death of trees. Many places have too
much of it, as they also have of the common Laurel.

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

Evergreen Candytuft, /beris.—Compact little evergreens,
forming spreading bushes from 3 inches to 15 inches high,
and sheeted with white flowers in spring and early summer.
There are no plants better for naturalization in open or stony
places, or, indeed, in any position where the vegetation is not

176 The Wild Garden

strong enough to overrun them. They, however, attain
greatest beauty when fully exposed to the sun, and are
admirable for every kind of rocky or stony ground and
banks.

Iris, Fleur 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 planted
in woods, copses, by wood walks, or near the margin of
water, though the water-rat often eats the roots. I. sibirica,
will grow in the water, as will the Japanese and the beautiful
Asiatic Iris such as I. aurea and I. monnieri. On the
other hand, I. pumila, and the varieties of germanica, are
often seen on the tops of old walls and thatched roofs, in
France, flowering well.

Common Lupine, Lupinus polyphyllus——Amidst the hand-
somest hardy plants, grouped where they may be seen from
grass drives or wood walks, or in any position or soil.
Excellent for islets or on river banks, in the soil of which
it spreads freely.

Honesty, Lunaria.—This, which approaches the Stocks in
the aspect of its fine purplish violet flowers, is one of the
best plants for naturalization. Sows itself freely in dryish
ground or on chalk banks, and is one of the prettiest plants
in early summer.

Lily, Liium.—There are hardy lilies that may be
naturalized. The places 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 handsome kinds, are such as make their chances in
copses and rough grassy places, hopeful. In woods where

Hardy Exotic Flowering Plants 199

there is rich vegetable soil the fine American lilies will do.
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; 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 as good
as any effect it gives in gardens. Along the bed of small
rivulets, in the bottom of narrow gorges densely shaded by
great Pines, Arbutus trees 60 feet high, and handsome
evergreen oaks on the Sierras of California, I saw in
autumn numbers of lily stems 7, 8, and g feet high, so
one could imagine what pictures the flowers formed in early
summer. 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 beds, usually and very unwisely left to the rhododen-
drons alone, being peculiarly suited to the majority of the
lily tribe. As for Lilies in the wild garden, Mr. G. F.
Wilson sent me a stem of Lilium superbum, grown in
a rich woody bottom, 113 feet high; this fine lily—the swamp
lily of North America—should be planted in rich boggy
bottoms where these occur in the wild garden.

Snowflake, Leucojum.—I have rarely seen anything more
beautiful than a colony of the summer Snowflake on the
margin of a tuft of rhododendrons 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 Snow-
flakes (L. vernum and L. estivum) are valuable plants for
wild grassy places, and the last grows freely in the good soil
in the islets in the Thames near Wargrave.

Gentian Lithosperm, Lithospermum prostratum.—. A very

N

178 The Wild Garden

distinct and pretty plant, with many flowers of as fine a blue
as any gentian. Thrives in any deep sandy soil, and in such
well deserves naturalization among dwarf rock plants, in
sunny spots.

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

Honeysuckle, Lonz-
cera.—Such favourites as
these must not be omitted.
Any kind of climbing
Honeysuckle will find a
happy home in the wild

garden, either rambling
EVERLASTING PBA, creeping up stem in shrubbery. over stumps or hedgerows,
or planted by themselves on banks. Our woods are graced
by our wild Honeysuckles, but where garden varieties or
new kinds of Honeysuckle from other countries occur, it is
well to add them to the wild garden.

Pea, Lathyrus.—Most cultivators of flowers are aware of
the rambling habits of the greater number of plants of the
pea tribe, but in that particular L. pyrenaicus eclipses them

all. It produces an immense quantity of bright orange

Hardy Exotic Flowering Plants 179

blossoms, but a strong plant of this species will ramble over,
and by its density of growth prevent every plant and shrub
that comes within its reach from thriving; indeed, it is
a greater rambler than the Hop, the Bindweed, or the
Bryony, and is very handsome. Tying up or training such
a plant is out of the question; but there are many rough
places in the wild garden where it would be quite at home.
Every kind of Everlasting Pea is excellent for the wild
garden, either for scrambling over hedgerows, stumps, or
growing among the grass.—J. W. in Garden.
Monkey-flower, Mimulus.—‘ Wandering one day in the
neighbourhood of “Gruigfoot,” a queer-shaped hill in
Linlithgowshire, my eye was attracted by a small burn
whose banks were literally jewelled throughout its visible
course with an unfamiliar yellow flower. A nearer approach
showed me that it was the garden Mimulus (Monkey-flower),
the seed of which must have escaped from some cottage
garden, and established itself here, in the coldest part of the
British Isles. I took the hint, and have naturalized it by the
banks of a small stream which runs at the foot of my garden,
and I strongly recommend your readers to do the same. It min-
gles charmingly with the blue Forget-me-not.’—S. in Garden.
Grape Hyacinth, Muscari—These free and hardy little
bulbs are easily naturalized and very handsome, with their
little spikes of flowers of many shades of blue. At
Gravetye I used to throw the bulbs in little hollows in
grassy places, and then fill up level with a couple of inches
of soil, thus saving the trouble of lifting the turf to plant.
We had some very pretty effects, my only trouble was in
not being able to get these things by the million.
Forget-me-not, Myosotis—There is one exotic species,
M. dissitiflora, not inferior in beauty to any of our handsomest
N 2

180 The Wild Garden

native kinds, and well worthy of naturalization everywhere.
It thrives best on moist and sandy or rocky soil.

Molopospermum cicutarium.—A very fine plant, with
large deeply-divided leaves of a lively green colour, forming
a dense irregular bush. Many of the umbellate plants, while
very elegant, perish by the end of June, but this is firmer in
character, of a fine rich green, growing more than 3 feet
high. It is hardy, and increased by seed or division, and
loves a deep moist
soil, but will thrive
in any good garden
soil. It is a fine
plant for grouping
with other hardy
and graceful-leaved
plants.

Stock, Matthiola.
—Showy flowers,
mostly fragrant,
peculiarly well
suited for old ruins,
chalk pits, and stony
banks. Some of the
annual kinds are
pretty. With the
Stocks may be asso-

ciated the single

Type of fine-leaved wmbellate plants seldom grown in gardens,

rocket (Hesperis
matronalis), which thrives on woody banks and in copses.
Bee Balm, Mouarda.—Large and very showy herbaceous
plants, with scarlet or purple flowers, beautiful in American
and Canadian woods in autumn, and good plants for

Hardy Exotic Flowering Plants 181

naturalization in woods and shrubberies, copses, or anywhere
among medium-sized vegetation. They thrive best in light
or well-drained soils. Few plants have given me more
pleasure than wide groups of the scarlet Bee Balm, which
are splendidly effective, and form pictures from various
points of view in the same place. Even in the broiling
summer of 1893 we enjoyed their beauty for many weeks.
Mallow, Malva, Althea, Malope, Kitaibelia, Callirhoe, Sida.—
Plants of several distinct genera may be included under this
type, and from each very showy plants.
They are for the most part too coarse
for gardens generally; but among the
taller vegetation in rough shrubberies,
and glades in woods, they give good
effect. Some ofthe Malvas are vigorous-
growing plants, mostly with rosy
flowers. The Althzeas, close allies of
the common single hollyhock, are fine,
as are also the Sida and Kitaibelia
vitifolia. The Malopes are among the

best of the annual flowers. The
Callirhoes are dwarf, handsome raz sez satu, Moneraa
trailers, brilliant too, and are the only pean toa
ones of the type that should be planted amidst dwarf
vegetation, as all the others are of vigorous character.
Mulgedium Plumieri—A plant of distinct port, with
purplish-blue blossoms. Till recently it was generally seen
in botanic gardens only, but it has many merits as a wild
garden plant, and for groups in quiet green corners of
pleasure grounds or shrubberies. It does best in rather
rich ground, and in such will pay all who plant it, being
a hardy and long-lived perennial. The foliage is sometimes

182 The Wild Garden

over a yard long, and the flower-stems over 6 feet high
in good soil.

Water Lily, Nymphaea and Nuphar.—Two noble North
American plants well deserve naturalization in our waters,
associated with our own beautiful white 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 Nymphzea odorata, which floats in crowds
on many of the pine-bordered lakes and lakelets of New
England, looking very like our own water lily. These and
the new and beautiful hybrid water lilies have been dealt
with fully in the Chapter on Water Plants.

Daffodil, Narcissus——Most people have seen the common
daffodil in a wild state in our woods and fields. Apart from
varieties, there are more than a score of species of daffodil that
could be naturalized quite as easily as this in all parts of these
islands. Of all the planting I have ever made, the planting of
these in the grass has given the greatest pleasure and the
most lasting. They were put in by thousands, in the meadows
mown for hay as well as in the less shaven parts of the pleasure
ground, and no kind that we tried failed save the Bayonne
Daffodil. We did not try the southern and Hoop Petticoat
kinds, as the soil was not warm or sandy enough.

Bitter Vetch, Ovobus.—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, Exothera.—Among the handsomest of
hardy flowers. The yellow species, and varieties allied to
the common Evening Primrose (@. biennis), may be readily
naturalized in any soil. These noble and fragrant flowers

Hardy Exotic Flowering Plants 183

are easily grown and beautiful. They, however, from their
boldness, are suited for. shrubberies, copses, and the like,
sowing themselves freely.

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

Star of Bethlehem, Ornithogalum.—Various handsome
hardy species of this genus will thrive as well as the common
Star of Bethlehem in any turf; other less popular kinds
have a quiet graceful beauty, and not being generally admitted
to the gay company of showy tulips and the like, there is
all the more reason to give them a home in the grass.

Creeping Forget-me-not, Omphalodes——The creeping
Forget-me-not (Omphalodes verna) is one of the prettiest
plants to be naturalized in woods, copses, or shrubberies,
running about with freedom in moist soil. It ismore compact
in habit.and lives longer on good soils than the Forget-me-
nots, and should be naturalized round every country place.

Wood Sorrel, Oxalis.--Dwarf plants with clover-like
leaflets and pretty rosy or yellow flowers. Two of the
species in cultivation, viz. O. Bowieana and O. floribunda,
thrive on sandy soils amidst plants not more than 6 inches
high ; the family is so numerous that probably other members
of it will be found equally free-growing.

Knotweed, Polygonum.—Vigorous herbaceous plants, two
at least very precious for our present aim, i.e. P. cuspidatum
and P. sachalinense. These are among the plants that
cannot be put in the garden without fear of their overrunning
other things, while outside in the pleasure ground or planta-
tion, or by the water-side where there is enough soil, they

184 The Wild Garden

may be very handsome indeed. I find P. sachalinense is
often very beautiful in foliage in the autumn when in the
sun, and P. cuspidatum is most effective in flower in autumn.
They are fine plants for deep soils and certainly can take
care of themselves.

Peony.—Vigorous herbaceous plants, with large and

THE GREAT JAPAN KNOTWEED (Polygonum cuspidatum).

splendid flowers of various shades of crimson, rosy-crimson,
and white. There are many species and varieties, the
flowers of some of the varieties being very sweet-scented,
double, and among the largest flowers we have. Fringes of
shrubberies, open glades in copses, and indeed almost any
rough place, may be adorned by them; and they may also be
on the grass in the rougher parts of the pleasure ground.
I never felt the beauty of the fine colour of Paeonies till

Hardy Exotic Flowering Plants 185

I saw a group of the double scarlet kind flowering in the
long grass in Oxfordshire. The owner had placed a large
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. To be able to produce such
effects in the early summer is a gain from a landscape point
of view, apart from the beauty of the flowers when seen
close at hand.

Poppy, Papaver, in var.—The huge and flaming Eastern
Poppies, 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 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 handsome ;
it is a determined colonizer, ready to
hold its own anywhere. Its home is
the wall, the rock, and the ruin, Tt eee acer

some Labiates; flowers

. admirably suited for the
even surpasses the Wallflower in adapt- Wild Garden. (See p. 166.)

ing itself to out-of-the-way places; it

will spring up in the gravel walk under one’s feet, and is
happy among stones in the courtyard. It looks down on one
from crevices in brick walls, from chinks where one could
scarcely introduce a knife-blade, and it delights most in shady
places. No plant can be better adapted for naturalizing on
rough stony banks, old quarries, and gravel pits.

186 The Wild Garden

THE TALL OX EYE DAISY
(Pyrethram serotinam),

Phlomis.—Showy and stately her-
baceous or half-shrubby plants, with
a profusion of handsome yellow
or purplish flowers. Excellent for
naturalization in warm open woods,
copses, banks, growing well in
ordinary soil. Some kinds carpet
the ground very closely and keep
away weeds.

Virginian Poke, Phytolacca decan-
dra.—A robust perennial, with long
dense spikes of purplish berries.
It will grow anywhere and in any
soil; but is most imposing in rich
deepones. The berries are relished
by birds, and it is fine for association
with the stoutest herbaceous plants
in rough places.

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

The tall Ox-eye Daisy, Pyrethrum
serotinum.—This fine autumn flower-
ing plant, for years left in the
Botanic Gardens, is one of the
handsomest flowers. It grows 5 or

Hardy Exotic Flowering Plants 187

6 feet high, and flowers late in
autumn. It is picturesque in
habit.

Bramble, Rubus.—Although we
have nearly fifty kinds of bramble
native in Britain, some of the exotic
species, entirely distinct from our
own, are well worthy of naturali-
zation among low shrubs and tall
herbaceous plants; for shady
woods there is the large white
Rubus Nutkanus, and the deep
rose-coloured Rubus odoratus, and
the early spring-flowering R.
spectabilis ; while the very strik-
ing white-stemmed R. biflorus is
a good plant for warm slopes,
sunny sides of chalk and gravel
pits.

The Great Reed, <Arundo
Donax.—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 it shows in the south
of Europe.

Rhubarb, Rheum.—There are

|

THE GREAT REED of Southern Europe
(Arundo Donaz).

188 The Wild Garden

several species of rhubarb in cultivation in addition to those
commonly grown in gardens. They are much alike in port
and in the size of their leaves, R. palmatum and Emodi
being the most distinct. The rhubarbs are fine plants 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 nobody ever thinks of planting such things
in gardens or shrubberies, where such ill-smelling and ugly
things as privet 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 froma northern country might be tried ;
whilst of roses commonly cultivated the climbing races—such
as the Boursalt, Ayrshire, and Sempervirens—are the most
likely to be satisfactory. The Damask, Alba gallica, and
vigorous climbers, being hardy, would do, as would
Felicité Perpetuelle, Banksizeflora, the Garland roses,
Austrian brier, berberifolia, and microphylla rubra plena.
Pruning, or any other attention after planting, should of
course not be thought of in connexion with these. Rosa
Brunoniana is a very fine free and hardy species from India.
See the Chapter on Roses.

Sea Lavender, S/atice.—Vigorous hardy plants with a
profusion of bluish lavender-coloured bloom, thriving freely
on all ordinary garden soils. S. latifolia, and some of the
stronger kinds, thrive in any position.

Meadow Sweet, Spirwa.—Usually vigorous herbaceous
plants, with white or rosy flowers. Such beautiful kinds
as venusta and palmata are good among the medium-
sized perennials. S, Aruncus is, perhaps, the finest plant

Hardy Exotic Flowering Plants 189

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; and so
prolong the season of this favourite flower.

Golden Rod, Solidago.—Tall perennials with yellow flowers,
showy when in bloom, and attractive when seen in America
in autumn, mingled with the Starworts of that country, but
rarely pretty as grown in gardens. These, like the worst of
Asters, used to be grown to excess in the old borders; but
the positions they are best for are rough 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 in American woods
in autumn.

Catch-fly, Sz/ene.— 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, &c.,
are among the most charming subjects that can be naturalized
on rocky places or banks, associated with very dwarf plants.
Such fine annual or biennial kinds as S. Armeria or S. pendula
are among the best, and might be easily established by
scattering a few seeds in likely 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 give a beautiful effect.

Squill, Scz//a.—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 S. campanulata, S. bifolia

190 The Wild Garden

and S.sibirica. Bifolia and sibirica would be better on sunny
banks or sheltered fringes of shrubberies. The tall kinds
would do in woods or copses like the bluebell. With the
dwarfer Scilla might be associated the grape hyacinth and
the amethyst hyacinth (Hyacinthus amethystinus).

Comfrey, Symphytum.—Herbaceous plants of the borage
order, usually with handsome blue flowers. One of the
handsomest spring flowers is Symphytum caucasicum, and it
is also one of the easiest things to naturalize, running about
in shrubby places. Coarse kinds, like S. asperrimum (unfit
for garden culture), thrive apace among the largest plants in
ditches and rich bottoms, and look beautiful when in flower.

Scabious, Scabiosa, Cephalaria, Knautia.—Sometimes hand-
some and free-growing herbaceous plants, bluish, purplish,
or yellowish in colour of flowers. Among these may be seen,
in botanic and other gardens, plants suited for naturalization,
but scarcely worthy of a place in the garden. The fine
S. caucasica would thrive in warm soil, as would the Knautias
in any soil.

Stonecrop, Sedum.—Small and usually prostrate plants,
with white, yellow, or rosy flowers, and occurring in multi-
tudes on most of the mountain chains of northern and
temperate countries. There are few of these 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 anywhere if they are not too much
overshadowed by trees and coarser vegetation. Such kinds as
S. spurium, S. pulchellum, kamtschaticum, and S. spectabile
are among the best.

Rockfoil, Saxifraga.—A very extensive family of plants,
abundant on mountains in northern countries. For our

Hardy Exotic Flowering Plants 19!

purpose they may be thrown into five sections—the mossy
section, represented in Britain by S. hypnoides; the silvery
section, represented by S. Aizoon; the London Pride
section, by the Kerry saxifrages; the Megasea section, by
the large S. crassifolia; and the oppositifolia section, dis-
tinguished 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 naturalized 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 grass and other common herbs.
There are probably nearly 150 species in cultivation in
England.

Houseleek, Sempervivum.—Very dwarf and_ succulent
plants, with their fleshy leaves arranged in dense rosettes,
and mostly with curious but seldom conspicuous flowers.
They abound in mountainous regions, and are 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, &c. There are about
fifty hardy kinds in cultivation in this country.

Meadow Rue, Thahctrum.—tTall herbaceous plants, often
affording a pleasing effect when seen in groups, and hence
pretty for this mode of gardening. They grow in any soil,
and should be placed among rank vegetation. There are
many kinds not differing much in aspect; some of the

192 The Wild Garden

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

Spiderwort, 7radescantia virginica.—A handsome North
American perennial, with purple, blue, or white flowers,
attaining a height of 14 feet or 2 feet. A good plant for
naturalization on almost any soil,
thriving often on the wettest, and
therefore suited for many places
where other perennials would make

little progress.

Wood Lily, Trilium.—Very sin-
gular and beautiful American wood
plants, of which T. grandi-
florum is worthy of special
mention, thriving in shady
places in moist rich soils, in
woods and copses, where some
vegetable soil has gathered.

Globe Flower, TJvollius.—
Beautiful plants of vigorous
TNE eRUadeA hom Gatene pepe habit, with handsome yellow

flowers, of a fine colour, like
those of the buttercups, but turning inwards so as to form an
almost round blossom, quite distinct in aspect. Few plants
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 effect. I have established them without trouble in
wettish places foul with crowfoot and other bad weeds,
and planting them without any preparation of the ground.

Hardy Exotic Flowering Plants 193

Tulip, Zupa.—Various species of Tulips might be natural-
ized 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 plants

Group of TRITOMA, in grass (by Lake Longleat).

grown for their foliage. It is very free in growth, and has
large leaves and sunflower-like flowers.

Flame-Flower, 7yitoma.—Flame-Flowers are occasionally
planted in excess, so as to neutralize the good effect they
might otherwise produce, and they, like many other flowers,
have suffered from being, like soldiers, put in straight lines
and in other geometrical formations. 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. Although not

oO

194 The Wild Garden

always hardy plants, they are so free in many soils that
they might with confidence be planted in the wild garden,
and our sketch shows a picturesque group of them planted
in this way.

Showy Indian Cress, Tropewolum speciosum.—Against
walls, among shrubs, and on slopes, on moist banks, or
bushy banks near the hardy fernery, in deep, rich, and light
soil, this brilliant plant is well worth any trouble to establish.
Many fail with it in the garden, but moist, shady, and bushy
places will suit it better, and, in the south of England and
on warm soils, the north sides of houses and walls, rocks
and beds of shrubs should be chosen.

Mullein, Verbascum.—Verbascum vernale is a noble plant,
which has been slowly spreading in our collections of hardy
plants for some years past, and it is one of peculiar merit.
I first saw it in the Garden of Plants, and brought home
some roots which gave rise to the stock now in our gardens.
Its peculiarity, or rather its merit, is that it isa true perennial
species—at least on warm soils—and in this respect quite
unlike other Mulleins that are sometimes seen in our gardens,
and oftener in our hedgerows. It also has the advantage
of great height, growing to a height of to 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 enormous. The use of such a plant
cannot be difficult to define, it being so good in form and so
distinct in habit. Another good kind is V. phlomoides, which
I saw last autumn abundantly wild in Touraine, in stony
places about Chenonceau, and which might be sown with us
in like places.

Hardy Exotic Flowering Plants 195

Periwinkle, Vinca.—Trailing plants, with glossy foliage
and blue flowers, well known in gardens. They grow in any
position, shady or sunny. There
are variously-coloured and very
pretty varieties of V. minor, while
the variegated forms of both
species are pretty.

Speedwell, Veronica. — Herba-
ceous and alpine plants, usually
rather tall (14 feet to 3 feet), in
some cases dwarf alpine plants
with blue flowers in various
shades; they are among the
hardiest of plants, and will grow
in any soil. All the taller kinds
are admirably suited for naturali-
zation among long grass and
other herbaceous vegetation.
Very many that are in cultivation
in borders are fit only for the wild
garden. 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, TALL MULLEIN.

rocky spots or banks, fringes of

shrubberies, or almost any position. The very handsome

bird’s-foot Violet of North 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,
o2

196 The Wild Garden

not being fragrant, or not possessing sufficient charms to
ensure their general cultivation in gardens, are best suited
for wild gardening. Our own sweet Violet should be
abundantly planted wherever it does not occur in a wild

state.

LARGE WHITE ACHILLEAS, spread into wide masses under shade of trees in shrubbery,

CHAPTER XV.

SELECTIONS OF HARDY EXOTIC PLANTS FOR THE
WILD GARDEN.

AN important point
is the getting ofa stock
At o.. of plants to begin with.
‘ y In country or other

lis ‘\ places where many
> good old borderflowers

remain in the cottage
gardens, many plants may be found. Nursery
beds should be formed in which such plants
could be increased. 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

OPHRYS. in grass’ from seed sown rather thinly in drills, in
nursery beds in the open air. The best time for sowing is
spring, but any time in 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, the best way is to
avoid the trouble of preparing it; the 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.

198

The Wild Garden

A Selection of Plants for Naturalization in places with dwarf
vegetation, on bare banks, and in poorish soil.

Dielytra eximia.
ay formosa.
Arabis albida.
Aubrietia, in var.
Alyssum saxatile.
Iberis corifolia.

»» sempervirens.

»» correzefolia.
Thlaspi latifolium.
Helianthemum, in var.
Viola cornuta.

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

a ocbaita,
Cerastium Biebersteinii.

ay grandiflorum.
A tomentosum.
Linum alpinum.

>, arboreum.

» flavum.
Geranium Wallichianum.

59 striatum.
33 cinereum, and
others.
Oxalis floribunda.
Genista sagittalis.
Anthyllis montana.
Astragalus monspessu-
lanus.
Coronilla varia.
Hedysarum obscurum.
Vicia argentea.
Orobus vernus.
», lathyroides.

Waldsteinia trifolia.
Potentilla.
CEnothera speciosa.
ap missouriensis.
* taraxacifolia.
Sedum dentatum.
», kamtschaticun.
sy Sieboldii.
»» spectabile.
», spurium.

Sempervivum calcareum.
hirtum.
” montanum,
re soboliferum.
38 sedoides.

Saxifraga Aizoon.

4 cordifolia.

‘3 crassifolia.

55 crustata.

6 longifolia.

55 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.

- fragilis.
” garganica,.
» cxespitosa.

Vinca herbacea.
Gentiana acaulis.
Phlox stolonifera.
>, subulata.
y»» ameena.
Lithospermum prostra-
tum.
Pulmonaria grandiflora.
oa mollis,
Myosotis dissitiflora.
Physalis Alkekengi. .
Pentstemon procerus.
Veronica austriaca.
ey candida.
59 taurica,
many others.
Teucrium Chameedrys.
Ajuga genevensis.
Scutellaria alpina,
Prunella grandiflora.
Stachys lanata.
Zietenia lavandulefolia.
Dodecatheon Meadia.
Acantholimon gluma-
ceum.
Armeria cephalotes.
Plumbago Larpente.
Polygonum Brunonis.

” vaccinifolium.
Euphorbia Cyparissias.
Iris cristata.

» grTaminea,

>» pumila.

» reticulata.

» nudicaulis, and many
others.

and

Plants of vigorous habit for the Wild Garden.

Trollius, any kind.

Thalictrum aquilegi-
folium.

Delphinium, in var.

Aconitum, in var.

Peeonia, in var.

Papaver orientale,

» bracteatum.
Macleaya cordata.
Datisca cannabina.
Crambe cordifolia.
Althzea ficifolia.

Althzea nudiflora.
» taurinensis.
Lavatera Olbia.
Galega officinalis,
» biloba.
Lathyrus latifolius.

Selections

Lathyrus grandiflorus,
and any others.
Lupinus polyphyllus.
Thermopsis barbata.
Spireea Aruncus.
Astilbe rivularis & rubra.
Molopospermum cicuta-
rium.
Ferula communis.
glauca.
tingitana.
» sulcata,
Statice latifolia.
Peucedanum _involucra-
tum.
és longifolium.
Heracleum, any exotic
kinds.
. Dipsacus laciniatus.
Mulgedium Plumieri.
Alfredia cernua.

”

of Hardy Exotic Plants

Onopordon, any.
Centaurea babylonica.
Echinops bannaticus.
exaltatus.
ruthenicus.
ia purpureus.

Aster elegans.
Novi Belgii.
Novee Anglize.

» ericoides, and any

strong and pretty kinds.
Eupatorium purpureum,
Telekia cordifolia.
Helianthus angustifolius.
multiflorus.
orgyalis and

”

”

”

”

”
others.
Harpalium rigidum.
Silphium perfoliatum.
Campanula, all the tall

and showy kinds.

199

Asclepias Cornuti,

a Douglasii.
Verbascum Chaixii.

‘* phlomoides.
Physostegia imbricata.

Pr speciosa.
Acanthus latifolius.
spinosus.

55 spinosissimus,
Phytolacca decandra.
Polygonum Sieboldii.

sachalinense.
Rheum Emodi.

»» palmatum.
Achillea Eupatorium.
Bambusa, hardiest kinds.
Veratrum album.

Yucca flaccida

3 recurva,
Peucedanum ruthenicum.
Astragalus ponticus.

”

Hardy Plants with fine foliage or graceful habit suitable for

Acanthus, several species.
Asclepias syriaca.
Statice latifolia.
Polygonum cuspidatum.
re sachalinense.
Rheum Emodi, and other
kinds.
Euphorbia Cyparissias.
Datisca cannabina,
Veratrum album.
Crambe cordifolia.
Althzea taurinensis.
Elymus arenarius.
Bambusa, several species.
Arundinaria falcata.

Naturalization.

Yucca, several species.
Verbascum Chaixii.
Spireea Aruncus.
Astilbe rivularis.
»» Tubra.

Eryngium, several species.
Ferula, several species.
Phytolacca decandra.
Centaurea babylonica.
Acteea, in var.
Cimicifuga racemosa.
Heracleum,several species,
Aralia japonica.

» edulis.

Macleaya cordata.

Panicum bulbosum.

» Virgatum.
Dipsacus laciniatus.
Alfredia cernua,
Carlina acanthifolia.
Telekia cordifolia.
Echinops exaltatus.

5 ruthenicus.
Helianthus orgyalis,

and others.
Silybum eburneum.

is Marianum.
Onopordon Acanthium,
arabicum.
tauricum.

”

”

Plants for Hedge-banks and like Places.

Aster, in variety.
Clematis,the wild species,
in var.
Thalictrum
folium.

aquilegi-

Anemone japonica, and
vars.

Delphinium, in var.

Chrysanthemum maxi-

mum, and allied kinds.

Aconitum, in var.
Macleaya cordata.
Kitaibelia vitifolia.
Tropzolum speciosum.
Baptisia australis.

200

Coronilla varia.
Galega officinalis, both
white and pink forms.
Galega biloba.
- Astragalus ponticus.
Lathyrus grandiflorus.
a rotundifolius.
5 latifolius.
i albus.

”
Rubus biflorus.
CEnothera Lamarckiana.

Astilbe rivularis.

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

FA pubescens.
Verbascum Chaixii.
Veronica. tall kinds in var.
Phlomis Russelliana.

is herba-venti.
Physostegia speciosa.

» virginica

The Wild Garden

Lilies, common kinds.
Narcissus, common kinds,
Scillas, in var.
Phytolacea decandra.
Aristolochia Sipho.
Asparagus Broussoneti.
53 officinalis.
Vitis, in var.
Honeysuckles, in var.
Leucojum, in var.
Fritillary, in var.

Trailers and Climbers.

The selection of plants to cover banks and old trees
suitably is important, particularly as the plants fitted for
these purposes are equally useful for rocks, precipitous
banks, sides of bridges, river-banks, ruins, covering out-
houses, or rough sheds in pastures.

‘

Vitis cestivalis.

., amooriensis.
cordifolia.
Tsabella.

-» Labrusca.
laciniosa.
riparia.
Sieboldii.

» vulpina.
Aristolochia Sipho.
tomentosa.

”

”

Clematis, in
species.
Calystegia dahurica.
Wistaria sinensis.
Periploca greeca.
Hablitzia tamnoides.
Boussingaultia basel-
loides.
Menispermum

variety,

cana-
dense.

53 virginicum.

Cissus orientalis.
3) pubescens.
Ampelopsis bipinnata,
cs cordata.
hederacea.
s tricuspidata.
Jasminum nudiflorum.
officinale.
Fe revolutum.
Passiflora coerulea.
Lonicera, in variety.

”

”

Spring and early Summer Flowers for Naturalization.

Anemone alpina.
apennina.
blanda.
Coronaria.
fulgens.
Hepatica.
ranunculoides.
a trifolia, and
many others.

Ranunculus aconitifolius.
amplexicaulis.
montanus.

»”

”

Helleborus niger.
olympcius and
many other
kinds.
Eranthis hyemalis.
Aquilegia, various.
Pzeonia, many kinds.
Epimedium pinnatum.
Papaver bracteatum.
» orientale.
Dielytra eximia.
+ spectabilis.

Corydalis capnoides.
3 lutea.

Arabis.

Aubrietia, various.

Alyssum saxatile.

Tberis corifolia.

sempervirens.

1 correzefolia.
Viola cornuta,
Saponaria ocymoides.
Silene alpestris.
Arenaria montana.

»”

Selections of Hardy Exotic Plants 201

Vicia argentea. Primula, in var. fitted for the wild
Orobus flaccidus. Tris amcena. garden.)

x» eyaneus, »» cristata, Galanthus, in var.

» lathyroides. | , De Bergii. Leucojum pulchellum.

» Variegatus. » flavescens, +) vernum.

» vernus, | 5) florentina. Paradisia Liliastrum.
Centaurea montana. |, germanica. Ornithogalum, various.
Doronicum caucasicum. | ,, graminea. Scilla amoena.

Thlaspi latifolium, and; ,, ochroleuca. », bifolia.
others. | 5» pallida. yaltaica.
Hesperis matronalis. »» Sambucina. y» campanulata.
Erica carnea. | ,, sub-biflora, and many » italica.
Vinca major. other kinds. »» Sibirica.
Gentiana acaulis. Crocus aureus, Hyacinthusamethystinus.
Phlox reptans, and other » —- Speciosus. Muscari botryoides.
alpine Phlox. | » versicolor. >» Moschatum, and
Pulmonaria grandiflora. , ,, susianus,andmany| various others.
” mollis. others. Allium neapolitanum.
Symphytum bohemicum. | Narcissus angustifolius. » Ciliatum.
ss caucasicum. ' Pe bicolor. Tulipa Gesneriana.
Myosotis dissitiflora. wf incomparabilis. » suaveolens.
Omphalodes verna. a5 major. » scabriscapa, and
Dodecatheon Jeffreyi. 3 montanus. many others.
4 Meadia. ; 5 odorus. Fritillaria, in var.

Cyclamen europeeum. | a poeticus & vars. | Bulbocodium vernum.
¥9 hedereefolium. (All the hardy kinds are

Plants for Naturalization beneath Trees on Lawns.

Where the branches of trees, both evergreen and deciduous,
sweep the turf, a great number of pretty spring flowers may
be naturalized beneath the branches, where they will 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 little spring flowers might be dotted
beneath the outermost points of their lower branches. We
know that many of our spring flowers and hardy bulbs mature
their leaves and go to rest early in the year. They enjoy the
sun in spring, 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 comes, they are
gradually overshadowed and go to rest; the leaves of the

202 The Wild Garden

trees once fallen, they soon begin to appear again and cover
the ground with beauty.

Take a spreading old summer-leafing tree, and scatter
a few tufts of the winter Aconite beneath it, and leave them
alone. In avery few years they will have covered the ground;
every year afterwards they will spread a pretty carpet beneath
the tree; and when the carpet fades there will be no eyesore
from decaying leaves as there would be on a border—no
need to replace 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 his glossy coat and
yellow buttons. There are other plants of which the same
is true. We have only to imagine this done in a variety of
cases to see to what a beautiful result it would lead. Given
the bright blue Apennine Anemone under one tree, the spring
Snowflake under another, the bright and many coloured
Crocuses, and so on, we should have a spring garden of
the most beautiful kind. The plan could be carried out
under the branches of a grove as well as under those ot
specimen trees. Pretty mixed plantations might be made
by dotting tall plants, like the large Jonquil and other Nar-
cissus, among dwarf spreading plants like the blue Anemone.
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. Anemone blanda. ‘Anemone fulgens.
3 apennina. 9 Coronaria, 9 Hepatica.

Selections of Hardy Exotic Plants

Anemone stellata.

” sylvestris.

a trifolia.
Arum italicum.
Bulbocodium vernum.
Corydalis, solida.

3 tuberosa,
Crocus Imperati.

» _ biflorus.
>, Teticulatus.

Crocus versicolor, and
many others.

Cyclamen in variety.

Eranthis hyemalis.

Erythronium Dens-canis.

Ficaria grandiflora.

Snowdrop, many kinds.

Snowflake, all the
kinds.

Iris reticulata.

203
Muscari, any of the

numerous kinds.
Narcissus, in var.
Puschkinia scilloides.
Sanguinaria canadensis.
Scilla bifolia.

») sibirica,

») campanulata.
Trillium grandiflorum.
Tulipa, species in var.

Plants for very morst rich Sous.

Althzea, in var.
Astilbe rivularis.
Aralia edulis.

» wnudicaulis.
Asclepias Cornuti.
Asphodelus ramosus.
Aster, in var.

Baptisia exaltata.
Caltha palustris fl. pl.
Campanula — glomerata,
and large kinds.
Convallaria multiflora.
Colchicum, in var.
Crinum capense.
Datisca cannabina.
Echinops, in var.
Elymus, in var.
Epilobium, in var.
Eupatorium, in var.

Galax aphylla.

Galega officinalis.
Gentiana asclepiadea.
Helianthus multiflorus.

5 orgyalis.

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

Iris ochroleuca.

Liatris, in var.

Lythrum roseum super-
bum.

Mimulus, in var.

Mulgedium Plumieri.

Narcissus, stronger kinds.

Cnothera, large kinds.
Onopordon, in var.
Phlomis herba-venti.

Phlomis Russelliana.
Physostegia speciosa.
Phytolacca decandra.
Rudbeckia, in var.
Ranunculus amplexi-
caulis.

4 parnassifolius.
Sanguinaria canadensis.
Solidago, in var.
Spireea Aruncus.
Silphium, in var.
Swertia perennis.
Telekia speciosa.
Thalictrum, in var.
Trollius, in var.
Vaccinium, in var.
Veratrum, in var.
Polygonum, in var.

Plants suited for Peat Soil.

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.

Funkia Sieboldii.

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

Tris nudicaulis, pumila,
and vars.

Jeffersonia diphylla.

Linnza borealis,

Podophyllum peltatum.

Podophyllum Emodi.

Polygala Chamebuxus.

Pyrola, in var.

Hardy Heaths, in var.

Ramondia pyrenaica.

Sisyrinchium —_ grandiflo-
rum,

Spigelia merilandica.

Trientalis europza.

Trillium grandiflorum,

Lilies, in var.

204

The Wild Garden

Plants suited for Calcareous Soil.

Adenophora, in var.
Ethionema, in var.
Anemone, in var.
Alyssum, in var.
Anthyllis montana.
Antirrhinum, in var.
Cistus, in var.
Cheiranthus, in var.
Campanula, in var.
Carduus eriophorus.
Coronilla, in var.
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.
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-Jeaved
kinds).

Scabiosa, in var.
Sempervivum, in var.
Sedum, in var.
Symphytum, in var.
Thermopsis, fabacea.
Thymus, in var.
Trachelium cceruleum.
Trifolium alpinum.
Triteleia uniflora.
Tunica Saxifraga.
Vesicaria utriculata.
Vicia, in var.
Vittadenia, triloba.
Waldsteinia trifoliata.
- geoides.

Plants suited for Dry and Gravelly Soil.

Achillza, in var.

Ethionema 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, 1n 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, ia var.
Linum, in var.
Lupinus polyphyllus.
Modiola geranioides.
Nepeta Mussinii.
Onobrychis, in var.

Ononis, in var.
Ornithogalum, in var.
Plumbago Larpente.
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.
Verbascum, in var.
Vesicaria utriculata.
Rosmary.

Selection of Plants for Growing on Old Walls, Ruins, or

Achillea tomentosa.
Alyssum montanum.
39 saxatile,

Rocky Slopes.

Antirrhinum rupestre.
ef majus.
% Orontium.

Arenaria balearica.
$5 ceespitosa.
Pp ciliata.

Selections of Hardy Exotic Plants

Arenaria graminifolia.

” montana.
os verna,
Arabis albida,
» petraea.

Asperula cynanchica.
Campanula Barrelieri.

5 rotundifolia.
a fragilis.
33 fragilis lanu-
ginosa.
a garganica,
35 pumila.
6 pumila alba.
Centranthus ruber.
r albus.
sy coccineus.
Cheiranthus alpinus.
5 Cheiri.
» Ppleno.

a
Coronilla minima.
Corydalis iutea.
Cotyledon Umbilicus.
Dianthus cesius,
» deltoides.
5 monspessulanus,
” petreeus.
Draba aizoides.
Erinus alpinus.
Erodium romanum.
9 Reichardii.
Gypsophila muralis.
Wy prostrata.
Helianthemun, in var.

Hutchinsia petreea.

Tberis, in var.
Ionopsidium acaule,
Koniga maritima.
Linum alpinum.
Lychnis alpina.

» Flos Jovis.

»» lapponica,
Malva campanulata.
Santolina lanata,
Saponaria ocymoides.
Saxifraga bryoides.

8 caryophyllata.

ceesia.
4s crustata.
i cuscutzeformis.
; diapensioides,
3 Hostii.
Ff intacta.

8 ligulata.
a longifolia.

5 pectinata.
5 pulchella.
7 retusa.
“ Rhei.
i rosularis.
55 Rocheliana.
33 sarmentosa.
Sedum acre.
» aureum,
» Aizoon.
» album.
» anglicum.
» arenarium.
», brevifolium.
californicum,

205

Sedum ccernleum.

», dasyphyllum.

» elegans.

» Ewersii,

» farinosum.

» globifernm.

» Heuffelli.

» hirtum.

nm hispanicum.

» kamschaticum.
montanum,

+ multiceps.

» piliferum.

>» pulchrum,

»» | Sempervivoides,
Sempervivum arachnoid-

eum.
‘ soboliferum.
“a spurium.
: sexangulare
Pr sexfidum.
+5 tectorum.
Silene alpestris.

>», rupestris.

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

ss saxatilis.
Vesicaria utriculata.

Al Selection of Annual and Biennial Plants for

Papaver somniferum.
Eschscholtzia californica.
Platystemon __ californi-

cum,
Matthiola annua.

5 bicornis.

Arabis arenosa.
Alys-um maritimum.
Iberis coronaria.
umbellata.

”

‘Naturalization.

Malcolmia maritima.
Erysimum Peroffskianum,
Gypsophila elegans.
Saponaria calabrica.
Silene Armeria.

Viscaria oculata.

Malope trifida.
Limnanthes Douglasii.
Ononis viscosa.
Cnothera odorata.

Godetia, various.
Clarkia elegans,

»» pulchella.
Amberboa moschata.

* odorata.
Dimorphotheca pluvia
Gilia capitata.

» tricolor.
Collomia coccinea.
Leptosiphon androsaceus.

206

Leptosiphon densiflorus.
Nicandra physaloides.
Collinsia bicolor.
e verna.

Dracocephalum nutans.

as moldavicum.
Blitum capitatum.
Polygonum orientale.
Panicum capillare.

Bromus brizzeformis.
Briza, in var.

Agrostis nebulosa.
Matthiola, in var.
Lunaria biennis.
Hesperis matronalis.
Erysimum asperum.
Silene pendula.
Hedysarum coronarium.

The Wild Garden

CEnothera Jamesi.
CEnothera Lamarckiana.
Dipsacus laciniatus.
Silybum eburneum.
Onopordum, in var.
Campanula Medium and
vars.
Verbsacum phlomoides.

Grasses for Naturalization.

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

Hordeum jubatum.
Panicum virgatum.
55 bulbosum,

Polypogon monspeliensis .
Stipa gigantea.

x» pennata.
Milium multiflorum.

- capillare.

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 that would entitle
them to a place in these selections.

Hardy Bulbs for Naturahzation,

Allium Moly.

¥s fragrans.

ia neapolitanum,

» Ciliatum.
Brodiza congesta.
Bulbocodium vernum.
Camassia esculenta.
Crocus, in great var.
Colchicum, in var.

| Cyclamen, in var.

| Erythronium in var.

' Fritillaria, in var.

| Gladiolus, hardy Euro-

| pean species.

' Hyacinthusamethystinus.

| Leucojum, in var.
Lilium, in var.
Merendera Bulbocodium.

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

List of Plants for Naturalization in Lawns and other

Bulbocodium vernum.
Colchicum, in var.
Crocus, many.
Snowdrops, all.
Leucojum, various.
Scilla bifolia.

» alba.

»» sibirica,

Grassy Places.

Scilla italica.
»» amoena.

Anemone apennina.

S tanunculoides.

55 blanda.

3% trifolia.
Antennaria dioica rosea,
Anthyllis montana.

Dianthus deltoides.
Fumaria bulbosa.
Narcissus, many kinds.
Hyacinthus amethystinus.
Merendera Bulbocodium
Muscari, in var.
Trichonema ramiflorum.

Selections of Hardy Exotic Plants 207

Climbing and Twining Plants for Thickets, Hedgerows,

and Trees.

Ampelopsis bipinnata. Clematis Viticella, and | Menispermum canadense.
os cordata. others. 93 virginicum.
+9 hederacea. Hablitzia tamnoides. Periploca greca.

a tricuspidata. | Jasminum nudiflorum. Roses, single, in great var.
Apios tuberosa. 5 officinale. Smilax, hardy kinds,
Aristolochia Sipho. Lathyrus grandiflorus. Tamus communis.

33 tomentosa. re latifolius. Tropzeolum pentaphyllum.
Calystegia dahurica. 9 rotundifolius. 5 speciosum.
Cissus orientalis, 5 tuberosus and | Vitis, various.

Clematis flammula. others, Wistaria frutescens.

8 montana. Lonicera, in variety. i sinensis.

These selections are proposed only as aids to those dealing
with special positions. The selection and best guide to the
material for the beginner will be found in the Chapter on
the principal types of Hardy Exotic Plants for the wild
garden.

RaBBiTs.

This sad subject has been kept for the last, as the only
disagreeable one in connexion with the wild garden.

It is incalculable the injury rabbits 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, rabbits
drive them away by eating down the evergreen cover so
necessary for 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, which 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

208 The Wild Garden

is directly interfered with by the rabbits ; not to speak of the
expense incurred year after year making up losses in plantation,
and the expense of wire-netting in protecting the trees. The
extermination of rabbits is not sucha 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 exten-
sive 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 short time, and would
be glad to pay for the right 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 crops, are
no profit to game preservers, and there is little excuse for
their existence.

Hungry rabbits, like hungry dogs or starving men, will eat
almost anything that can be got. 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 dis-
appears, 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,
are eaten almost indiscriminately. Amongst evergreen shrubs,
Rhododendrons and Box are generally avoided, but I have
known newly-planted Rhododendrons to be eaten by rabbits.
The elder is distasteful, and American Azaleas are avoided.
I have frequently seen Yew trees barked; Mahonias are

Selections of Hardy Exotic Plants — 209

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. Where rabbits are per-
mitted, the fact that they require food daily, like other creatures,
should be recognized. A certain portion of grass land should
be retained for them and managed for them ; a few acres
might be wired round, or, 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 done,
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. Rabbits prefer newly-planted trees
and shrubs to those established. I have even had the fronds
of newly-planted Athyrium Filix-fcemina eaten, while other
ferns have been untouched: certain breeds of wild rabbits
are much more prone to bark treesthan others. The barking
of trees is more done by north-country rabbits.—J. S.

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 is greedily devoured.’

Androsemum officinale. | Cineraria maritima. Honesty (Lunaria).
Anemone coronaria. Columbine. Iris.

5 japonica. Common Yews. Lilies (common orange
Arabis. Deutzia scabra. and white kinds).
Artemisia Abrotanum. | Dog’s-tooth Violet. Lily of the Valley.
Asphodelus albus. Elder. Lonicera, in var.
Aubrietia. Euonymus. Lycium barbarum.
Berberis Darwinii. Fuchsia. Mahonia Aquifolium.
Canterbury Bells. Hibiscus syriacus. Monkshood.

P

210 The Wild Garden

Muscari. Primrose. Syringa vulgaris.
Narcissus. Ruscus aculeatus. Tritoma.
Omithogalum. » _Tacemosus. Violets.
Pansies. Scilla. Weigela rosea.
Periwinkle (large and | Snowberry. Winter Aconite.
small). Solomon’s Seal. Woodruff.
Phlox, in var. Stachys lanata. Yucca gloriosa.
Poppy. Syringa persica.

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.

LARGE-LEAFED ROCEFOIL in the Wild Garden.

CHAPTER XVI.

Tue Garpen or British WiLtp FLowERS AND TREES.

My learned and travelled friends who tell me I cannot
naturalize Narcissus in thick grass, will hardly say we
cannot grow our own lovely British tree willows, or
have our own native Heaths in all their delightful
variety growing near us in picturesque tangles, and
some of our own more beautiful Wild Roses in the
hedge! The passion for the exotic is so universal that
our own finest plants are never planted, while money
is thrown away like chaff for worthless exotic trees like
the Wellingtonia, on which tree alone fortunes have
been wasted. Once on the bank of a beautiful river
in Ireland, the Barrow, I was shown a collection of
ornamental Willows, and very interesting they were,
but among them not one of our native Willows, which
are not merely as good as any of the garden Willows
but as good in beauty as the Olive tree—even where
the Olive is most beautiful. We search the world
over for flowering shrubs—not one of which is prettier

P2

212 The Wild Garden

than the Water Elder (Viburnum Opulus), common
in Sussex woods, and often seen near the water-side
in Surrey. Mr. Anthony Waterer, who has the finest
nursery in England in our own day, told me that
when asked for a number of it he could not find
them in his own nursery, or in any other. As
many of our beautiful wild flowers, and even our trees
and shrubs, are strangers to our own gardens, |
cannot do better than try to show, so far as I may,
what beautiful things may be gathered from our British
Flora that may have charms for our gardens and wild
gardens. However well people may know the beauty
of our fields and woods in spring or summer, few
have any idea of the great number of flowers that
are wild in our own country, and worth a home
in gardens—at least in those of a picturesque nature.
Few of us have much notion of the great variety of
beauty that may be culled from British flowers alone.
Many of us have full opportunity of seeing the beauties
of the fields and hedges; not so many the mountain
plants, and few, such rare gems as Gentiana Verna,
which grows wild in Teesdale, and here and there
on the western shores of Ireland; or the mountain
Forget-me-not, a precious little dwarf alpine that is
found but rarely in the north. It is only by a good
choice of the plants of the British Isles that we can
hope to arrive at a ‘ garden of British plants.’

It is not only the curious and rare that may afford
us interest among the plants of Britain; among them

British Wild Flowers and Trees 213

are plants of much beauty. Even for the sake of
plants for lakes, rivers, ponds in parks, pleasure
grounds, or gardens, the subject is worthy attention.
For the rock-garden, too, many of our wild flowers
are fitted. In any part of the country where the
soil or surface of the ground suits the habits of
a variety of native plants, it would prove interesting
to collect kinds not found in the neighbourhood, and
naturalize them therein; and wherever the natural rock
crops up, much beauty may be added by planting these
rocky spots with wild mountain flowers.

‘Botany,’ says Emerson, ‘is all names, not powers ;’
to press and dry wild plants is necessary for botanists,
but it is not likely to cause any wide human interest in
such things; and therefore I propose that we look
through our British wild flowers with a view of giving
some of them a home in the garden. It will be well
to have a complete list of our wild flowers, which
would be found in the index to Syme’s, Bentham’s,
Babington’s, or any other good book on our flora;
but best is a list called the ‘London Catalogue of
British Plants,’ which was published by Pamplin of
Soho, and is now published by Bell in Covent Garden.
This gives a full list of all the species, and by means
of numbers indicates their distribution. The compilers
adopted Mr. Hewett Watson’s division of Britain into
a number of botanical districts, and after the name
of each species a number is placed, which tells the
number of districts in which that particular plant is found.

214 The Wild Garden

Those who wish to work at wild flowers should
get one of these lists, as on them may be at once
marked the kinds we have or want; by their aid
in part we may exchange the Orchids of the Surrey
hills for the Alpines of the higher Scotch mountains,
and so on throughout the country. Every admirer
of British plants should have a manual, to aid in
identifying the species. Another aid would be a ‘local
flora, a list of the plants growing in any particular
neighbourhood or county; such, for instance, as the
‘Flora of Reigate,’ Baine’s ‘Flora of Yorkshire,’ and
Mackay’s ‘ Flora Hibernica,’ or the ‘Cybele Hibernica.’
We will next turn to the plants, beginning with the
natural order of Crowfoots. The Crowfoot order is
the order which brightens the moist hollows in the
spring with the glittering of the lesser Celandine, the
meadows in May with Buttercups; when ‘those long
mosses in the stream’ begin to assume a livelier
green, ‘and the wild Marsh Marigold shines like fire
in swamps and hollows grey.’ ‘Those long mosses
in the stream’ of ‘The Miller's Daughter’ are the
Water Crowfoots that silver over the pools with their
pretty white cup-like blossoms in early summer ; and
it is the same family which burnishes our meadows
with a glory of colour not equalled by any tropical
flowers. But in considering British plants from a
garden standpoint only, we can only seek those that
are worthy of garden culture, and certain to reward
us for giving them a place in the garden.

British Wild Flowers and Trees 215

The first plant named in books of British Plants
is the Traveller’s Joy (Clematis Vitalba), the well-
known common Clematis that streams over the trees,
and falls in graceful folds from trees in many parts
of the south.of England, having in autumn heads
of feathery awns. It is well known as a garden plant,
and from its rapidity of growth nothing is better
adapted for quickly covering rough mounds or bowers.
However, it may be best used in the shrubbery, and
particularly so on the margin of a river, or water,
where the long streamers of its branchlets are graceful.
It is the only native plant that gives an idea of the
‘bush ropes’ that run in wild profusion through tropical
woods. We have the Meadow Rues, which early in
this book we have seen a figure as showing plants
of some claim to beauty not often seen in the ordinary
garden: the elegant lesser Meadow Rue (Thalictrum
minus), so like the Maidenhair fern that some say
it is as pretty for the open air as the Maidenhair
fern is for the greenhouse. It is wild in many parts
of Britain, in Scotland and north-western England,
and rather abundant on the island of Ireland’s Eye,
near Dublin, and in many parts of the limestone
districts of Clare and Galway. There are several
other species, natives of Britain, but none of them
showing any gain on this kind.

NaTIvE WINDFLoweERs. Next come the Windflowers,
or Anemones, four kinds, at least two of them—
A. nemorosa, the wood Anemone, and A. apennina,

216 The Wild Garden

the blue Anemone —indispensable for our garden.
The wood Anemone is pretty either in its wild or
cultivated state, and besides the common white variety
there are a reddish and a double white variety.
The most beautiful form of our wood Anemone which

has come into the garden in our day is the large

5

ROBINSON BLUE WINDFLOWER. A large sky-blue form of the wood Anemone.

sky-blue form. I first saw it as a small tuft at
Oxford, and grew it in London where it was often
seen with me in bloom by Mr. Boswell Syme,
author of the Third Edition of Sowerby, who had
a great love for plants in a living state as well as
in their merely ‘botanical’ aspects, and we were

British Wild Flowers and Trees 217

often struck with its singular charm about noon on
bright days. There is reason to believe that there
is both in England and Ireland a large and handsome
form of the wood Anemone—distinct from the common
white of our woods and shaws in spring, and that
my blue Anemone is a variety of this. It is not
the same as the blue form wild in parts of North
Wales and elsewhere in Britain, this being more
fragile looking and not so light a blue.

As for the Apennine blue Anemone it is one of the
loveliest of spring flowers, both in the borders and
scattered here and there in woods and shrubberies
and grass. The flowers are freely produced, and of
the loveliest blue. It is not a true but a naturalized
native flower, so to speak, its home being the hills
of South Europe, having escaped out of gardens
into our land. The Pasque Anemone, or Pasque-
flower, is a beautiful native plant bearing large flowers
of a lovely violet purple, silky outside. It grows on
limestone pastures, and occurs in several districts in
England, though it is wanting in Scotland and Ireland.
The Pasque-flower is one of those that are more
beautiful in a wild than in a cultivated state, for
though it grows freely in light and chalky soils in
gardens, it has not half the beauty it shows in spring
on the Downs. I never saw any plant more charming
than this in the woods and hills and even on walls in
Normandy in spring. Another kind, A. ranunculoides
(yellow), is a doubtful native found in one or two

218 The Wild Garden

spots, and pretty for chalky soils, on which it flowers
freely. Being uncommon it is just the sort of plant
to which those who have the right soil may give the
hospitality of the garden.

Adonis autumnalis-is the pretty ‘pheasant’s-eye,’ an
annual plant found in corn-fields, and of which the seed
is offered in catalogues under the name of Flos Adonis.

The Ranunculus, or Crowfoots, begin with R. aquatilis
and its several varieties, and several other species of
Water Ranunculi with divided leaves. Few gardens
offer any facilities for cultivating these. The most
we can do is to introduce them toa pond or stream
in which they are not already found, or add one of
the long-leaved or rarer kinds to the common kind
or kinds; but their home is in the fresh stream, ‘hither,
thither, idly playing,’ or in the lake, and therefore they
hardly come among garden plants. I have tried to
grow all the kinds I could get, but the Canadian weed
or the common R. aquatilis soon exterminated them.
R. Ficaria is the pretty shining-leaved yellow kind, which
abounds in moist and shaded places in spring; R. Flam-
mula (the Spearwort) is a native of wet marshes and
river-sides in all parts of Britain, and is well suited
for planting by the water-side, though not so hand-
some as the greater Spearwort, R. Lingua, which is
2 or 3 feet high, and with large showy, yellow
flowers. Itis very fine near water, and is freely scat-
tered over the British Isles, though not often plentiful.
These plants must usually be collected in a wild state,

British Wild Flowers and Trees 219

though they are grown in some botanic gardens.
R. acris pleno and R. repens pleno are double forms
of the wild kinds, and worth growing, from their pretty
‘bachelor’s-button’ flowers, bright yellow, neat, double,
lasting longer in flower than the single kinds.

Then we have the Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris),
which makes such a glorious show in spring along
moist bottoms, or by river banks in rich soil—notably
on the banks of the Thames, where, when in high
tide, the ground for many feet under water looks as
if strewn with gold, the water having overflowed
numbers of these showy flowers. Even where common,
in the woods and fields, this handsome plant, single
or double, deserves a home beside all garden waters,
or even in moist ground, because it makes a truly
fine spring-flowering plant. There is a double
variety sold in Covent Garden in early summer,
bearing double flowers of large size, which, like the
double Crowfoots, last longer than the single bloom.
Apart from the double garden forms of the Marsh
Marigold, these~are the kinds now recognized as
belonging to our flora.

Caltha.
palustris (Linn.).
a. vulgaris (Schott).
b. Guerangerii (Boreau).
c. minor (Syme).
radicans (Forster).

Trollius europzeus is the Globe-flower, well worthy
of a garden home from its fine form, colour, and

220 The Wild Garden

sweetness. Not a common plant in England, but
frequent in the North and West, and in Ireland, it
will grow in moist places and in clayey hollows
often hopeless from weeds. I planted a large group
in such a spot, and it has kept the weeds in
check ever since, and gives us its welcome bloom
every May. That pretty early spring flower, the
Winter Aconite (Eranthis hyemalis), also belongs to
this order, and is well worthy of culture. Itis naturalized
here and there, and is beautiful in light and chalky
soils under trees in spring. The common Columbine
(Aquilegia vulgaris) is often pretty. It is not common
in the wild state, but a true native in several counties
of England. In one gorge on Helvellyn I have seen
it ascend almost to the top of that mountain, flowering
beautifully in almost inaccessible spots; it is rather
common in gardens, but in many and varied garden
forms. The common poisonous Aconite (A. Napellus)
is a fine native plant; it is, however, very common
in gardens, where it should be kept quite isolated
from any roots likely to be used as food, owing to its
poisonous roots. Lastly, in the Buttercup order we
have our native Helleborus (viridis and foetidus), which
will adorn rough banks with their evergreen leaves.
The common Berberis vulgaris, which is rather
widely distributed, must not be forgotten, for there is
no more beautiful sight afforded by any shrub than by
this when draped over with its bright racemes of fruit.
The white Water Lily, so common in our rivers, should

British Wild Flowers and Trees 221

be seen in all garden waters, not thickly planted, but
a single specimen or group here and there. It is most
effective when one or a few plants are seen alone on
the water; then the flowers and leaves have full room
to develop and float ‘right regally; but when a dense
crowd of water lilies are seen together, they crowd each
other out. With it should be associated the yellow
Water Lily (Nuphar lutea), and if it can be had, the
smaller and rare Nuphar pumila.

Among the Poppies, the one best worth growing
as a garden plant is the Welsh Poppy (Meconopsis
Cambrica), which grows so abundantly along the
road sides in the lake district. It is a perennial of
a fine yellow, and thrives well at the bottom of walls
and on stony banks. Some might care to grow
the large Opium Poppy (P. somniferum); its finer
double varieties are handsome, but these are scarcely
British, the plant is naturalized. The field Poppy is
everywhere in our corn-fields, and from it we get pretty
races of Poppies, double and single. The Horned Poppy
of our sea-shores is distinct and may be grown in
a garden. Corydalis bulbosa is a dwarf early flower,
scarcely a native, or rare; and the yellow fumitory
(Corydalis lutea) is almost wonderful in its way of
adorning walls and stony places, with the greatest
differences as to soil and moisture.

In the natural order Cruciferae, Thlaspi alpestre
(a pretty Alpine), Iberis amara (a fine white annual),
Draba aizoides (a rare and beautiful Alpine), Koniga

222 The Wild Garden

maritima, the sweet Alyssum, and Dentaria bulbifera,
rare, and curious; the Ladies’ Smock, and its double
variety; Arabis petreea, a sweet dwarf alpine; the
common Wallflower, and the Single Rocket (Hesperis
matronalis) and the Sea-
kale of our shores are
worth growing.

All the British Helian-
themum or Sun Roses,
and the annual kind
H. guttatum of the
Channel Islands, are
pretty plants. Many do
not know we have a list
so full as this of native
kinds :—

a) Ae :
BOA

Helianthemum.
guttatum (Mill).
Breweri (Planch.).
marifolium (Mill).

b. vineale (Pers.).
Chameccistus (Mill).
Native Sun Rose in Somerset Combe. polifolium (Mill).

These of course apart from the garden forms of the
common sun rose which are numerous. Of the violets,
in addition to the sweet violet, which should be grown
on a north aspect, V. lutea and V. tricolor will be found
the most distinct and worthy of culture. Apart from the
many garden varieties there are the white and various
wild forms. The interesting little Milkworts, which

British Wild Flowers and Trees 223

are so pretty on our sandy and chalky hills, are very
rarely grown—though they well might be in a garden of
native rock or heath and down plants. The very dwarf
trailing Frankenia levis (Sea Heath) runs over stones,
and looks neat and mossy on a rock-garden. In the
Pink tribe, the scarce, single, wild Carnation (D. Caryo-
phyllus), D. plumarius, the parent of the garden pink,
and the Cheddar Pink, which thrives on an old wall,
D. deltoides, the maiden pink, the soapwort (Saponaria
officinalis), the Sea-bladder Campion (Silene maritima),
Silene acaulis, the beautiful little Alpine that clothes our
higher mountains, the Corn Cockle (Lychnis Githago),
the Ragged Robin, and the Alpine lychnis; the vernal
sandwort (Arenaria verna), Arenaria cilata, found on
Ben Bulben, in Ireland, and Cerastium Alpinum are
among the prettiest. The last is as shaggy as a Skye
terrier, and does not grow more than an inch high.

A pretty species of Flax is not a common plant in
British gardens, but one occurs wild in some of our
eastern counties,—Linum perenne,—a blue flowered
plant, of which there is a pure white variety, both very
pretty plants, quite hardy and perennial. The perennial
Flax, or any of its varieties, will be found to thrive in
any place where the grass is not mown as well as on
borders. The field flax is sometimes found wild with us,
but it is not a true native. Among the Malva tribe we
have several showy plants, but less worthy of garden culti-
vation, except it be Lavatera arborea (the tree Lavatera),
sparsely found along the south and west coasts. It is

224 The Wild Garden

a plant of fine habit, growing 5 or 6 feet high. The
best of the Mallows is the Musk Mallow (M. Moschata),
which has showy flowers, and is a charming native flower
by streams and on banks: it is a very good garden plant,
especially the white form.

The St. John’s Worts (Hypericum) have some beauty,
and might find a place among low shrubs; the best
perhaps is H. calycinum, or ‘St. John’s Wort,’ a kind
which is not perhaps truly British, but which is now
naturalized in parts of England and Ireland. The
showy flowers of this and its habit fit it for the garden ;
and it is particularly adapted for rough banks, or will
crawl freely under and near trees, though it will best
show its beauty when fully exposed to the sun and air.
It should not be used as a ‘carpet’ under old or
favourite trees, as it will sometimes starve and kill trees.

In the Geranium order there are a few pretty plants
for the garden—notably, G. pratense, G. sylvaticum,
and G. sanguineum, with its fine variety G. lancastriense.
This variety was originally found in the Isle of Walney,
in Lancashire, and some writers have made it a species
under the name of G. lancastriense. Both plants are
well worth growing ina garden. G.sanguineum makes
a very pretty border plant, or for forming groups
between shrubs. The stubwort (Oxalis Acetosella)
is the prettiest among its British allies; and a chaste
little plant it is, too, when seen in shady, woody places,
along hedge-banks, and over mossy stumps; in gardens
where there is a little diversity of surface, or half shady

4

British Wild Flowers and Trees 225

spots, it might be grown with advantage where it does
not come of itself. Some say it is the Shamrock of the
ancient Irish, but they are wrong. Custom among the
Irish, during the experience of the oldest people, and
everything that can be gleaned, point to the common
trifolium as the true Shamrock.

In the Pea order there are a few plants of great merit,
and the first we meet with is the very pretty dwarf
shrub Genista tinctoria, or Dyer’s genista. This is
a little shrub, but vigorous in the profusion of its
yellow flowers, and would be at home on any rough
banks or grassy places, or among dwarf shrubs. It is
frequent in England, but rare in Scotland and Ireland.
Its two allies, G. pilosa and G. anglica, are also neat
little shrubs, both worth a place among dwarf British
shrubs.

Many who care for wild flowers must have been
struck with the beauty of the common Restharrow,
which spreads such delicate colour over many a chalk
cliff and sandy pasture. It bears garden culture well,
and is prettier when in flower than numbers of New
Holland plants, which require protection. There is
a smoother and more bushy form of this sometimes
admitted as a species, Ononis antiquorum, which is
also a fine plant, growing freely from seed, and of
the easiest culture.

The Bird’s-foot trefoil, though common, is so beautiful
that it must not be forgotten, flowering as it does nearly
the whole summer. There are several forms and few

Q

226 The Wild Garden

better plants for the front edge of borders. The lady’s
fingers (Anthyllis vulneraria) is a pretty plant found in
chalky pastures and dry stony places in England.

The three native kinds of Astragalus are worthy of
cultivation, and so are the allied plants, Oxytropis.
Both O. campestris and O. uralensis are dwarf plants,
the foliage of the last being silvery. The first is found
only in one spot among the Clova mountains in
Scotland ; the second is rather common on the Scotch
hills. Hippocrepis comosa is rather like the bird’s-foot
trefoil, both in habit and flower, and is worth a place
among rock plants.

Of the Vetches two at least are worthy of culture—
V. Cracca and V. Sylvatica. The first makes a charming
border plant if slightly supported on stakes, so that it
may have hidden its supports by the time the flowers
appear. The wood Vetch is of a climbing habit, and
very elegant when seen running up the stems of young
trees or over bushes. This is found in most woody
hills of Britain and Scotland, and V. Cracca is common
everywhere.

Among native peas the best is the Sea Pea (Lathyrus
maritimus), a handsome plant in rich ground. It occurs
on the coast of southern and eastern England, of
Shetland, and of Kerry, in Ireland.

In the Rose order both the Spiraeas should interest
us—certainly S. filipendula, which has leaves cut some-
what like a fern. The double variety is pretty. Dryas
octopetala, a plant found on the limestone mountains

British Wild Flowers and Trees 227

of North England and Ireland, and abundantly in
Scotland, is a pretty little rock evergreen bush.
About Edinburgh’ pretty edgings are made of it in
nurseries.

Native Briars anD Witp Roses. As for the
blackberry, raspberry, dewberry, and cloudberry, many
may desire to cultivate them, and very interesting it
is to observe the differences between some of the
sub-species and varieties of blackberries, and the
beauty, both in fruit and flower, of the family.
Many people, even among those who care for trees
and shrubs, have little idea of the variety existing
among our native Brambles. Over ninety species and
their varieties and wild forms are given in the last:
edition of the ‘London Catalogue’! The question of
whether these are true species or merely varieties
need not trouble us, for plants showing very slight
distinction to a botanist may be essentially distinct in
beauty and effect. A man might do a more foolish
thing than get these together and grow them on some
rough bank or corner or even in newly made banks
of hedgerows. There is much beauty of leaf among
the plants, and variety in the quality of the fruit,
some of the kinds being valuable for their fruit.
Whatever we may do with brambles, however, our
native wild roses deserve a place in fence or
hedgerow, or rough banks if convenient. Some indeed
come of themselves, but it would be very interesting
to grow many of the less common kinds and consider

Q2

228 The Wild Garden

them for their beauty. Botanic gardens might well
show us such fine families as these, instead of
rivalling the pastry-cook ‘bedding’ of the private
gardener, and I do not remember ever seeing any
attempt to grow them except in the Cambridge
Botanic Garden, the curator of which writes as
follows of our wild roses.

‘We all allow the Roses of the florist to be without rival
among flowers of the garden, and we can but admit that wild
Roses are perhaps the most lovely flowers of the field. But
there are numbers of the wildings, and all beautiful, and some
of surpassing charm. We want to see them more often
grown in our gardens. Sometimes we admire a chance seed-
ling, as, for instance, in the Cambridge Botanic Garden,
where some years ago R. dumalis (a form of the Dog Rose)
took possession of a Spruce Fir, and now attains to a height
of about twenty feet, forming wreaths of blossom in summer.
The Spruce is dead, but the Rose still clings to the old stem,
which forms just the right kind of support. Such an object
as this, or Rosa arvensis, in the collection, makes us wonder
why these single Roses have not received more attention.
They are usually so robust, just what is wanted for pleasure
grounds and the wild garden, and then in autumn we fre-
quently have their brilliant red fruit. At this moment in
some of the hedges of the neighbourhood are shrubs with
quantities of fruit, which in a garden would help consider-
ably in colour effect.

‘To show what material there is, I may mention that the
many forms of our native roses fall under seven distinct
aggregate groups.

‘We have first the well-known Scotch or Burnet Rose
{R. spinosissima), lovely with white or pink flowers; next,

THE FIELD ROSE (R. arvensis). Engraved from a picture in the possession of Mrs, L. Masse.

British Wild Flowers and Trees 237

R. villosa, which in various forms makes a large bush, with
erect or arching branches, very hairy leaves and densely
glandular sepals. It is distinguished from the last-mentioned
by its larger size and equal prickles, and from R. canina by
its straight prickles. Under it we have R. tomentosa, with a
large pale pink flower, and R. mollissima, with a smaller,
deeper-coloured flower. The succeeding species is R. involuta,
under which are numerous kinds, small and erect, with short
branches and crowded prickles, passing into bristles. Among
them we may note R. Wilsoni, with bright red flowers, and
R. Sabini, with ample foliage and pale pink flowers. Next
is our fragrant R. rubiginosa, the sweet Briar, which, however,
is less fragrant, as it approaches R. canina and R. villosa.
Near to this species we may mention R. macrantha and R.
sepium, both of which have rather pretty flowers, though
they are somewhat small. R. hibernica is the next species
to refer to, and it is intermediate between R. spinosissima
and R. canina, though most like the latter. It is small and
erect, with short, sometimes arching branches and erect
globose naked fruit. It is figured with pale pink flowers.
Rosa canina is the familiar Dog Rose, of which the varieties
are very numerous. It has long arching branches, with stout
hooked prickles, having a thickened base, and in the common
form is the strongest growing of British Roses. It is often
very beautiful, and, all things considered, some of the best
results may no doubt be got from this species. R. cesia
and R. incana, belonging to this species, have glaucous leaves.
The foliage of R. Bakeri is very pretty, and R. dumalis is a
fine tall kind, but the varieties of this species are so numerous,
that it is difficult to specify. Our last species is R. arvensis,
known from R. canina by the union of the styles into a long
slender column, that species having the styles free. There

232 The Wild Garden

are two sub-species, R. arvensis proper (R. repens) having
the leaflets glabrous, glaucous beneath, and R. stylosa with
leaflets pubescent beneath. This last connects R. arvensis
with R. canina, and under it the several varieties occur.
The variety Monsonize, found in a hedge at Watford, has
very large red flowers and sub-globose, orange-red fruit. It
is our present R. arvensis proper to which the Ayrshire Rose
must be referred. The flowers are more cup-shaped than
those of any other British Rose, and Lindley says that
Sabine had a variety with pink flowers. No illustration has
before appeared in any journal, but a figure in “ English
Botany ” shows to some extent what a fine thing it is. The
plant has long, trailing shoots, with small, scattered prickles,
oval leaflets, glabrous on both surfaces, and glaucous or
whitish green beneath. The flowers are of elegant outline,
with pure white corolla, except the throat, which is yellow,
and have a purple calyx. The fruit is scarlet when ripe. It
is a common plant in the south of England. This same
form, probably, is very charming in the Cambridge Botanic
Garden, where it grows over and over itself, making a great
round hummock of flowers and foliage.’:

Stor, Buttace, Witp Cuerry, Rowan, WILD
Service, WHITE Beam, Witp Pear, Cras, Mepiar,
May. These are native trees—some of them of much
beauty, taking great share in the landscape beauty of
our country, and a place in its literature—some of
them being the source of our best hardy fruits. I
wish to plead for their use in the wild garden, if
not in the garden itself. What is more beautiful in
the landscape than a snowy wreath of old sloe trees
in spring, seen beyond the wide fields, or more

British Wild Flowers and Trees 233

delicate in bud when seen at hand? The Wild
Cherry, Rowan, White Beam, and Crab do their own
part in adorning our woods, but we need not leave
them wholly there. I find the Medlar charming for
its leaves in the fall as well as for the large simple
flowers in spring, and make groups of it on the
grass. The May is the one loved tree that all enjoy:
there are several wild forms in Britain besides the
garden varieties :—
Crategus.
Oxyacantha (Linn.).

a. oxyacanthoides (Thu.).

b. daciniata (Wallr.).

c. Ayrtostyla (Fingerh.).

d. monogyna (Jacq-).

To remind the reader of how much tree beauty
there is in this now obscure corner of our flora—so
far as gardens go—I print here the names of the
wild kinds of these trees, so far as known to us now,
with their English names where they have any.

Prunus.
communis (Huds.)—Sloe.
b. fruticans (Weihe).
insititia (Linn.)—Bullace.
Avium (Linn.)—Gean.

Cerasus (Linn.)—Wild Cherry.
Padus (Linn.)—Bird Cherry.

Pyrus.
torminalis (Ehrh.)—Wild service.
Aria (Sm.)—White, Beam.
b. rupicola (Syme).
latifolia (Syme).

234 The Wild Garden

Pyrus (continued).
scandica (Syme).
hybrida (Linn.).
Aucuparia (Gaert.)—Rowan.
communis (Linn.) —Pear.
a. Pyraster (Linn.).
b. Achras (Geert.).
c. cordata (Desv.).
Malus (Linn.)—Apple.
a. acerba (DC.).
b. mutis (Wallr.).
Germanica (Linn.)—Medlar.

The Cloudberry can be grown best in a wet, boggy
soil, and is difficult of culture as a garden plant,
except in moist and elevated spots. The dewberry,
distinguished principally by the glaucous bloom on
the fruit when ripe, is of easy culture. Of the
Potentillas, P. rupestris, white-flowered, found on the
Breiddin Hills in Montgomeryshire, and the large
yellow P. alpestris, from the higher limestone
mountains, are the best. P. fruticosa, of the north of
England, and in Clare and Galway, in Ireland, is
a free flowering low bush; and the marsh potentilla
(P. Comarum) will do well in boggy ground, if we
have it, though it is more distinct than pretty.

The common willow-herb (Epilobium angustifolium),
so showy, and so apt to become a bad weed, is
well known. But, in a wood or out-of-the-way spot,
where it cannot overrun rarer plants, it is very
pretty. Even the botanist, in describing it, says,
‘a handsome plant’—an expression very seldom used
by gentlemen who write on English botany.

British Wild Flowers and Trees 235

The Evening Primrose (A‘nothera biennis) deserves
a place from its fragrance; and it is as well to
sow it in some out-of-the-way spot. It often covers
waste building ground in London.

Next we have the Loosestrife (Lythrum Salicaria),
a water-side plant, abundant in many parts of Britain.
There is a variety of this plant known in gardens
by the name of L. roseum superbum, which should
be in and by every pond. The Common Herniary
(Herniaria glabra) and Scleranthus perennis are two
very dwarf green spreading plants, found in some
of the southern and central counties of England,
and which give a neat Lycopodium-like effect in
the rock-garden.

Then we come to the Roseroot (Sedum Rhodiola)
and the tribe of pretty stonecrops (Sedum), every one of
which is worthy of a place on the rock-garden—from
the common stonecrop, which grows on the thatch of
cottages and abundantly in many parts of Britain, on
rocky places, to that little gem for a wall, Sedum dasy-
phyllum of the south of England. The Roseroot is so
called from the drying root-stock smelling like roses.
The Orpine or Livelong (Sedum Telephium) is also
a fine old plant of this order. If you have any old walls
or buildings, try and establish a few of the smaller kinds
on these; it is interesting to have rare plants established
in such places, and that the tenderer kinds will always
survive on walls; whereas they may get cut off by the
winter on the ground. Fern-growers find it difficult to

236 The Wild Garden

establish the little Wall Rue (Asplenium Rutamuraria) in
pots, pans, or any way in the fernery ; but by taking a few
of the spore-bearing fronds, and shaking a little of the
‘fern-seed’ into the chinks of an old wall, we may soon
establish it; and in like manner it is quite possible to
cultivate the Ceterach and the graceful Spleenwort, only
that the wall must be somewhat older, so to speak, to
accommodate these than the Wall Rue, as this little fern
will grow on a wall that is in perfect condition, as may
be seen at Lord Mansfield’s at Highgate, where the
high garden-wall that runs for some distance parallel
with the road running from Hampstead to Highgate is
covered in its upper part with this plant. In gardening
few things are more interesting than an old wall covered
with ferns and rock and mountain plants.

The Stonecrops are followed in the natural classifica-
tion of British plants by the Rockfoils (Saxifraga), like
the Stonecrops in size, but more valuable for the garden.
First, there is the Irish group of Saxifrages, the London
Pride and its varieties; and the Killarney saxifrage,
S. Geum and its-interesting varieties, both species very
pretty for the rock-garden and borders. Next we have
the mountain S. Stellaris and S. Nivalis, and the yellow
marsh S. Hirculus, and the yellow S. Aizoides, which
fringes the rills and streams on the hills and mountains
in Scotland, and the north of England and Ireland, all
interesting, but surpassed in beauty by the purple Saxi-
fraga oppositifolia, which opens its bright flowers soon
after the snow melts in the Scotch Highlands, and

British Wild Flowers and Trees 237

as far north, among the higher mountains of Europe
and Asia, as the Arctic Circle. It bears garden culture
well, on the rock-garden, or in patches in the front of
a border, planted in the full sun.

The meadow (Saxifraga granulata) differs in most
respects from most of the other Rockfoils, and is worth
growing ; its double variety, seen in cottage gardens, is
used for the spring garden. It flowers so well that the
very leaves are hidden by large double flowers. It is
frequently found in small cottage gardens in Surrey.

The dense green mossy Rockfoils are precious for
the garden, from the living green which they take on
in winter, when all else fades—when the fallen leaves
rush by, driven by the winds of autumn—and when
geraniums and all the fleeting flower-garden things are
cut off. These mossy Rockfoils grow on almost any
soil or situation, and may be grown with ease even
in towns. They are dotted over with white flowers in
early summer, the stems of which should be cut off
as soon as the flowers perish, but their greatest charm
is in winter. S. hypnoides, abundant in Scotland,
Wales, and northern England, with its varieties, is
our best plant in this way; and S. Caspitosa, found on
some of the higher Scotch mountains, is allied to it,
and also good. In towns shrubs do not keep their
verdure, through various adverse influences; in all
places these mossy Rockfoils charm us with their
verdure if we take the trouble to put them in bold
flakes on the rock-garden or on borders, or to use them

238 The Wild Garden

as a carpet beneath tea and other roses. There are
many forms of the mossy Rockfoil, natives of Britain.

Next we have the beautiful Grass of Parnassus (Par-
nassia palustris), a distinct and charming native plant,
rather frequent in Britain in bogs and moist heaths.
I have grown it very successfully in a small artificial bog,
and still better in 6-inch pots in peat soil, the pots being
placed in a saucer of water during summer, and pre-
served in a cold frame in winter. It is, however, much
better to ‘naturalize’ it in moist grassy places than to
grow it in this way.

The Spignel or Baldmoney (Meum athamanticum),
of the Scotch highlands, Wales, and the north of
England, having elegantly divided leaves, and being
very dwarf and neat in habit, is an interesting border
or rock plant. In the plants of the umbelliferous
order there are not many native plants worthy of culti-
vation, except the Sea-Holly (Eryngium maritimum),
and the sweet Cicely (Myrrhis odorata), often culti-
vated in old times and gardens for various uses; not
a rare plant, but most plentiful in the hilly parts of
the north of England. This for its odour and foliage
is welcome in the garden, and groups of it are pretty
between shrubs. The sweet Fennel, which is often
seen wild in the south on chalk banks, is a graceful
plant, and typical of the great beauty of form, which
belongs to many plants of the order. For the rest of
this numerous order they are best seen in a wild state
where their effects are often striking—particularly in

British Wild Flowers and Trees 239

some rich woods. The twin flower Linnza borealis
is one of the most charming among our native plants,
trailing as it does so prettily in fir woods in the north.
It is found, though rarely, in Scotland; and it may be
grown easily in gardens in moist peat, or cool sandy
parts of the rock-garden or cool borders, and may indeed
be naturalized in peaty soil with a sparse growth.

Natural growth of umbellata plants. (Durham, engraved from a photo.)
t

Of our native Dogwoods (Cornus), one (sanguinea) is
an excellent native shrub, the beauty of which is very
effective in gardens where it is grouped in bold and
artistic ways. The winter effect is bright and good, and
the plant fine for association with our handsomer native
willows: this Dogwood being used as undergrowth

240 The Wild Garden

near the largest willows. The little native Cornel is
a charming alpine and bog plant. Our native woodbine
appeals to all, so I need hardly tell of its beauty: the
value of our native Viburnums is not so well known—
few shrubs of any countries are so handsome in blossom
and berry as the Water Elder (V. Opulus)—so called in
some of the home counties, from its frequence on river
banks, though common too in underwoods. The other
is the wayfaring tree (V. Lantana) common in hedge-
rows in the south, its berries conspicuous in autumn.

Our naTivE Heatus. Of the variety and beauty of
our native heaths few have much idea. The wild
species are beautiful ; from time to time varieties have
appeared amongst them which nurserymen have pre-
served ; and in a collection of these, the variety of gay
colour is charming. I had no idea of the beauty of
colour afforded by the varieties till I visited the comely
bank nurseries at Edinburgh a few years ago, and there
found a large area of ground covered with their exquisite
colours, and looking like a beautiful flower garden. But
if all this beauty did not exist, the charms of the common
species, as spread out even on our southern heaths,
should lead us to give the heaths a good place in the
picturesque garden.

All species and varieties are worthy of a place, be-
ginning with the varieties of the common ling (Calluna
vulgaris)—the commonest of allheaths. It has ‘sported’
into a great number of varieties, many of which are
preserved in nurseries. Some of them are bright and

British Wild Flowers and Trees 241

distinct in colour ; others differ distinctly in habit, some
close to the ground in dense bushes. There is no more
beautiful shrub than the native Heather in its commonest
form, so that it is easy to judge of the value of the fine
white and other forms if we use them well: as to vigour,
the plant may be often seen flourishing on banks with
little soil on them, and the same fine vigour is true of the
varieties —excluding merely monstrous and variegated
forms. Then we have the ‘Scotch heather’ (Erica
cinerea), the reddish purple showy flowers of which
are very attractive, but surpassed in beauty of colour
by a variety of the same plant, coccinea; and there
is also a white variety, as there is of the Bell Heather
(Erica tetralix), to which is also closely related the
Irish E. Mackaiana. Next we have the ciliated Heath
(E. ciliaris), a pretty kind, with flowers nearly as
large as those of St. Daboec’s heath, and the Irish
heath (E. hibernica), found in some of the western
counties of Ireland. Finally, we have among these
interesting plants the Cornish Heath (E. vagans), and
from what has been said of the family it will be seen
what interesting beds or groups might be made from
these alone, grownalmost anywhere. Our object should
be to make the most of natural advantages, and as many
persons must have gardens suited for what are called
American plants, they would find it worth while to devote
a spot to our Heaths and their varieties. It is charming
to form a garden of bold beds of these, as the late
Sir W. Bowman did so well in Surrey, but the most
R

242 The Wild Garden

artistic way is to form bold masses of these Heaths
without the garden proper, on rough banks and the
outer parts of the grounds. It is an error to sup-
pose that peat is required for these plants. Even in
1893—the year of many sunny months and days—
I often saw the Heather in bloom on stony railway
banks in Sussex, often facing the sun; and that
same year too when staying at Coolhurst I saw the
prettiest possible foreground to a house in the home
counties at Newells—a field of Heather in full bloom
with the rich weald seen across ‘it. This field had,
I think, come of itself. Where we seek to establish
the heaths in the way named above it is best to get
them in some quantity from growers who offer them
in liberal numbers: to set my picturesque beds I
plant in large masses in well-dug ground, but once
established leave the beds alone, and allow them to
grow together in their own way. I must state here
for those who will not take the trouble to understand,
that these Heath beds are vot in my flower garden.
Nearly allied to the Heaths we have the interesting
bog Vaccinium, which may be cultivated in marshy
or peaty ground. To these belong the cranberry,
bilberry, and whortleberry; and for some of these
and the American kinds, people have ere now made
artificial bogs in their gardens. The little creeping
evergreen, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, or bearberry, is
neat in the rock-garden. It is found in hilly districts
in Scotland, northern England, and Ireland. Then

British Wild Flowers and Trees 243

the Marsh Andromeda (A. polifolia), found chiefly in
central and northern England, bears very pretty pink
flowers, and grows freely in peat. The very small
English Azalea (procumbens) is also a very interesting
native plant, forming a cushiony bush not more
than .a couple of inches high. In Britain it is found
only in the Scotch highlands. I have only once
seen this well established in a garden. Few people
who admire what are called peat shrubs can have
failed to notice from time to time the beautiful St.
Daboec’s Heath (Menziesia polifolia), a plant found
abundantly on the heathy wastes of the Asturias and
in south-western France, and also in Connemara, in
Ireland. It is usually associated with ‘American
plants’ in our nurseries and gardens, liking peat soil,
and is a beautiful plant. The flowers are usually
pink, and there is a white variety even more beau-
tiful. The very rare blue Menziesia of the Sow of
Athol, in Perthshire, is also charming. The Pyrolas,
or Winter-greens, are very pretty native plants, some
of them fragrant. P. rotundifolia and P. uniflora are
among the best, and both are rare, flourishing in
moist sandy soils, as they do between the sand-hills on
the coast of Lancashire. The periwinkles, Vinca minor
and V. major, and their forms, are well known, and
they often garland banks and hedgerow bottoms.

One of the most precious gems in the British flora
is the vernal Gentian (G. verna), which grows in
Teesdale and on the western shores of Ireland. The

R2

244 The Wild Garden

blue of this flower is most vivid; it is one of the
most charming of all Alpine flowers, and should be
in every garden of hardy plants, on the rock-garden,
or borders where only dwarf plants are grown. It
may be grown well in sandy loam mixed with broken
limestone or gravel, and indeed is not particular as
to soil, provided that it be mixed with sharp sand
or grit, and kept moist, and left for several years
undisturbed. It is best suited for a level spot on

THE VERNAL GENTIAN. (Engraved from a photograph.)

the rock-garden with a good body of soil into which
its roots may descend. It may be grown in rock-
gardens, the surface of the ground being studded here
and there with small stones, among which this lovely
plant will grow and flower. It is abundant in mountain
pastures in central and southern Europe; it is, in fact,
a true Alpine, and may now be had in various nurseries.

British Wild Flowers and Trees 245

It cannot be too well known that ‘rock-works,’
as generally made, are ugly, unnatural, and quite
unfit for a plant to grow upon. The stones or
‘rocks’ are piled up, with no sufficient quantity of
soil or any preparation made for the plants, so
that all delicate rock-plants die upon them, and
the ‘rocks’ are taken possession of by rank weeds.
These rock-gardens are generally made too per-
pendicular, even in the best gardens in England—
masses of rock being used merely to produce an effect,
or masses of stone piled up without any of those chinks
of soil into which rock-plants delight to root. The
best way is to have more soil than ‘rock,’ to let the
latter suggest itself rather than expose its uncovered
sides, and to make them very much flatter than is the
rule, so that the moisture may freely enter in every
direction, and that the rock-garden may more resemble
a cropping out of stone or rocks than the ridiculous
wall-like structures which pass for rock-gardens.

The Marsh Gentian (G. pneumonanthe) is also
a lovely plant, which should have a moist spot in
a border, and is not difficult to find in the north of
England; also, less plentifully, in central and southern
England. The Brighton Horticultural Society is in
the habit of giving prizes for collections of wild
plants, and thereby doing much harm by causing
a few rude collectors to gather bunches of the
rarest wild flowers, and perhaps exterminate them.
When at one of its meetings a few years ago, I

246 The Wild Garden

observed among the collections competing for a trifling
prize large bunches of this beautiful Gentian, which
had been pulled up by the roots, to form one of
one hundred or more bunches of wild flowers torn
up by one individual. In the Gentian order we
have also the beautiful Bogbean (Menyanthes trifoliata),
a plant that will grow on the margin of water or
ditches or ponds; it will also grow and flower in
a moist border. It is a well-known plant almost
everywhere in Britain; a beautiful native flower ele-
gantly fringed on the inside with white filaments,
and its unopened buds tipped with apple-blossom |
red. Villarsia nymphzeoides is also another pretty
water-plant, with floating, small, water lily-like leaves,
and, in July, many yellow flowers—so. many as to give
a very showy effect; and it associates well with
the white water lily. One of the prettiest effects
I have ever seen was produced by this plant
lining a small bay with a group of water lilies on
its outer side. Seen from the opposite shore the
effect was charming—large water lilies in front, then
a wide-spreading mass of green sprinkled with starry
yellow, and behind the shrubs which came to the
water’s edge on the shores of the little bay.

Jacob’s Ladder, or Greek Valerian as it is some-
times called, also belongs to the Gentian order, and is
a border plant, and its variegated variety (Polemonium
ceeruleum variegatum) is much used in fine flower
gardens.

British Wild Flowers and Trees 247

Most worthy of notice, in the Galium tribe, is
the little white-starred Woodruff (Asperula odorata),
which grows profusely in many British woods in
spring. Where not wild, it should be grown in
gardens, even if only for its fragrance. It is as sweet
as the new hay, and continues to give forth its odour
for a long time. When green, the ‘haulm’ of this
plant betrays no very noticeable fragrance, but begins
to emit it very soon after being cut, and merely
requires to be placed on some dry shelf or half-
open drawer, where it may get quite dry.

The common Red Valerian, as it is called, or
Centranthus ruber botanically, is a handsome plant,
on banks, borders, or rocky places and walls. As
it may be readily raised from seed, there can be no
difficulty in procuring it, and it should be noted that
there is a fine deep red as well as the ordinary
variety, and also a pure white one. Like the Wall-
flower, they do well on old walls and bridges, and
thus have become ‘naturalized’ in many parts of
the country. It is the first plant that comes up
in newly-opened chalk-pits.

The Hieraciums are often beautiful plants, as may be
well seen in Mr. Hanbury’s book now in progress.
Many of them may be grown on rock-gardens or
on well-exposed borders of dwarf plants. Such
plants as these, the beauty of which is so little
known in gardens, should be taken up by persons
who like to get out of formal tracks, as botanical

248 The Wild Garden

books rarely or never show the beauty of plants
as they grow, and as very few have opportunities
of seeing the plants on the hills when in flower.
One who grew the more beautiful species might
give rare pleasure to people who cared for our
native mountain plants.

Silybum Marianum, the Milk thistle ; Carduus erio-
phorus, a noble thistle—found chiefly in the limestone
districts of the south of England—and the great, woolly,
silvery Cotton thistle, as it is often called, are hand-
some plants. One isolated plant or a group or two
will be sufficient for ordinary gardens; but where
there is sufficient space these, with many other fine
wild plants, might be naturalized by sowing a few of
the seeds in any waste place, or in the shrubbery.
The Milk thistle, with its shining green leaves and
white markings, is very desirable among the British
plants, though scarcely so much so as the great
Cotton thistle.

The common Corn-flower (Centaurea Cyanus) is
a beautiful garden plant, if sown in autumn: sown
in spring, it is not so strong. I know of nothing
more beautiful than a bold group of the Corn-flower in
spring and early summer ; the bloom is so lasting, the
flowers so pretty for cutting. One of the prettiest of
dwarf trailing silvery plants is the woolly Diotis
maritima, which is found on the southern shores of
England, coming up as far as Anglesea on the west
and Suffolk on the east, but generally a rare plant

British Wild Flowers and Trees 249

in this country. The double variety of the Pyre-
thrum, now so frequent in our flower gardens, is
a native plant—or, at least, the single or normal form
of the species is. The Sea Wormwood (Artemisia
maritima) forms a silvery bush, common on our shores,
and worthy a corner now and then in our gardens.
There is a deep rose-coloured variety of the common
Yarrow, which should be in every garden, and there
is a very pretty double white variety of the ‘Sneezewort’
(Achillea Ptarmica) which comes from British parents.

The Mountain Everlasting (Gnaphalium dioicum) is
a beautiful dwarf plant, admirable for rocks or the front
of a border, or in-any way amongst Alpine plants; it
abounds on mountains in Scotland, Wales, and many
parts of England. There is a variety called G. d.
roseum, that has its dwarf flowers delicately tinted
with rose; neat edgings are sometimes made of this
plant, so that there should be no difficulty in procuring
it, even supposing we cannot find it wild; it is a
popular plant wherever Alpine flowers are grown.

We will now turn to the extensive Harebell order,
where we shall find much beauty, from the Harebell
which swings its pretty blue above the wind-beaten
turf on many an upland pasture, to the little prostrate
Ivy Campanula (C. hederacea), plentiful in moist spots
in Ireland and western England.

The giant Campanula (C. latifolia) is one of the hand-
somest, and is pretty frequent. The Spreading Cam-
panula (C. patula), of ‘the central and southern counties

250 The Wild Garden

of England, is also very ornamental. C. Trachelium
is also good, and indeed nearly all the plants of
the family are pretty; but none of them surpass in
beauty the common Harebell, which, although it may
struggle for existence on poor or exposed pastures, yet,
when transferred to a garden, makes a vigorous plant
and flowers profusely—a mass of pleasing colour.

The little Ivy Campanula had better be grown in
a pan of peat soil, or in some moist and slightly shaded
spot where it may not be overrun by tall plants.
Both this plant and the even more interesting Linnea
borealis may be grown well on the outside of the
window, with a north or shady aspect, during the seven
warmest months of the year, by planting them in pots
of peat earth, and standing these in pans of water.

The Ivy-leaved Cyclamen, or the common Cyclamen
(Cyclamen hedereefolium), a native of Southern Europe,
but not supposed to be truly British, has been found in
several places, apparently wild, and as such is generally
included among British plants. Being a_ beautiful
plant, it is worthy of a place. We cannot easily find
it wild in England, but it is not difficult to obtain, and
a lovely plant it is when seen in flower. A ring of it
planted round a small bed of choice shrubs forms
a pretty sight, and it may be naturalized, in bare places,
in woods and shrubberies. The Water Violet (Hottonia
palustris) with its whorls of pale purple flowers is
a pretty plant for ponds or ditches.

I had almost forgotten our native Primroses and

British Wild Flowers and Trees 251

Cowslips, but there is no need to plead for these and
their numerous and beautiful varieties. The Bird’s
Eye Primrose of northern England—one of the sweetest
of our native plants—is, however, very rarely seen in
gardens. It would thrive well in wet spots on pastures
and heaths, and also in bare moist spots by the side of
rivulets, and in the bog bed, as would the smaller and
beautiful Scotch Bird’s Eye Primrose.

The Loosestrifes, or Lysimachias, are pretty for
cultivation ; L. Nummularia, the Creeping Jenny of the
London windows, trailing its luxuriant leaves where few
other plants would thrive sowell. The upright-growing
species L. thyrsiflora is good for the margin of water,
in consequence of the curious habit it has of half-
hiding its flowers among the green of its leaves;
a mass of it by a river, or pond, or ditch, looks very
distinct and pleasing. Finally, we have in the Primula
order the beautiful Trientalis of the north, a wood
plant, and somewhat difficult to cultivate, but one that
may be grown in shady and half-shady spots in peat soil.

Of the Thrift’ family, certainly the most valuable
plant is a deep and charming rose-coloured variety of
the common Thrift (Armeria vulgaris). Everybody
knows the Thrift of our sea-shores, and of the tops of
some of the Scotch Mountains, with its pale pink
flowers ; but the variety named here is of a showy rose,
and one of the plants we can use in the spring garden
as an edging plant, or in borders. This kind is sold
and known as Armeria vulgaris rubra. Any of the

252 The Wild Garden

British Statices that may be collected are worthy
a place in a collection of wild flowers.

Euphorbia Lathyris is the stately Caper Spurge,
which is established here and there with us; it is
worthy of a place, though not for the beauty of its
flowers. Nor must we forget the common Hop
(Humulus lupulus) which is graceful when well grown
over a bower. .

The beautiful ‘Poet’s Narcissus’ (Narcissus poeticus),
hawked about the streets of London so abundantly in
spring, is generally included in native plants, though
not considered truly British; but whether it be so or
not, such a distinctly beautiful plant should be in every
garden. The Snowflake (Leucojum estivum) occurs
in several of the south-eastern counties, and makes
a handsome border plant; the dwarf, sweet, and fine
vernal Snowflake has been recently found in Dorset-
shire in some abundance ; while the common Snowdrop
is freely naturalized in various parts of the country.
These, it need hardly be said, should all be in any
collection of British wild flowers, and with them the
Daffodil and the Wood-tulip (Tulipa sylvestris). This
last is found most frequently in some of the eastern
counties of England, but may be had readily from the
nurserymen, who sell it as T. florentina and cornuta.
Lloydia serotina is an extremely rare little bulbous
plant, found in North Wales. It is also known as
Anthericum serotinum.

Among native bulbs there are some very interesting.

British Wild Flowers and Trees 253

The Snake’s Head (Fritillaria meleagris) is abundant
in some parts of the south and east of England, and it
is worthy of a place in a garden. I know of nothing
prettier in the spring garden than the singular sus-
pended bells of the English Fritillary, often so prettily
spotted, and occasionally white. The white form is
a plant to encourage in every garden, the large white

SNOWFLAKE (Longleat).

bells being so distinct. The two British Scilla, though
not so pretty as some of the continental species, so
conspicuous among spring flowers, must not be for-
gotten in a full collection, nor the varieties of the wood
hyacinth, and there are several of interest, both white
and pink. The Two-leaved Lily of the Valley (Con-
vallaria bifolia) is a diminutive and sweet little herb,

254 The Wild Garden

found in only a few localities, and thriving on rocky
borders and banks among dwarf plants. It is common
on the Continent, and may be readily had from some
nurseries, and in all botanic gardens in this country.

The common Lily of the Valley is a true native plant,
abundant in some counties, though wanting in others.
The graceful Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum multiflorum)
and the Lily of the Valley should be planted to establish
themselves in a semi-wild state in every place which
has a shrubbery or wood. The Star of Bethlehem
(Ornithogalum umbellatum) and the drooping O. nutans
are established in several parts of the country. The
first is a well-known old garden plant; the second
a handsome kind with drooping flowers. To these we
may add the Meadow Saffron (Colchicum autumnale),
abundant in parts of Ireland and England, and fre-
quently cultivated as a garden plant, commonly under
the name of the Autumn Crocus, which name properly
belongs to our blue Crocus nudiflorus.

A Gladiolus (G. illyricus) has recently been found
in the New Forest, near Lyndhurst; it is worthy of
culture, and indeed is, or was, a favourite plant in many
gardens before it was discovered as a British plant,
having come to our gardens from Southern Europe.
The Spring Crocus (C. vernus) is abundant in the
neighbourhood of Nottingham, and other parts of Eng-
land and Ireland; and the less known but equally
beautiful Autumn Crocus (C. nudiflorus) is also natural-
ized in Derbyshire, about Nottingham, and in a few

British Wild Flowers and Trees aA

other places. The Vernal Crocus is in nearly every
garden, but the Autumnal Crocus is uncommon in
gardens, and should be introduced to all, because it
opens its handsome flowers when most others have
perished. It is as easy of culture as the Spring Crocus,
but, being so much scarcer, deserves good soil, and
some watchfulness, to prevent its being dug up.

Those who have seen the Flowering Rush (Butomus
umbellatus) in flower, are not likely to omit it from
a collection of water-plants, as it is handsome and
distinct. It is a native of the greater part of Europe
and Asia, and the central and southern parts of England
and Ireland. Plant it near the margin, it likes
rich muddy soil. The common Sagittaria, frequent in
England and Ireland, but not in Scotland, might be
associated with this; and there is a very much finer
double kind which is to be had here and there, and
is probably a variety of the corimbt kind.

Among picturesque plants for the water-side, nothing
equals the great Water-dock (Rumex Hydrolapathum),
which is rather generally dispersed over the British
Isles, and has leaves quite sub-tropical in aspect and
size, becoming of a lurid red in the autumn. It forms
a fine mass of foliage on rich muddy banks. The Reed
Maces (Typha) must not be forgotten, but they should
not be allowed to run everywhere. The narrow-leaved
one is more graceful than the common kind. Carex
pendula is good for the margins of water, its drooping
spikes being so distinct. It is rather common in

256 The Wild Garden

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 or 4 feet high, some-
what like a tree-fern, and with luxuriant masses of
falling leaves, and on that account is transferred to
moist places in gardens, though the larger specimens
are difficult to remove and soon perish. Scirpus
lacustris (the ‘ Bul-
rush’) is too dis-

tinct a plant to be
omitted, as its stems,
sometimes attaining
a height of more than
7 and even 8 feet,
are very singular;
Cyperus longus is
also a handsome
water-plant, remind-
ing one of the aspect
of the Papyrus when
in flower. It is found
in some of the

southern counties of
England. Cladium
Mariscus is also another distinct and rather scarce
British aquatic which is worth a place.

GIANT HORSE-TaIL (Equisetum Telmateta).

The ‘Great Horse-tail,’ which grows pretty commonly
in the greater part of England and Ireland, attains its

British Wild Flowers and Trees 257

greatest development in rich soil, reaching a height
of four or five feet, and the numbers of slender
branches depending from each whorl look most grace-
ful. The wood Equisetum (E. sylvaticum) common
all over Britain, is smaller, but even more graceful.
The long simple-stemmed Equisetums, or Horse-tails,
are also interesting to cultivate in marshy spots, or
by the sides of water, but are not so gracéful as
the species above named.

British WitLtows. Our Willows are as beautiful
as Olives, perhaps much more beautiful, as after
one has enjoyed their slender wands and silvery
leaves against the summer sky they are the prettiest
things in the winter landscape when they have lost
all their leaves. Few even among the very men
whose business it is to study trees, and plant them,
i.e. landscape gardeners, have any idea of the noble
effects that may be got by the artistic (i.e. natural)
massing of our native willows, and their best varieties,
in fitting situations. These occur often in this river-
veined land, where there is so much marsh and
estuary and shoreland, in which the hardy willows
of our country and northern lands are at home.
I say again, nothing in tropical or other lands is
so effective in the landscape, so simple to secure,
and so enduring as the pictures we may make from
willows. Take the White Willow (Salix alba) alone—
a stately and very large tree with its mass of silvery
leaves so graceful in movement, and also a tree of

s

258 The Wild Garden

much value for its timber. Around this tree, naturally
grouped so to say, there are various forms of even
greater value, of which the shoots assume yellow, red,
and other hues—trees which are almost as large as the
common White Willow in good soil by rivers, or in
marsh land. But in effect and colour they are even
more important, one of them, the scarlet form, glowing
with splendid colour in the winter sun.

The better known yellow form (S. vitellina) is
most delicate and. charming in colour in the winter
or in the sun after showers, and indeed in all
lights. The colour in the summer is_ beautiful
certainly, but it is the change from the silvery
foliage of the summer to the bright decisive colour
of winter that is so charming in this and its allies.
Simply massed in groups, as things arrange them-
selves, these willows give us all we could desire in
the way of pictures and beautiful effects in places
where there is any breadth or expanse of marsh;
but these great spaces are not necessary for single
trees; Red and Yellow Willows may be grown in a
small garden and be there beautiful. By putting in
a few cuttings in the dykes of many farms these
Willows will soon give a living picture.

Among British Willows there are some that claim
our attention more than others. No doubt every
one is interesting from the botanical point of view,
but what we seek are effective and picturesque
things that can take their place among the trees

i
ee

f 1

Lilt |
Ms :

ill il ta il |

‘

‘

WHITE WILLOW in Hampshire. (From. drawing in possession of Lady Carn arvon.)

British Wild Flowers and Trees 261

of the land, finer than any of which they are in
colour.

The earliest flowering British Willow is what is °
called the Goat Willow, or ‘pussies’ by the children
in spring. Next in importance is the Crack Willow
or withy, which also becomes a very fine handsome
tree nearly a hundred feet high, with a trunk some-
times twenty feet in girth, as in the specimen drawn by
Alfred Parsons and engraved herein. There is a variety
with the twigs orange or crimson in colour. The
Bedford Willow also is a handsome tree and is sup-
posed to be a hybrid between the White and the Crack
Willow. The Goat Willow is not so handsome a tree
as the others though precious for its beauty, but in
almost every woodland district so common that there
is no need to plant it. The Violet Willow is the next
to claim our attention, being a graceful tree with violet
shoots, very free and with a pretty grey bloom upon
the leaves. Then we have the common Osier with
its long wavy leaves silvery beneath—this willow is
very common in wet places and in osier beds ; it does
not give us such beautiful trees as the White Willow
in its various forms. Of the osier there are numerous
varieties ; and, lastly, we have the purple Osier, which
is not quite a tree but a shrub attaining ten feet or
so, with the advantage of being so bitter that rabbits
will not eat it. Of this, as of all the others, there
are various forms.

Although from a landscape point of view the ‘best

262 The Wid Garden

are the tree willows, there is scarcely one which
‘is not right by the water side; and for all who live
in cool or mountain districts and have any kind of
rock garden, the dwarf willows of our own mountains
are charming, such as the Creeping Willow in its
various forms, and the Woolly Willow, a dwarf silvery
shrub of easy culture and a very pretty rock shrub:
also the Netted Willow.

British Orcuips. Orchids everywhere beautiful
and singular, whether showy, as in the hot or moist
East, or tiny on the Kent and Surrey hills, where the
Bee Orchis is often frequent,—it is most interesting to
collect our native Orchids and to cultivate them. If
we can succeed in growing the British Orchids, we are
not likely to fail with any other hardy plants. They
are the most difficult to cultivate, but amongst the most
interesting things which can be grown. I have cultivated
the Bee Orchis and the Fly Orchis and the Hand
Orchis, and a number of other British Orchids, for
several years, and flowered them annually. Devoting
a small bed to their culture, in an open spot, digging
some chalk into the bed, so as to give the plants the
soil in which they are found most abundantly, I suc-
ceeded with all except those kinds that are parasitic
on the roots of trees.

The difficulty was to imitate the state of the surface
of the ground which exists where they live in a wild
state. I knew that the surface-dressing of stunted,
storm-beaten grass among which they nestle prevents

British Wild Flowers and Trees 265

the ground from cracking and drying, and also shelters
the plants in winter—in short, keeps the surface open
and healthy. To plant grass over a bed in a garden
would not do, as the shelter and richness of the ground
would induce it to grow so strong that unless we were
to look after and shorten it very frequently there would
be no chance of keeping it within bounds; and if we
did not do that, it would soon smother all the Orchids.
A good substitute is cocoa-fibre with a little sand to
give it weight. An inch or two of this was spread over
the bed, and it prevented cracking and evaporation,
and kept the surface in a healthy state. The roots
should be inserted firmly but without injuring their
fibres—a great point. Few people know how to plant
anything beyond a strong bedding plant.

If one of these Orchids which are accustomed to send
their fleshy roots down into moist broken chalk in
search of food were to be planted without care, it would
soon perish.

Well, in this way I have grown and freely flowered
the most curious and beautiful Bee Orchis, the Spider
Orchis, the Fly Orchis, and a dozen others less difficult
to cultivate. The marsh Epipactus palustris is one of
the easiest native Orchids to cultivate, growing well
in an artificial bog or moist border; whilst most of
the Orchises will do well under the treatment above
described. The Bee, Fly, and Spider Orchids belong
to the genus Ophrys.

The common spotted Orchis (O. maculata), found

266 The Wild Garden

almost everywhere in the British Islands, is one of the
freest to grow in a garden ; it makes large tufts of great
beauty in stiff ground. Lately nurserymen have been
offering a plant described as a variety of this, under the
name of O. maculata superba. This is in reality the
true British Orchis latifolia, a noble species, easy to
grow in a moist spot, and having large spikes of bloom.
O. militaris and O. fusca are among the handsomest of
our Orchids; but all are interesting, from the early
spotted O. mascula to the Butterfly Orchis, both of
which are of easy culture in a garden. Perhaps the
rarest and finest of all the British Orchids is the
Lady’s Slipper, nearly if not extinct. Some of our
nurserymen supply it, and they get their supplies from
the Continent, where it is a widely distributed plant.
It should be planted in broken limestone and fibrous
loam, on the eastern side of a rockwork. When well
grown it is a beautiful plant, quite as much so as some
of the Cypripediums grown in the Orchid house, but,
being perfectly hardy, is far more interesting for the
British garden. The most important thing with regard
to the Orchids is the procuring of them in a suitable
state for planting. When they are gathered in a wild
state, the roots should be taken up. as carefully as
possible, and transferred to their garden home quickly
and safely. They are very often sold in markets, but
the roots are mutilated, not only from careless taking
up, but from being tightly bound with matting.

In the Grass family the common Ribbon Grass

British Wild Flowers and Trees 267

(Phalaris arundinacea), Hierochloe borealis (a rare
northern plant, sweet-scented when dried), Milium
effusum (a handsome wood grass), the exquisitely
graceful Apera Spica-venti of the eastern counties,
the Hare’s-tail Grass of the Channel Islands (Lagurus
ovatus), the Quaking Grasses (Briza), the variegated
Cock’s-foot Grass, and Elymus arenarius, a_ stout
grey grass, are interesting or beautiful. Some of
those Grasses, now never seen in a garden, are worthy
of being grown for use in the house.

Our Native Poprars. While there is little space to
tell of all our native trees, many of which, in nature at
least, are as well worthy our attention as any exotic
ones, a few words on our native Poplars—among the
hardiest of trees and the easiest to increase and grow—

-may not be amiss. When we think of the rapid growth
and the good effect both of single trees and groups in
the landscape, we find much to encourage us to plant
Poplars—even our native kinds. They will grow in
soils not so good for Oak or Ash or Pine, and this is
important for a country like ours where there is so
much swampy or low-lying land by rivers and estuaries,
and also inland bog land, where the effect of Poplars
will be beautiful and their growth profitable. The
White Poplar or Abele, a native tree, is so fine in
form and in all ways that it is not neglected, and
about country houses we see noble trees of it nearly
or quite one hundred feet high. It is excellent for
planting by rivers and in spots likely to be under water

268 The Wild Garden

betimes, and very handsome in the colour of the stems,
especially where a number of old trees are seen
picturesquely grouped. The Grey Poplar comes near
this but is not so fine a tree. I love our true native
Aspen (P. tremula), best of all Poplars: though not
uncommon in some underwoods, we rarely see it in
England planted either as a garden or woodland tree—
a great mistake, as in some countries of North Eurepe
it is a large and useful tree, and always a beautiful one.
There is a weeping form and one or two wild ones.
The Black Poplar (P. nigra) is a valuable tree of rapid
growth and good effect in the landscape, as is shown
in Mr. Parsons’ sketch of it by the Kennet.

Our Native Evercreens. When after a very
hard winter we see the evergreen trees of the
garden in mourning, and perhaps many of them
dead, as happens to Laurels, Laurustinuses, and often
even the Bay, it is a good time to consider the
hardiness and other good qualities of our British ever-
greens and the many forms raised from them. If we
are fortunate enough to have old Yew trees near us,
we do not find that a hard winter makes any difference
to them, even winters that sear the evergreen Oak.
We have collected within the past two hundred years
evergreen trees from all parts of the northern world,
but it is doubtful if any of them are better than the
common Yew, which when old is often picturesque,
and which lives green for a thousand years. Of this
great tree we have many varieties, but none of them

THE BLACK FOPLAR in the Kennet valley.

British Wild Flowers and Trees 271

quite so good as the wild kind when old. In the
garden little thought is given to the Yew, and it is
crowded among shrubs; while in graveyards the roots
are cut by digging, so that one seldom sees it in
its fine character when old, which is very beautiful.
The Golden Yew is a form of it, and there are other
slight variegations which are interesting from a merely
garden point of view. The Irish Yew is a well-known
form ; its prim shape is too often seen. Other seedling
variations of the common Yew are better than the
Irish variety.

After the ever-precious Yew, the best of our ever-
green trees is the Holly, which in no country attains
the beauty it does in our own; no evergreen brought
over the sea is so valuable not only in its native form,
often attaining forty feet even on the hills, but in the
almost innumerable varieties raised from it, many of
them being the best of all variegated shrubs in their
silver and gold variegation ; in fruit, too, it is the most
beautiful of evergreens. Not merely as a garden tree
is it precious, but as a most delightful shelter around
fields for stock, in paddocks and places which we wish
to shelter. A big wreath of unclipped Holly on the
cold sides of fields is the best protection, and a grove
of Holly north of any place we want to shelter is the
best thing we can plant. As to the garden, we may
make beautiful evergreen gardens of the forms of Holly
alone ; the only thing we have to fear are rabbits, which
when numerous make Holly difficult to establish by

272 The Wild Garden

barking the little trees, and in hard winters even killing
many old trees.

Notwithstanding the many conifers brought from
other countries within the past few generations, it is
very doubtful if as regards beauty, more than one or
two equal our native Fir, which when old is so fine in
its stem and head. Fewthings in our country are more
picturesque than old groups and groves of the Scotch
Fir ; few indeed of the conifers we treasure from other
countries will ever give us anything so good as the
ruddy stems and frost-proof crests of this northern and
British tree.

Again, the best of evergreen climbers is our native
Ivy, and the many beautiful forms allied to it or that
have arisen from it. Ivy in our woods arranges
its own beautiful effects, but in gardens it might be
made more delightful use of. The form most com-
monly used in Britain—the Irish Ivy—is by no means
so graceful as some others, and there are a great
number of delightful forms varying in form and even
in colour. These for edgings, banks, forming screens,
covering old trees, and forming summer-houses should
be made far larger use of. In many northern countries
our Ivy will not live in the open air, and it is socommon
with us, that we rarely take advantage of our privileges
in such a possession in making bold shelters, wreaths,
and many beautiful things of it that would need little
care. It requires care in trimming when on our houses
and on cottage roofs; but there are many pretty things

British Wild Flowers and Trees a3

to make of it away from buildings, and among them
Ivy-clad and Ivy-covered wigwams, summer-houses,
and covered ways, the Ivy supported on a strong
open frame-work, and trained over sticks and mats
till it takes hold

The Box tree, which is a true native in certain dry
hills in the south of England, is so crowded in shrub-
beries, that one seldom sees its beauty as it is on the
hills full in the sun, where the branches take a charming
plumy toss. To wander among natural groves of Box
is a great pleasure, and there is no reason why we
should not plant it in groups or colonies by itself full
in the sun, so that one might enjoy the same charm of
form that it shows when wild. In some heavy soils it
barely lives, but many soils suit it perfectly. A bower
of one of the handsome-leaved Ivies in a grove of Box
would be charming, and its charms would last long.

Also among our native evergreens is the common
Juniper, a scrubby bush in some places, but on heaths
in Surrey, and favoured heaths elsewhere, often growing
over twenty feet high and very picturesque, especially
where mingled with Holly. There is an upright form,
called the Irish Juniper, in gardens.

The Arbutus, which borders nearly all the streams in
Greece, ventures into Ireland, and is abundant there in
certain parts in the south. This beautiful shrub, though
tender in inland districts, is very precious for the
seashore and mild districts, not only as an evergreen,
but for the beauty of its flower and fruit. Still, it is

T

274 The Wild Garden

the one British evergreen which has to be planted with
discrimination in places where the winters are severe in
inland districts.

We have thus glanced rapidly at the garden of British
Wild Flowers and Trees, from showy Buttercups to
modest Grasses; but it would require much greater
space to do justice to the many delightful aspects of
vegetation that they give rise to.

INDEX

Illustrations in Italics.

Abele, 267.

Acantholimon glumaceum, 198.

Acanthus, 53, 116, 147, 163, 199.

— latifolius, 147, 199.

— spinosissimus, 199.

— spinosus, 199.

Achillea, 102, 118; 148, 204.

— aurea, 108.

— Eupatorium, 148.

— filipendula, 148.

— Ptarmica, 249.

— tomentosa, 204.

Achilleas, white, large, 196.

Aconite, 131.

— common, the, 38.

— — poisonous, the, 220.

~~ early, the, 171.

— Napellus, 220.

— Winter, the, 12, 13, 37, 53, 169,
202, 210, 220.

Aconites, 47.

Aconitum, 147, 198, 199.

Actzea, 199.

Adenophora, 204.

Adonis autumnalis, 218.

Ethionema, 204.

Agrostemma coronaria, 204.

Agrostis nebulosa, 206.

|

Ajuga, 148.

— genevensis, 148, 198.

Alfrodia cernua, 199.

Alkanet, 28,152.

Allium, 148.

— ciliatum, 150, 201, 206.

— fragrans, 206.

— Moly, 54, 131, 150, 206.

— naturalized, 54.

— Neapolitanum, 149, 201, 206.

~- White, Narcissus-like, the, 149.

— White Provence, 54.

— Yellow, the, 54.

Alpine and rock plants for walls
and ruins, some of the families
of, 118.

Alstroemeria, 143, 150, 203.

— aurantiaca, 150.

Alternanthera, 54.

Althzea, 47, 150, 181, 203.

— ficifolia, 198.

— nudiflora, 198.

— taurinensis, 198, 199.

Althezeas, the, 181.

Alum-root, 78.

Alyssum,. 77, 118, 150, 157, 197,
204.

— maritimum, 205.

T2

276

Alyssum montanum, 204.

— saxatile, 150, 198, 200, 204.

— sweet, the, 222.

— Wiersbecki, 150.

— yellow, 153.

Amberboa moschata, 205.

— odorata, 205.

Ampelopsis, 52, 72, 158.

-- bipinnata, 200, 207.

— cordata, 200, 207.

-— hederacea, 200, 207.

— tricuspidata, 200, 207.

Anchusa, 28, 152.

— capensis, 152.

— italica, 152.

— sempervirens, 152.

Andromeda, 88.

— marsh, 243.

— polifolia, 243.

Androszum officinale, 209.

Anemone, 33, I5I; 204.

— alpina, 31, 200.

—~ angulosa, 151.

— apennina, 9, 14, 33, 200, 206,
215.

— — blue, the, 17, 97, 202, 217.

— blanda, 31, 200, 206.

— — Grecian, the, 151.

— blue, the, 13, 17, 202, 216, 217.

-— Coronaria, 31, 200, 209.

— fulgens, 200.

— Greek, 18.

— Italian, 18.

— — blue, the, 33.

— Japan, 32.

— japonica, 199, 209.

-— nemorosa, 215.

— Pasque, the, 217.

— Poppy, common, the, 31.

— Ranunculoides, 33, 200, 206,
217.

— scarlet, 31.

— stellata, 203.

Index

Anemone sulphurea, 31.

-— sylvestris, 32, 203.

— trifolia, 200, 203.

—- White Japan, the, in the wild
garden, 32.

— Wood, 14, I51, 215, 216, 217.

— — large sky-blue form of, 216.

Anemones, 17, 31, 144,215. °

— Alpine, 31.

— in the Riviera, 35.

— Japan, 32.

— Wood, 83.

| Angelica, 47, 83.

Antennaria dioica rosea, 206.

Anthericum, 151.

— serotinum, 252.

--- liliago, 151.

Anthyllis montana, 198, 204, 206.

— vulneraria, 226.

Antirrhinum, 118, 152, 203.

— Asarinum, 152.

— majus, 204.

— molle, 152.

—- orontium, 204.

— rupestre, 152, 204.

Apera spica-venti, 267.

Apios tuberosa, 72, 207.

Aponogeton distachyon, 108.

Apple, 234.

— May, 53.

Apples, 65.

Aquilegia, 152, 200.

— chrysantha, 152.

— vulgaris, 152, 220.

Arabis, 77, 115, 116, 118, 153, 157,
200, 209.

— albida, 198, 204, 205.

— arenosa, 205.

— petrzea, 205, 222.

— White, Lilies coming up through
carpet of. xvit.

Aralia edulis, 199, 203.

— herbaceous, 47.

Index

Aralia japonica, 199.

— nudicaulis, 203.

Arbor-vitze, 71, 72, 127.

Arbutus, the, 273.

—- trailing, 83.

— trees, 177.

Arctostaphylos
242.

Arenaria, 118, 153.

— balearica, 153, 204.

— — on wall at Great Tew,
II4.

— ceespitosa, 153, 204.

— ciliata, 204, 223.

— graminifolia, 153, 205.

— montana, 153, 200, 205.

— verna, 205, 223.

Aristolochia, 74.

— and deciduous Cypress, 74.

— Sipho, 52, 72, 158, 207.

— tomentosa, 52, 200, 207.

Armeria cephalotes, 189, 204.

— vulgaris, 251.

— vulgaris rubra, 251.

Arrowhead, the, 107.

Artemisia, 47, 204.

— abrotanum, 209.

— maritima, 249.

Arum, 154.

— Dracontium, 155.

— Italian, the, 154.

— italicum, 203.

— Lily, the, 155.

— Water, I12.

Arundinaria falcata, 158, 199.

Arundo Donax, 163, 187.

Asclepias, 47, 155-

— cornuti, 155, 199, 203.

— Douglasi, 155, 199.

— incarnata, 155.

— syriaca, 199.

— tuberosa, 155.

Ash, 267.

Uva-Ursi, 84,

277
Ash, Pollard, in Orchardleigh
Park, Somerset, Wild Rose

growing on a, 121.
Asparagus, 47.
— Broussoneti, 200.
— officinalis, 200.
Aspen, native, 268.
Asperula cynanchia, 205.
— odorata, 247.
Asphodel, 154.
— tall, in copse, 154.
Asphodels, the, 3, 154, 209.
Asphodelus, 154.
— albus, 209.
— ramosus, 203.
Asplenium Rutamuraria, 236.
— tiny, 83.
Aster, 54, 78,155, 156, 189, 199, 203.
— alpinus, 198.
— elegans, 199.
— erlcoides, 199.
-- Novi Belgi, 199.
Asters, thousands
Gravetye, 156.
Astilbe rivularis, 199, 200, 203.
— rubra, 199.
Astragalus, 156, 226.
— galegiformis, 157.
— monspessulanus, 198.
— ponticus, 157, 199, 200.
Astrantia, 157.
-— major, 198.
Athmantia Matthioli, 198.
Athyrium Filix-foemina, 209.
Atragene, 41.
— clematis-like, the, 41.
Aubrietia, 77, 116, 118, 157, 197,
198, 200, 204, 209.
— purple, the, 153.
Aubrietias, the, 157.
Azalea procumbens, 243.
Azaleas, 144.
— American, 208.

massed at

278

Baldmoney, 238.

Balm, 139.

Bamboo, 158.

Bamboos, 158, 187.

Bambusa, 158, 199.

-— gracilis, 158.

-- metake, 158.

— Simoni, 158.

~~ viridi-glaucescens, 158.

Bank, no fence so good as a live
one on a, 56.

Baptisia, 159.

-- australis, 199.

— exaltata, 203.

Barberry, common, at Compton
Winyates, 98.

Barren-wort, 168.

Batchelor’s-buttons, 219.

Bay, the, 268.

Bearberry, 84, 242.

Bear’s Breech, 147.

Beauport, near Battle, Funkia
coerula at, 170.

Beautiful accident, a, So.

Bee Balm, the, 78, 180, 78.

Beech Fern, 171.

Beet, 54.

Bell-flower, 102, 159.

Berberis Darwini, 209.

.— vulgaris, 220.

Betonica, 47.

Bignonia, 72.

Bilberry, 242.

Bindweed, 163, 179.

— field, rosy, the, 164.

— great, the, 164.

— Hungarian, 51.

— large, the, 52, 65.

-— large white, the, 50.

— rosy, the, 164.

— South European, a, 164.

Bindweeds, 3, 47.

Birthwort, great, 158.

Index

Bitter Vetch, 182.
Blackberry bushes, 85.

, Blitum capitatum, 206.

Blood-root, 12, 83, 84.

-- — Canadian, the, 53.

Bloodwort, 189.

Bluebell, 4, 91, 190.

Bluebells, 3.

Bluets, 83.

Bodorgan, wood at, Spiraea japo-
nica in a, 189.

Bog and Water gardens.
Brookside, roo.

Bog-bean, 26, 105, 246.

Borage, 27, 159.

— Cretan, the, 27, 28.

Borageworts, the, 29, 132.

Borago, 159.

— cretica, 28, 159.

— orientalis, 159.

Boussingaultia baselloides, 200.

Box, 208, 273.

— bush, 124.

— groves of, 273.

— tree, the, 273.

Bracken, 82.

Bramble, 58, 64, 97, 133, 187.

— cut-leaved, 60.

— Nootka, the, 52. °

Brambles, 3, 32, 52, 65, 188.

— native, 227.

Brier, 63.

-- Sweet, 60, 64, 67, 95, I1g, 120.

— Wild, 123.

Briers, 10, 58, 66.

— native, 227.

— Sweet, 61, 86, 231.

Briza, 206, 267.

— maxima, 206.

Brizopyrum siculum, 206.

Brockhurst, 143.

Brodizea congesta, 206.

Bromus brizzeformis, 206.

The

Index

Brookside, Water and Bog gar-
dens, the, too.

Broom, 95.

— Spanish, 139.

Brooms, 139.

Bryony, 179.

Buckbean, 105.

Buckhurst Park, Dielytra eximia
naturalized in, 165.

Bugle, 148.

Bulbocodium vernum, 201, 203,
206.

Bulbs, early-flowering, in Mea-
dow grass, 16.

— hardy, for naturalization, 206.

— — in grass of Lawns or Mea-
dows, example from, 12.

— Spring-flowering, 13.

Bullace, 232, 233.

Bulrush, the, 106, 256.

Bupthalmums, 47.

Bushes to use and avoid in
Fences, 59.

Butomus umbellatus, 107, 255.

Butterbur, the, 39.

Buttercup, great, 26.

— the, 30, 192, 214, 220.

Buttercups, the, 274.

Butterworts, the, 162.

Calla azethiopica, 107, 155.
— marsh, 164.

— palustris, 107, 112, 164.
Callirhoe, 181.
Callirhees, the, 181.
Calluna, 203.

— vulgaris, 240.

Caltha, 109.

— Guerangerii, 219.

-— minor, 219.

—- palustris, 219.

— — fl. pl. 203.

— radicans, 219.

2/9

Caltha vulgaris, 219.

Calystegia, 163

— dahurica, 52, 163, 200, 207.

— pubescens, 200.

Camassia esculenta, 206.

Campanula, 47, 102, 118, 144, 159,
199, 200, 204.

— Barrelieri, 205.

-- caespitosa, 198.

— carpatica, 198.

— fragilis, 198, 205.

— — lanuginosa, 205.

— garganica, 198, 205.

— giant, the, 249.

— glomerata, 203.

— hederacea, 249.

— Ivy, 249, 250.

— lamiifolia, 159.

— latifolia, 249.

— patula, 249.

— pumila, 205.

— — alba, 205.

— rapunculoides, 159.

— rotundifolia, 159, 205.

— spreading, the, 249.

— Trachelium, 250.

Campion, red, the, 144.

— sea bladder, the, 223.

Canadian weed, 218.

Candytuft, evergreen, 77, 175.

Canterbury Bells, 209.

Cape Pond flower, the, 108.

— — Weed in an English ditch in
Winter, the, 108.

Caper Spurge, 252.

Cardamine trifolia, 153.

Cardinal flower, the, 111.

Carduus eriophorus, 204, 248.

Carex, large flowering, 143.

— paniculata, 106, 256.

— pendula, 106, 255.

— pseudo-cyperus, 106, 256.

Carlina acanthifolia, 199, 204.

280

Carnation, 11.

— single, the, 166.
— Wild, the, 223.
Carnations, 17, 9I-
Catch-fly, 189.
Cat’s-tail, the, 106.
Cedar, creeping, 77.
Cedars, 156.
Celandine, 214.

— greater, the, 131.
Celandines, 143
Celastrus, 71, 72.

— scandens, 71.
Centaurea, 47, 160.
— babylonica, 163, 199.
— cyanus, 160, 248.
— montana, 201.
Centranthus, 118.

— albus, 205.

— coccineus, 205.

— ruber, 159,205, 247.
Cephalaria, 164, 190.
— procera, 44.
Cerastium, 160, 204.
— alpinum, 223.

— Biebersteinii, 198.
— grandiflorum, 198.
— tomentosum, 198.
Cerastiums, 137.
Ceterach, the, 236.
Cheddar Pink, 115, 116, 223.

— — Saxifrage and Ferns, 115.

Cheilanthes odora, 171.
Cheiranthus, 118, 160, 204.
— alpinus, 205.

-- Cheiri, 205.

— —- plenus, 205.
Chelidonium majus, 131.
Cherry, Bird, 233.

— Plum, 59.

—. Wild, 232, 233.
Chimaphila maculata, 84, 203.
— umbellata, 84.

Index

Chionodoxa, 22.
Christmas Rose, 37, 38, 53; 174-
Chrysanthemum maximum, 199.

‘Chrysobactron Hookeri, 203.

Chrysopsis Mariana, 204.

Cicely, sweet, 238.

Cicimifuga racemosa, Ig9.

Cineraria maritima, 209.

Cinquefoils, 3.

Cissus orientalis, 200, 207.

— pubescens, 200.

Cistus, 204.

— on sandy slope, r41.

Cladium Mariscus, 107, 256.

Clarkia elegans, 205.

— pulchella, 205.

Clematidee, 51.

Clematis, 3, 10, 51, 52, 63, 86, 132,
161, 200.

— campaniflora, 30, 162.

— campanulata, 65.

— cirrhosa, 31, 162.

— common, the, 215.

— erecta, 161.

— flammula, 10, 30, 65, 162, 207.

— graveolens, 65.

— Indian, white, 139.

— large flowered, 138.

— large white, on Yew tree at Great
Tew, 69.

— montana, 65, 68, 162, 207.

— montana grandiflora, 31, 69.

—- mountain, 10, IT, 52.

—- — Indian, 98.

— native, 98.

— viorna, 162.

— vitalba, 215.

— viticella, 65, 162, 207.

— White-flowered, European, the,
r6z. :

— Wild, 65, 66, 199.

— —single, 31.

Clematises, 67.

Index

Clematises, Wild, 68.

Climbers and Trailers, 200.

— for Trees and Bushes, 68.

Climbing Shrub isolated on the
Brass, 71.

Cloudberry, 234.

Clover, 208.

Club Moss, 84.

Colchicum, 160, 203, 206.

— autumnale, 254.

Collinsia bicolor, 206.

— verna, 206.

Collomia coccinea, 205.

Columbine, 209.

— Canadian, 83.

— common, the, 131, 220,

— Siberian, in rocky place, 153.

— varieties of, in the grass, 137.

Columbines, 3, 132, 137, 144, 153-

~—and Geraniums in meadow
grass, xtit,

— in the grass, 152.

Combe in Somerset, frontispiece.

— Somerset, Native Sun Rose in,
222.

Comfrey, 190.

-— Bohemian, 25, 132.

— Caucasian, 25, 29, 132.

— — in Shrubbery, 24.

— Giant, 29.

— White, 25.

Comfreys, 25.

Compass plants, 32, 78, 102.

Composite, type of erect, 43.

Compton Winyates, common
Barberry at, 98.

Convallaria bifolia multiflora,
203.

Convolvuli, 52.

Convolvulus althzeoides, 164.

Coolburst, Heather in bloom at,
242.

Copse, Lily of the Valley in, 87.

281

Copses, Ditches, Shady lanes,
and Hedgerows, 48.

Coptis trifoliata, 203.

Coral-wort, 165.

Corn Cockle, the, 223.

Cornel, dwarf, 84, 162.

— native, 240.

Cornflower, common, the, 248.
Cornus, 2309.

— canadensis, 84, 162, 198, 203.
— florida, 71.

— sanguinea, 239.
Coronilla, 118, 204.

— minima, 205.

— montana, 54.

— rosy, the, 164.

— varia, 54, 164, 198, 200.
Corydalis, 118, 204.

— bulbosa, 221.

— capnoides, 200.

—— grey, 84.

— lutea, 117, 165, 200, 205, 221.
— solida, 203.

—— tuberosa, 203.
Cotoneasters, dwarf, 77.
Cotton Thistle, 183.

— — great, the, 248.

_— — silvery, the, 248.

Cotton-weed, American, 47.
Cotyledon umbilicus, 205.
Cowberry, 84.

Cow Parsnip, Giant, 45.

— Parsnips, 173.

Cowslip, 4.

— American, 165.

— — Jeffery’s, 165.
Cowslips, 131, 144, 251.
Crab, 65, 232, 233-

Crabs, Japan, 65.

Crambe, 47, 163.

— cordifolia, 163, 198, 199.
Cranberry, 242.

Crane’s-bill wild in the grass, 131.

282

Crane’s-bills, 3, 53.

Crateegus Crus-galli, 127.

— Kyrtostyla, 233.

-- laciniata, 233.

— monogyna, 233.

— oxyacantha, 233.

— oxyacanthoides, 233.

— tanacetifolia, 127.

Creeping Jenny, the, 251.

Cress, Indian, showy, 194.

— Rock, blue, the, 157.

— Wall, 158.

Crinum capense, 203.

Croci, autumnal, the, 161.

Crocus, 13, 20, 21, 90, 98, 131, 161,
206, 209.

-— aureus, 201.

— autumn, 254, 255.

— biflorus, 203.

— common, the, 161.

— Imperati, 161, 203.

— in the grass, 161.

— nudiflorus, 254.

— reticulatus, 203.

— speciosus, 201.

— spring, the, 254, 255.

-- Susianus, 201.

— vernal, the, 254, 255.

— versicolor, 201, 203.

Crocuses, 14, 21, 53, 143, 202.

— Autumn, in the Wild Garden,
129.

Crowfoot order, the, 214.

Crowfoots, 214, 218.

— double, 21g.

— Water, 214.

Crown Imperial, 170.

Crowsley, Oxfordshire, Wild Gar-
den at, 129.

Cruciferze, 221.

Cybele Hibernica, 214.

Cyclamen, 162, 203, 206.

— common, the, 250.

Index

Cyclamen Coum, 163.

— europzeuni, 162, 201.

— hedereefolium, 7, 162, 163, 201.
250.

— repandum, 163.

— vernum. 163.

Cyclamens, 53.

— in the Wild Garden, 163.

Cyperus longus, 106, 256.

Cypress, 74.

— deciduous, and Aristolochia, 74.

Cypripedium, 266.

— spectabile, 112, 162, 203.

Cypripediums, 143.

Daffodil, Bayonne, 19, 182.

— Hoop Petticoat, 182.

— Tenby, Ig.

Daffodils, 3, 12, 15, 17, 86, 90, 130,
143, 144, I71, 182, 209, 252.

— English, 19.

— Irish, 19.

— Kingcups and Primroses, Combe
in west country with, frontis-
piece. :

-- Scotch, 19.

Daisies, 208.

— Michaelmas, 3, 32, 44,155, 189.

— Moon, 3, 66, 78.

Daisy, Ox-eye, tall, the, 186.

Dandelion, 208.

Daphne cneorum, 77, 203.

Datsica cannabina, 198, 199, 203.

Day Lilies, 3, 102, 209.

Delphinium, 198, 199.

Delphiniums, the, 39, 166.

Dentaria, 53, 165.

— bulbifera, 222.

— laciniata, 203.

Deutzia scabra, 209.

Dianthus, 118, 166, 204.

— ceesius, 166, 205.

— caryophyllus, 223.

Index

Dianthus deltoides, 205, 206, 223.

— monspessulanus, 205.

— neglectus, 166.

—- petreeus, 205.

— plumarius, 223.

Dielytra, 165, 204.

— eximia, 198, 200.

—_—naturalized in Buckhurst
Park, 165.

— formosa, 198.

— spectabilis, 138, 165, 200.

Digitalis, 47, 167.

Dimorphotheca pluvia, 205.

Diotis maritima, 248.

Dipsacus, 47.

-— laciniatus, 199, 206.

Ditches, Shady Lanes, Copses and
Hedgerows, 48.

Dock, Great Water, 105.

Dodecatheon, 165.

— Jeffreyanum, 165, 201.

— Meadia, 165, 198, 201.

Dog Rose, 60, 64.

Dogwood, 71, 239.

Dogwoods, native, 239.

Dog’s-tooth Violets, 20, 53, 83, 84,
169, 209.

— Yellow, 84.

Dondia Epipactis, 198.

Doronicum, 47, 165.

— caucasicum, 198, 201.

Draba, 118.

— aizoides, 205, 221.

Dracocephalum, 204.

— moldavicum, 206.

— nutans, 206.

Dragon plant, the, 155.

Dryas octopetala, 203, 226.

Dutchman’s Pipe, 74.

Echinops, 47, 168, 193, 203.
— bannaticus, I99.
— exaltatus, 169, 199.

283

Echinops purpureus, 199.

— ruthenicus, 169, I99.

Echium, 204.

Elder, common, the, 60.

-— the, 208, 209.

— Water, 212, 240.

Elm-Trees, 17.

Elymus, 47, 78, 203. \

— arenarius, 199, 267.

English Flower Garden, the, 173.

Epigzea repens, 90, 169, 203.

Epilobium, 47, 203.

— angustifolium, 167, 234.

Epimedium, 168, 203.

— pinnatum, 200.

-— — elegans, 168.

Epipactus palustris, 265.

Equisetum sylvaticum, 257.

— Telmateia, 105, 256.

— Wood, the, 257.

Equisetums, 257.

Eranthis hyemalis, 37, 169, 200,
203, 220.

Erica, 168.

— carnea, 168, 201.

— ciliaris, 241.

-- cinerea, 241.

— hibernica, 241.

— Mackiana, 241.

— tetralix, 241.

-— vagans, 241.

Erinus, 116, 118.

— Alpinus, 205.

-— Pyrenean, the, 114.

Erodium, 118, 172, 204.

— Manescavi, 172.

— Reichardii, 205.

— romanum, 172, 205.

Eryngium, 167, 199, 204.

— maritimum, 238.

Erysimum asperum, 206.

— ochroleucum, 160.

— Peroffskianum, 205.

284

Erythronium, 169, 206.

— Americanum, 84.

— Dens-canis, 203.

Eschscholtzia californica, 205.

Euonymus, 209.

Eupatorium, 47, 203.

— ageratoides, 167.

— aromaticum, 167.

— purpureum, Ig9.

Euphorbia Cyparissias, 198, 199.

— Lathyris, 252.

— Myrsinites, 204.

Evening Primrose, 182, 235.

— common, the, 182.

— large in the Wild Garden, night
effect of, 5.

Evening Primroses, 3.

Evergreen, Creeping, the, 242.

Evergreens, 66, 83.

— dwarf, 77.

— our native, 268.

Everlasting, Mountain, the, 249.

Fair Maids of France, 34.

Fence as a shelter, the, 62.

— beautiful, the, 63.

— gridiron, 55.

— no, so good asa live one on a
bank, 56.

— Oak post and rail, 61.

— Yew, at Gravetye Manor, 66.

Fences, Bushes to use and avoid
in, 59.

— Holly, 62.

— Iron, and our Landscapes, 55.

Fencing, Oak and other not ugly,
61.

Fennel, common, the, 133.

— Giant, 171.

— sweet, the, 238.

Fennels, Giant, 53, 133, 171.

Fern, 63, 97.

— Beech, 171.

Index

Fern, Climbing, the, 171.

— Maidenhair, 215.

— Oak, 171.

— Royal, 103.

— tree, 106.

-— wild, 95.

Fernery, hardy, the, 133, 139.

Ferns, 56, 58, 82, 83, 92, 95, 112,
133, 143, 171.

— Cheddar Pink and Saxifrage,
IIS.

— common, 98.

— feather, the, 172.

— great, the, 172.

— hardy, 139.

— of North America, 98, 99, 172.

— Plume, 53.

Ferula, 47, 133, I71, 199, 200.

— communis, I99.

— glauca, 199.

— sulcata, 199.

— tingitana, 199.

Ferulas, 139, 163.

Ficaria grandiflora, 203.

Field Rose, the, 229.

Fig, sacred, 3.

Fir, our native, 272.

— Scotch, 272.

— Spruce, 228.

Flame-flower, 102, 193.

Flax, 223.

— field, the, 223.

— perennial, the, 223,

Fleur de Lis, 176.

Flos Adonis, 218.

Forest of Compiégne, Lily of the
Valley in the, 92.

Forget-me-not, 25, 27, 28, 179.

— blue, the, 179.

—- common water, 26.

— Creeping, the, 29, 183.

— early, the, 132.

— family, example from the, 24.

Index

Forget-me-not, Mountain, 212.
— wood, 17, 132, 134.
Forget-me-nots, 3, 24, 79, 132,
143, 144.
— British, 26.
Foxglove, 4, 95, 139, 167.
— flowers, 144.
— spotted varieties of, 167.
Foxgloves, 3, 82, 144.
Frankenia levis, 223.
Fritillaria, 20, 53, 170, 201, 206.
— meleagris, 170, 253.
— tristis, 170.
Fritillarias, 170.
Fritillary, 200.
— English, the, 253.
— golden, the, 170.
Fuchsia, 78, 209.
Fumaria, 165, 204.
— bulbosa, 165, 206.
Fumitory, 165.
— Yellow, the, 117.
Funkia, 47, 169.
~ ceerula, 170.
— grandiflora, 203.
— ovata, go.
— Sieboldi, go, 203.
— subcordata, go.
Funkias, 89.
Furze, double, 95.

Galanthus, 173, 201.

-— Elwesi, 173.

— plicatus, 173.

Galatellas, the, 155.

Galax, 84.

— aphylla, 88, 203.

Galega, 47, 172.

— biloba, 172, 198, 200.

-— officinalis, 172, 198, 200, 203.

Galium, 247.

Garden of British Wild Flowers,
the, 211.

285

Garden of MM. Van Eden, Liane
in the, 72.

Gardenia, 128.

Gaultheria, 173.

— procumbens, 84, 88, 203.

Gean, 233.

Genista, 204.

— anglica, 225.

— Dyer’s, 225.

— pilosa, 225.

— tinctoria, 225.

Gentian, 173, 246.

— Bavarian, 113.

— Lithosperm, 177.

— vernal, the, 243, 244.

— Wind, 111.

Gentiana, 173.

— acaulis, 113, 173. 189, 201.

— asclepiadea, 173, 203.

— pneumonanthe, 245.

— verna, 212, 243.

Gentianella, 88, 113, 173.

~— asclepiadea, 88.

— septemfida, 88.

Gentians, 88, 203.

Geranium, 53, 172, 204 224.

— armenum, 172.

— cinereum, 189.

— hardy, a, 172.

— ibericum, 172.

— lancastriense, 224.

— pratense, 224.

— sanguineum, 224.

— striatum, 198.

— sylvaticum, 224.

— Wallichianum, 224.

Geraniums, 78.

—and Columbines tn meadow
Lrass, x11,

Geum, 204.

Gilia capitata, 205.

— tricolor, 205.

Gladiolus Colvillei, 53.

286

Gladiolus, hardy European, 206.

— illyricus, 254.

—- segetum, 53.

Globe flower, 192, 219.

— order, example from the, 30.

— Flowers, 34, 37. 53, 109, 144.

— — group of. 30.

— Thistle, 78, 168.

Gnaphalium dioicum, 249.

Goat's Rue, 172.

Godetia, 205.

Gold Thread, 83.

Golden Club, 112.

— Rod, xvi, 8, 32, 44, 102, 144,
155, 156, 189.

— Yarrow, 78.

Goutweed, 21, 134.

Grape Hyacinth, 179.

— at Gravetye, 179.

Grape Hyacinths, 14, 30.

Grass, 92, IOI, 132, 134, 137, 138,
139.

— climbing Rose on, 128.

— climbing Shrub isolated on the;
71.

— cock’s-foot,
267.

--- drive, 130.

— family, the, 266.

— hare’s-tail, the, 267.

— meadow, early-flowering bulbs
in, 16.

Grass of Parnassus, 238.

— Ophrys in, 197

— of Lawns and Meadows, ex-
ample of hardy bulbs in, r2.

— Ribbon, the, 266.

— Star of Bethlehem in, 12.

Grass Walks, 96, 158.

—and Woodland Drives, 75.

Grasses, 47, 83, 137, 267, 274.

—— for naturalization, 206.

-- Quaking, the, 267.

variegated, the,

Index

Gravetye, Heaths at, 118.

— Manor, 26, 27, 37.

— Narcissus in bloom at, 23.

— — thousands of, planted in the
grass at, 18.

Great Tew, 115. :

— Arenaria Balearica on wail at,
II4.

— Tiger Lilies in Wild Garden at,
135.

Gromwell, spreading, 27.

Group of Globe flowers, 30.

— of Tritoma in grass, 193.

Groups of Siebold’s Plantain Lilies,
170.

Gunneras, Io2, 163.

Gypsophila, 118, 172, 204.

— elegans, 205.

— muralis, 205.

— prostrata, 205.

— repens, 198.

Hablitzia tamnoides, 200, 207.

Hardy exotic flowering plants
for the Wild Garden, 146.

Hardy Bulbs in grass of Lawns
or Meadows, example from, 12.

— Heaths, 203.

Harebell, common, the, 250.

Harebell, creeping, 111.

— tall, 43.

es the, 159, 249.

Harebells, 54.

— white, 80.

—— and Myrrhis odorata, colony
of, So.

Hares, 207.

Harpalium rigidum, 199.

Hart’s-tongues, 143.

Hawthorn blossoms, 51.

— the, 30.

— tree, 51.

Hawthorns, 127.

Index

Hazel, 64.

Heath, St. Daboec’s, 168, 241, 243.

Heath beds, 242.

— ciliated, the, 241.

— Cornish, the, 241.

— Irish, 241.

— Sea, 223.

Heather, 97, 242.

— Bell, 241.

— Scotch, 241.

Heatherbank, Weybridge, Iris in
the garden at, 164.

Heathers, native, 241.

Heaths, 82, 168, 241, 242.

— at Gravetye, 168.

— common, the, 140.

— hardy, 168, 203.

— native, 95, 211, 240.
Hedgerows and Shrubberies, large
white Bindweed for, 50.
—Ditches, shady Lanes

Copses, 48.
Hedysarum, 204.
— coronarium, 206.
— obscurum, 108.
Helenium, 47.
Helianthemum, 77, 118, 174, 198,

204, 205.
— Breweri, 222.
— British, 222.
— chameecistus, 222.
— guttatum, 222.
-~ Marifolium, 222.
— polifolium, 222.
— vineale, 222.
Helianthus, 47, 174, 175-
—angustifolius, 199.
— giganteus, 175.
— multiflorus fl. pl., 174, 199, 203.
— orgyalis, 199, 203.
—rigidus, 175, 203.
Helichrysum arenarium, 204.
Heliotrope, Winter, 8.

and

287

Hellebore, green, in the Wild Gar-
den, the, 38.

Helleborus, 37, 174.

— feetidus, 220.

— niger, 37, 200."

—— olympicus, 200.

— viridis, 220.

Helonias bullata, 203.

Hemerocallis, 174, 203.

— flava, 174.

— fulva, 174.

— graminea, 174.

Hemlock, spruce, 72.

Hemp Agrimony, 72, 167.

Hepatica, common, the, 34.

— Hungarian, 34.

Hepaticas, 2, 34, 151.

-— blue, 83.

-— purple, 83.

Heracleum, 47, 133, 173, 199, 203.

Herb Paris and Solomon's Seal, in
copse by streamlet, roo.

Herniaria glabra, 235.

Herniary, common, the, 235.

Hesperis, 175.

—- matronalis, 175, 201, 206, 222.

Heuchera, 78.

Hibiscus, herbaceous, 112.

— syriacus, 209.

Hieracium aurantiacum, 198.

Hieraciums, the, 247.

Hierochloe borealis, 267.

Hippocrepis comosa, 226.

Hips, 64.

Hollies, 59, 91.

— seedling, 63.

Holly, 56, 59, 60, 62, 63, 67, 207.
271, 273.

— fences, 62.

— grove of, a, 271.

— unclipped, 271.

Hollyhock, common, the, 150.

Honesty, the, 131, 176, 209.

288

Honeysuckle, 50, 51, 63, 64, 70,
178. ‘

Honeysuckles, 3, 10, 51, 52, 68,
200.

— climbing, 71.

— garden, varieties of, 178.

— Japanese, 86.

— Wild, 178.

Hop, 70, 179.

— common, the, 252.

Hops, 7o.

Hordeum jubatum, 206.

Florse-tail, Giant, 256.

Horse-tails, 257.

Houseleek, ror.

Houseleeks, 115, 116.

Houttinia palustris, 108, 250.

Humulus lupulus, 252.

Hutchinsia, 118.

— petrzea, 205.

Hyacinth, Amethyst, 190.

— Grape, 14, 20, 179.

— Wood, 130, 253.

— — the bell-flowered Scilla natu-
ralized with, I4.

Hyacinths, wild, 144.

Hyacinthus amethystinus,
201 206.

Hypericum, 175, 204, 224.

—calycinum, 224.

Hypericums, 88.

190,

Iberis, 77, 118, 175, 197, 204, 205.
— amara, 221.

— corifolia, 198, 200.

— coronaria, 205.

— correefolia, 198, 200.

— sempervirens, 198, 200.
— umbellata, 205.

Inula, 47.

Ionopsidium acaule, 205.
Iris, or, 102, 176, 209.

— ameena, 201.

Index

Iris and Marsh Marigold in early
Spring, 110.

— Asiatic, the, 176.

— aurea, 176.

— cristata, 189, 201.

— De Bergii, 201.

— flavescens, 201.

— florentina, 201.

— germanica, 176, 201.

— graminea, 108, 198, 201.

— in the garden at Heatherbank,

164.
— Japanese, 176.
— Kempferi, 88.

— Meadow Sweet, and Bindweed,
Iii.

— nudicaulis, 198, 203.

— ochroleuca, 108, 201, 203.

— orientalis, 88.

— pallida, 201.

— pseud-acorus, 108.

— pumila, 176, 198, 203. -.

— reticulata, 198, 203.

— sambucina, 201.

— sibirica, 88, 108, 176.

— sub-bifolia, 2or.

— Water, 108.

Irises, 3, 88, 130, 143.

— exotic, 108.

— German, 130.

— tall, 137.

Iron fences and our Landscapes,
55:

Isopyrum thalictroides, 192.

Ivies, handsome leaved, 273.

Ivy, 56, 58, 62, 63, 127, 132, 273.

— and Woodruff, 144.

— Campanula, 249, 250.

— common, 65.

— covered wigwams, 273.

— Irish, the, 272.

— leaved Cyclamen, 250.

— our native, 272.

Index

Jacob’s Ladder, 246.

Jasione perennis, 204.

Jasmine, common, the, 52.
Jasminum nudiflorum, 200, 207.
— officinale, 200, 207.

— revolutum, 200.

Jeffersonia diphylla, 203.
Juniper, common, the, 273.

-~ Irish, the, 273.

Kitaibelia, 181.

— vitifolia, 181, 199.
Knapweed, 160.

Knautia, Igo.

Knotweed, 183.

— Great Japan, the, 184.
Knotworts, Great Japanese, 9.
Koniga maritima, 205, 221.

Ladies Smock, the, 222.

Lady’s Fingers, 226.

— Slipper, 266.

Lagurus ovatus, 267.

Landscapes, Iron fences and our,
55:

Larch, 57.

Larkspurs, 40, 166.

— perennial, 39.

— tall perennial, naturalized in
Shrubbery, 39.

Lathyrus, 178.

— grandiflorus, 199, 209, 207.

— latifolius, 198, 200, 207.

— — albus, 200.

— maritimus, 226.

— pyrenaicus, 178.

— rotundifolius, 200, 207.

— tuberosus, 207.

Laurel, common, 127, 175.

Laurels, 127, 268.

Laurustinuses, 268.

Lavandula spica, 204.

Lavatera, 47.

U

289

Lavatera arborea, 223.

— Oblbia, 198.

— tree, the, 223.

Lavender, 77, 78, 139.

-— Sea, 188.

Lawns or Meadows, grass of,
example from Hardy Bulbs in,
12.

Ledum, 88.

Lemon Orchards of Provence, 149.

Leopard’s Bane, 165.

Leptosiphon androsaceus, 205.

— densiflorus, 206.

Leucojum, 22, 177, 200, 206.

— eestivum, 177, 252.

— pulchellum, zor.

— vernum, 177, 201.

Liane, 72.

— in the north, a, 74.

Liatris, 203.

Ligularia, 47.

Lilacs, 86.

Lilium, 176, 206.

— auratum, 88, 89.

— — var. platyphyllum, 88.

— — var. rubro-vittatum, 88.

—- candidum, go.

-- colchicum, 89.

— cordifolium, 88.

— dahuricum and L. elegans, 86.

— elegans, 89.

— giganteum, 88.

— Leichtlini, 88.

Loddigesianum, 89.

monadelphum, 89.

— — var. Colchicum, 89.

— — var. Loddigesianum, 89.

— var. Szovitzianum, 89.

pardalinum, 88, 89.

— platyphyllum, 88.

— roseum-superbum, 235.

— rubro-vittatum, 88.

— superbum, 88, 89, 177.

290

Lilium Szovitzianum, 88, 89.

— testaceum, go.

Lily, 176.

— Arum, the, 155.

—- day, 109, 174.

— family, the, 209.

— Peruvian, the, 143.

— Plantain, Siebold’s, groups of,
170.

— St. Bruno’s, 151.

--- — in the grass, 151.

— Swamp, 89.

— — American, 88. 177.

— Water, 103, 104, 182.

— — White, 220, 246.

— — White American, 104.

— — Yellow, 104, 221.

-- White Wood, 49.

— Wood, 192. ©

Lilies, 2, 7, 15, 88, 89, 90, 131, 170,
200, 203, 209.

— American, 177.

— coming up through carpet of
White Arabis, xvtt.

— common, hardy, 53.

— day, 3, 102, 209.

— European, the, 177.

— in the Wild Garden, 177.

—- Martagon, go.

— Plantain, 169, 170.

— St. Bruno’s, 3.

— Swamp, American, 102.

— Tiger, in Wild Garden at Great
Tew, 135.

— Water, 103, 104, 105.

— — hybrid, 182.

— — white, 182.

— White, miniature, 151.

Lily of the Nile, the, 107.

Lily of the Valley, 4, 53, 86, 87,
92, 130, 139, 145, 209.

— common, the, 254.

— in copse, the, 87.

Index

Lily of the Valley inthe Forest of
Compiégne, 92.

— two-leaved, the, 253.

Limnanthes Douglasi, 205.

Linnza borealis, 84, 88, 90, 138,
162, 203, 239, 250.

Linum, 204.

— alpinum, 198, 205.

— arboreum, 198.

— flavum, 198.

— perenne, 223.

Lithospermum prostratum, 27,
177; 198.

— — gentian-blue, 143.

Little Innocents, 83.

Livelong, the, 235.

Lloydia serotina, 252.

London Pride, 191, 236.

Longleat, 129.

— Group of Tritoma in grass at,
193.

— Rhododendrons at, 177.

Lonicera, 178, 200, 207, 209.

Loosestrife, 102, 235, 251.

Lords and Ladies, 154.

Lunaria, 176.

— biennis, 204, 206.

Lungwort, 27, 186.

Lupin, common, the, 176.

— perennial, the, 53, 102.

Lupins, 131, 132.

Lupinus polyphyllus, 176, 199,
204.

Lychnis, 118, 178.

— alpina, 205, 223.

— Flos-Jovis, 205.

— Githago, 223.

— lapponica, 205.

Lycium barbarum, 209.

Lycopodium lucidulum, 84.

Lygodium palmatum, 171.

Lysimachia Nummularia, 251.

— thyrsiflora, 251.

Index

Lysimachias, 251.
Lythrum roseum superbum 203.
— salicarium, 235.

Macleaya cordata, 198, 199.

Magnolia glauca, 112.

-~ Swamp, 112.

Mahonia aquifolium, 209.

Mahonias, 208.

Malcomia maritima, 205.

Mallow, 181, 224.

—- Marsh, 150.

— Musk, 224.

Malope, 181.

— trifida, 205.

Malva, 181, 223.

— campanulata, 205.

— moschata, 224.

Marigold, Marsh, 109, 214, 219.

— — and Iris in early Spring,
ILO, Iii.

Marigolds, Marsh, 84, Io9, 143.

Masterwort, 157.

Matthiola, 180, 206.

— annua, 205.

— bicornis, 205.

May, 232, 233.

— Apple, 53.

— blossoms, 65.

— flower, 53, 90. 169.

Meadow Grass, early-flowering
bulbs in, 16.

— Rue, IgI, 215.

— — large-flowered, 1.

— Rues, the, 42, 215.

— Saffron, 254.

— — foliage of, in Spring, 160.

— Saffrons, 86, 160.

— Sweet, tor, 188.

— — Iris and Bindweed, 111.

— Sweets, 102.

Meadows or Lawns, grass of, ex-
ample from hardy bulbs in, 12.

291

Meconopsis cambrica, 185, 221.

Medlar, 65, 67, 232, 233, 234.

Mells, Somerset, Cheddar Pink,
Saxifrage, and Ferns on Wall at,
Is.

Menispermum, 71, 72.

— canadense, 207.

— virginicum, 207.

Menyanthes trifoliata, 105, 246.

Menziesia, 168.

— blue, 243.

— polifolia, 168, 243.

Merendera Bulbocodium, 206.

Mertensia sibirica, 27.

— virginica, 27.

Meum athamanticum, 238.

Michaelmas Daisies, 3, 32, 44,
155, 189.

Milium effusum, 267.

— multiflorum, 206.

Milk Thistle, 248.

— Vetch, 156.

Milkworts, 222.

Mimulus, 179, 203.

Mitchella repens, 84, 162.

Mocassin flower, the, 112, 162.

Modiola geranioides, 204.

Molopospermum cicutarium, 180,
199.

Monarda, 78, 180, r8r.

Monkey flower, 179.

Monkshood, 209.

— naturalized, the, 147.

Monkshoods, 38, 54, 102, 147.

Moonseed, 71, 72.

— Canadian, 53.

Moss, 208.

Mouse-ear, 160.

Mulgedium, 47.

— Plumieri, 8, 181, 199, 203.

Mullein, 194.

— tall, 195.

Mulleins, 194.

U 2

292

Muscari, 20, 179, 203, 206, 210.

— botryoides, 2or1.

— moschatum, 2o1.

Myosotis, 179.

—dissitiflora, 27, 132, 179, 198,
201.

— sylvatica, 134.

Myrrh, common, the, 53, 80.

Myrrhis odorata, 80, 238.

—-— and white Harebells, colony
of, 80.

Narcissus, 17, 18, 19, 66, 98, 182,
200, 203, 206, 210, 2II.

— angustifolius, 201.

— bicolor, 2or.

— incomparabilis, 2or.

— Jonquil, 202.

— major, 201.

— montanus, 201.

— odorus, 2o1.

— poeticus, 86, 201, 252.

—— and broad-leaved Saxifrage,
colonies of, 93.

— — in bloom, portion of a field of,
23.

— stellatus, 92.

Narcissi, 14, 15, 20, 53, 143, 144.

— Poet’s, 19.

— Star, 19.

Naturalization beneath Trees on
Lawns, plants for, 201.

-— grasses for, 206.

— hardy bulbs for, 206.

— hardy plants with fine foliage
and graceful habit for, 199.

—in Lawns and other grassy
places, list of plants for, 206.

— Phlomis excellent for, 186.

— selection of annual and biennial
plants for, 205.

— spring and early
flowers for, 200.

summer

Index

Nepeta Mussinii, 204.

Newells, field of heather at, 242
Nicandra physaloides, 206.
Nuphar, 182.

— advena, 104, 182.

— lutea, 104, 221.

‘— pumila, 221.

Nympheea, 103, 105, 182.
— odorata, 104, 182.

Oak, 61, 267.

— and other not ugly fencing, 61.

— evergreen, 268.

— Fern, 171.

— post and rail fence, 61.

Oaks, 19, 89.

— evergreen, 177.

Oatlands Park, Weybridge, 140.

(Enothera, 182, 203.

— biennis, 182. 235.

— Jamesi, 206.

— Lamarckiana, 5, 200, 206.

— Missouriensis, 198.

— odorata, 205.

— speciosa, 198.

— taraxacifolia, 198.

Olive tree, 211.

Olives, 257.

Omphalodes, blue, 3.

— verna, 25, 29, 183.

Onobrychis, 204.

Ononis, 204.

— antiquorum, 215.

— viscosa, 205.

Onopordon, 47, 199, 203, 206.

— acanthium, Ig9.

— arabicum, 199.

— tauricum, 199.

Ophrys, 204, 265.

— in grass, 197.

Orchardleigh Park, Somerset, Wild
Rose growing on a Pollard Ash
in, 121.

Index

Orchids, 265, 266.

— British, 262, 266.

— of the Surrey hills, 214.

Orchis, Bee, 262, 265.

— Butterfly, 266.

— Fly, 262, 265.

— fusca, 266.

— hand, the, 262.

— latifolia, 266.

— maculata, 265.

— — superba, 266.

— mascula, 266.

— militaris, 266.

— spider, 265.

— spotted, the, 265.

Orchises, 143.

Ornithogalum, 21, 183, 201, 204,
206, 210.

— nutans, 22, 254.

— umbellatum, 254.

Orobus, 53, 182.

— flaccidus, 201.

— cyaneus, 201.

— lathyroides, 198, 201.

— variegatus, 201.

— vernus, 198, 201.

Orontium, 112.

Orpine, the, 235.

Osier, common, the, 261.

— purple, the, 261.

Osmundas, 143.

Othonna cheirifolia, 204.

Oxalis, 183.

— acetosella, 224.

— Bowieana, 183.

— floribunda, 183, 198.

Oxlips, 53.

Oxytropis, 226.

— campestris, 226.

— uralensis, 226.

\

Pzeonia, 198, 200.
Peony, 184.

293

Peonies, double-crimson, in grass
at Crowsley Park, 41.

— groups of, 131.

— herbaceous, 40, 41.

— tree, 138.

Palm, the, 3.

Panicum bulbosum, 199, 206.

— capillare, 206.

—virgatum, I99, 206.

Pansies, 210.

Papaver, 185.

—bracteatum, 185, 198, 200.

— lateritium, 185.

— orientale, 133, 183, 198, 200.

Papyrus, 106, 256.

Paradisia liliastrum, 2o1.

Parnassia palustris, 238.

Parsnip, Cow, Giant, 45.

Partridge Berry, 84, 95, 113.

Pasque flower, the, 217.

Passiflora coerulea, 200.

Pea, 178, 225.

-- everlasting, 179.

—— creeping up stem in Shrubbery,
z78.

— Sea, 226.

Pea-flowers, 3, 31, 157-

Pear, 234.

— Japan, 65.

— wild, 232.

Peas, everlasting, 52, 53-

— native, 226.

Pentstemon procerus, 198.

Perilla, 54.

Periploca, 72.

— greeca, 7I, 200, 207.

Periwinkle, 53, 195, 209, 210, 243.

Peucedanum involucratum, 199.

— longifolium, 199.

—ruthenicum, 199.

Phalaris arundinacea, 267.

Pheasants, 207.

Philadelphus, 71.

294

Phlomis, 78, 185, 186, 204.

— herba-venti, 200, 203.

— Russelliana, 200, 203.

Phlox, 210.

—amoeena, 198.

—reptans, 201.

— stolonifera, 198.

— subulata, 198.

Physalis Alkekingi, 198.

Physostegia imbricata, 199.

— speciosa, 199, 200, 203.

— virginica, 200.

Phytolacca, 47.

— decandra, 186, 199, 200, 203.

Pine, 267.

— tree, 138.

— trees, 83.

Pines, 70, 177.

Pink, 166, 223.

— Cheddar, 115, 116, 223.

— Saxifrage and Ferns, 115.

— maiden, the, 223.

Pipsissewa, common, the, 84.

— spotted, 84.

Pitcher plant, American, 112.

— plants, 113.

Plant, composite, blue-flowered, 8.

Plantation, Shrubbery and Wood,
75:

Plants, annual and biennial, for
naturalization, selection of, 205.

— British, London Catalogue of,
213.

— chiefly fitted for the Wild Gar-

den, 43.

—climbing and twining, for
Thickets, Hedgerows, and
Trees, 207.

— for growing on walls, ruins,
or rocky slopes, selection of,
204.

— for hedge-banks and like
places, 199.

Index

Plants for naturalization beneath
Trees on Lawns, 201.

— for naturalization in Lawns and
other grassy places, list of, 206.

— for naturalization in places with
dwarf vegetation on bare banks
and poorish soil, selection of,
198.

— for very rich soils, 203.

— hardy exotic, 47.

—hardy, with fine foliage or
graceful habit suitable for
naturalization, 199.

— suited for calcareous soil, 204.

— — dry and gravelly soil, 204.

— — peat soil, 203.

— umbellate, natural growth of, 239.

— — type of fine-leaved, grown in
gardens, 180.

— water, 182.

Platystemon californicum, 205.

Plum, cherry, 59.

Plumbago Larpentz, 198, 204.

Plume Ferns, 53.

Poa aquatica, 107.

Podophyllum Emodi, 203.

— peltatum, 203.

Poke, Indian, 84.

Polemonium czruleum variega-
tum, 246.

Polyanthus, 53.

Polyanthuses, 144.

Polygala Chamzebuxus, 203.

— fringed, 84.

Polygonatum multiflorum, 254.

Polygonum, 9, 47, 183, 203.

— Brunonis, 198.

— cuspidatum, 183, 184, 199.

— sachalinense, 183, 184, 199.

— Sieboldi, 199.

— orientale, 206.

— vaccinifolium, 198, 204.

! Polypodium paucifolium, 84.

Index

Polypody, 83.

Polypogon monspeliensis, 206.

Pontederia cordata, 107.

Poplar, black, the, 268.

— — in the Kennet Valley, 269.

— grey, the, 268.

— white, the, 267.

Poplars, our native, 267.

Poppy, 185, 210.

— Anemone, common, the, 31.

— eastern, the, 131.

-— field, the, 221.

— horned, the, 221.

— opiuni, the, 221.

— Welsh, the, 139, 185, 221.

Poppies, oriental, 132, 221.

Populus nigra, 268.

— tremula, 268.

Potentilla, 198.

— alpestris, 234.

— comarum, 234.

— fruticosa, 234.

— marsh, 234.

— rupestris, 234.

Potentillas, 234.

Primrose, 4, 210.

— Bird’s-eye, 113, 251.

— — Scotch, 251.

— evening, 78, 182, 235.

— -- common, the, 182.

~- — large, in the Wild Garden,
night effect of, 5.

Primroses, 3, 56, 79, 143. 144,
250.

— bunch, 53.

— common, I3I.

— evening, 3, 143.

—- giant, 113.

— Kingcups and Daffodils, Combe
in west country with, frontispiece.

Primula, 201, 251.

Privet, 60.

Prunella grandiflora, 198, 204.

295

Prunus Avium, 233.
— Cerasus, 233.

— communis, 233.

— fruticans, 233.

— insititia, 233.

— Padus, 233.
Pulmonaria, 27, 186.
— grandiflora, 198, 2o0r.
-— mollis, 189, 2or.

-— old, the, 27.
Puschkinia scilloides, 203.
Pyracantha, 65.
Pyrethrum, double, the, 249.
Pyrola, 53, 84, 88, 203.
— rotundifolia, 243,
— uniflora, 243.
Pyrolas, the, 243.
Pyrus acerba, 234.

— achras, 234.

— Aria, 233.

— Aucuparia, 234.

— communis, 234.

— cordata, 234.

— germanica, 234.

— hybrida, 234.

— latifolia, 233.

— Malus, 234.

— mitis, 234.

— Pyraster, 234.

— rupicola, 233.

— scandica, 234.

— torminalis, 233.

Quick, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 63, 64.
Quince, 65, 67.

Rabbits, 133, 207, 208, 209.

— Rhododendrons eaten by, 208.
— Yew tree barked by, 208.
Ragged Robin, 223.

Ragwort, 82.

Ramondia pyrenaica, 203.

296

Ranunculus aconitifolius fl. pl.,
34, 200.

— acris fl. pleno, 219.

— amplexicaulis, 34, 200, 203.

— aquatilis, 218.

— Ficaria, 218.

— flammula, 218.

— Lingua, 109, 218.

— montanus, 200.

— parnassifolius, 203.

— repens fl. pleno, 219.

— the, 218.

Ranunculuses, 34, 143, 218.

— water, the, 108, 218.

Raspberry, wild, 67.

Red Valerian, 159.

Reed, Great, the, 187.

— Maces, the, 255.

Rest-harrow, the, 225.

Rhaponticum, 47.

Rheum, 47, 187, 193.

— Emodi, 78, 188, 199.

— palmatum, 188, 199.

Rheums, 163.

Rhododendrons, 88, 143, 208.

— at Longleat, 177.

— beds of, 162, 177.

—: eaten by rabbits, 208.

Rhubarb, 187.

Robinia, 124.

Robinson's Blue Windflower, 216.

Rock and Alpine plants for walls,
rocks, and ruins, some of the
families of, 118.

— Cress, blue, the, 157.

— — purple, the, 77, 115, 278.

Rocket, 175.

— common, the, 175.

— double, the, 107.

— single, the, 222.

Rockfoil, 170.

— large-leaved, 210.

— mossy, the, 238.

Index

Rockfoils, 236, 237.

— mossy, the, 237.

Rockworks as generally made are
ugly, 245.

Rod, Golden, xvt, 8, 32, 44, 102,
144, 155, 156, 189.

Rosa, 188.

— acicularis, 64.

— alba gallica, 188.

— arvensis, 228, 229, 231, 232.

— Bakeri, 231.

— Banksizeflora, 188.

— berberifolia, 188.

— Brunoniana, 188.

— ceesia, 231.

— canina, 231, 232.

— cinnamomea, 124.

— dumalis, 228, 231.

-- Felicite, 188.

— fraxinifolia, 124.

— gallica, 124.

—- hibernica, 231.

— incana, 231.

— involuta, 231.

— macrantha, 231.

— microphylla rubra plena, 188.

— mollissima, 231.

— Monsonie, 232.

— Perpetuelle, 188.

— repens, 232.

— rubifolia, 124.

— rubiginosa, 231.

—- Sabini, 231.

— scandens, 124.

— sempervirens, 124, 188.

— sepium, 231.

— spinosissima, 228, 231.

— stylosa, 232.

— tomentosa, 231.

— villosa, 231.

—— var. pomifera, 124.

— Wilsoni, 231.

Rose, 188, 226, 228.

Index

Rose, Aimée Vibert, 124.

— American glossy, 120.

— Apple, Dutch, 124.

— Austrian brier, 188.

— Ayrshire, 124, 188, 232.

— — white, 127.

— Boursault, 124, 188.

— British, 232.

— Burnet, the, 228.

— Carolina, the, 120.

-- China, common monthly, the,
124.

— Christmas, 37, 38, 174.

— climbing, 132.

— — on grass, 128.

— -— white, 125.

— Damask, the, 188.

— Dog, 60, 64, 228, 231.

— Field, the, 229.

— Japan, the, 120.

— Japanese, 64.

— Musk, the, 124.

— needle, the, 64.

— Noisette, 127.

— Scotch, 120.

— Sun, 174.

—— native in Somerset Combe,
222.

— Wild, 58, 60, 67, 124.

— — Russian, 120.

— — Yellow, 123.

—- Yellow, Austrian, 123.

Rosemary, 139, 204.

Rose-root, 235.

Roses, 64, 91, 128, 188, 228.

— British, 231.

—- Christmas, 53.

— climbing, 124, 128, 139.

— garland, the, 188.

— old garden, the, 124.

— rock, 139.

— Scotch, 77, 139.

— single, 52, 207, 228.

297

Roses, Sun, 139, 140, 222.

— — evergreen, dwarf, 77.

— — on sandy slope, 141.

—- tea, II, 17, 120, 124.

— Wild, ro, 50, 58, 61, 63, 64, 66,
67, 77,95) 119, 120, 123, 227, 228.

— — and other, in the Wild Gar-
den, II9.

— — in the hedge, a11.

Rowan, 232, 233, 234.

Rubus, 187.

— biflorus, 187, 200.

— Nutkanus, 187.

— odoratus, 187.

--- spectabilis, 187.

Rudbeckia, 47, 174, 203.

— American, 175.

— laciniata, 175.

— triloba, 175.

Rue, Goat’s, 172.

— Meadow, 191, 215.

— Meadow, large-flowered, 1.

--- Wall, 236.

Rues, Meadow, the, 42, 215.

Rumex Hydrolapathum, 105, 255.

Ruscus aculeatus, 2to.

— racemosus, 210.

Rush, flowering, 26, 107, 255-

Rushes, 143.

Saffron, Meadow, 86.
Sage, Jerusalem, 78.
Sagittaria, 107.

— common, the, 255.
Salix alba, 257.

— vitellina, 258.
Sandwort, 153.

— Balearica, the, 115.
-— vernal, the, 223.
Sanguinaria, 12.

— canadensis, 189, 203.
Santolina, 204.

— lanata, 205.

298

Saponaria calabrica, 205.

— ocymoides, 198, 200, 204, 205.

— officinalis, 223.

Sarracenia, 112.

Savin, bush, 77.

— the, 77.

Saxifraga, 116, 118, 190, 204, 236.

— Aizoides, 236.

— Aizoon, 191, 198.

— bryoides, 205.

— ceesia, 205.

— ceespitosa, 257.

— caryophyllata, 205.

— cordifolia, 198.

— cotyledon, 198.

— crassifolia, 191, 198.

— crustata, 198, 205.

— cuscutzeformis, 205.

— diapensioides, 205.

— Geum, 236.

— granulata, 237.

-- Hirculus, 236.

— Hostii, 205.

— hypnoides, 191, 237.

— intacta, 205.

— ligulata, 205.

— longifolia, 116, 198, 205.

— nivalis, 236.

— oppositifolia, 191, 236.

— pectinata, 205.

— peltata, 205.

— pulchella, 205.

— retusa, 205.

— Rhei, 205.

— Rocheliana, 205.

— rosularis, 198, 205.

— sarmentosa, 205.

— stellaris, 236.

Saxifrage, broad-leaved, and Poet's
Narcissus, colonies of, 93.

— Cheddar Pink and Ferns, 115.

— Killarney, the, 286.

— Virginian, 84.

Index

Saxifrages, 132.

— Irish, group of, 236.

— Kerry, rot.

— silvery, the, 114.

Scabiosa, Igo, 204.

— caucasica, 190, 198.

Scabious, Igo.

— Giant, the, 44, 164.

Scilla, 13, 98, 130, 189, 206, 210.

— alba, 206.

— altaica, 201.

— amcena, 201, 206.

—- Bell-flowered, the, 130.

— — naturalized with Wood
Hyacinth, 14.

— bifolia, 130, 189, I90, 201, 203,
206.

— British, the, 253.

— campanulata, 130, 189, 201, 203.

— italica, 201, 206.

— sibirica, 190, 201, 203, 206.

— Spanish, 22.

Scillas, 14, 22, 200.

Scirpus lacustris, 106, 256.

Scleranthus perennis, 235.

Scolymus, 47.

Scutellaria alpina, 198.

Sea Holly, a, 167, 238.

— Kale, Giant, the, 163.

— — the, 222.

Sea Lyme Grass, 78.

Sedum, 118, 190, 204, 235.

— acre, 205.

— Aizoon, 205.

— album, 205.

— anglicum, 205.

— arenarium, 205.

— aureum, 205.

— brevifolium, 205

— californicum, 205.

— ceeruleum, 205.

-- dasyphyllum, 205, 235.

—- dentatum, 198.

Index

Sedum elegans, 205.

— Ewersii, 205.

— farinosum, 205.

— globiferum, 205.

— Heuffelli, 205

— hirtum, 205.

— hispanicum, 205.

— kamtschaticum, 190, 198, 205.

— montanum, 205.

— multiceps, 205.

— piliferum, 205.

— pulchellum, 190.

— pulchrum, 205.

— Rhodiola, 235.

— sempervivoides, 205.

— Sieboldi, 193.

— spectabile, 1go, 198.

— spurium, 190, 1098.

— Telephium, 235.

Sempervivum, 118, 191, 204.

— arachnoideum, 205.

— calcareum, 108.

— hirtum, 198.

— montanum, 198.

— sedoides, 198.

— sexangulare, 205.

— sexfidum, 205.

— soboliferum, 198, 205.

— spurium, 205.

— tectorum, 205.

Service, wild, 232, 233.

Shady lanes, Ditches, Copses,
and Hedgerows, 48.

Shamrock, the, 225.

Shortia galacifolia, 88.

Shrub, climbing, isolated on the
grass, 71.

Shrubbery and copses, the Nootka
Bramble for, 52.

— Caucasian comfrey in, 24.

— everlasting Pea creeping up stem
in, 178.

— Plantation and Wood, 75.

299

Shrubbery, tall perennial Lark-
Spurs naturalized in, 39.

Sida, 181.

Silene, 17, 118, 189.

— acaulis, 223.

— alpestris, 189, 198, 200, 205.

— armeria, 189, 205.

— Lagascee, 189.

— maritana, 223.

— pendula, 189, 206.

— rupestris, 205.

-- schafta, 189, 198, 205.

Silkweed, 155.

— swamp, the, 155.

Silphium, 47, 102, 174, 203.

— laciniatum, 175.

— perfoliatum, 175, 199.

Silphiums, the, 175.

Silybum eburneum, 199, 206.

— Marianum, 199, 248.

Sisyrinchium grandiflorum, 203.

Sloe, 63, 65, 67, 232, 233.

— Bushes, 59.

— trees, old, 232.

Smilax, hardy, the, 53. 207.

Smoke Trees, 71.

Snake’s-head, 20, 53, 170, 253.

— — British, the, 170.

Snapdragon, 152.

— common, the, 152.

Sneezewort, the, 240.

Snowberry, 210.

Snowdrop. 4, 13, 22, 131, 203.

— common, the, 173, 252.

— Windflower, the, 32.

Snowdrops, 14, 20, 143, 173, 206.

— by streamlet, 145.

Snowflake, 14, 22, 177,203, 252, 253

— spring, the, 177, 202.

— summer, the, 177.

— vernal, 252.

Snowflakes, 53, 86, 209.

Soapwort, the, 223.

300

Solidago, 47, 155, 189, 203.

Solomon’s Seal, 15, 53, 83, 90, 92,
I31, 143, 210, 254.

—and Herb Paris in copse by
streamlet, roo.

Sowbread, 162.

Spearwort, 218.

Speedwell, 53, 195.

Spergula pilifera, 153.

Spigelia marilandica, 203.

Spignel, the, 238.

Spirzea, 188, 226.

— aruncus, 138, 188, 199, 203.

— filipendula, 226.

— Goat’s Beard, the, 138.

— japonica, 189.

— palmata, 188.

— venusta, 188.

Spireas, bushy and herbaceous, sx.

Spleenwort, 236.

Spring Beauty, 83.

Spruce, 60.

— Fir, 228.

Squill, 189.

Stachys lanata, 198, 204, 210.

Starflowers, 83.

Star of Bethlehem, 183, 254.

— — in grass, 12.

Stars of Bethlehem, ar.

Starwort, 47, 54, 66, 78, 82, 102,
155; 156, 189.

Statice, 188.

— latifolia, 188, 199.

Statices, British, 252.

St. Bruno’s Lily, 151.

— — in the grass, 151.

— — Lilies, 3.

Stenactis speciosa, 78.

Sternbergia lutea, 206.

Stipa gigantea, 206.

— pinnata, 206.

St. John’s Wort, 175, 224.

— — commnon, the, 175.

Index

Stocks, 176, 180.

Stonecrop, 115, 116, 132, 190, 235,
2306.

— common, the, 190.

Strawberries, wild, 53, 66.

Streamlet, Snowdrops by, 145.

— Solomon's Seal and Herb Paris
in copse by, roo.

Struthiopteris, 53, 103.

Stubwort, the, 224.

Sumach, the, 72.

Sunflower, perennial, 174.

Sunflowers, prairie, 78.

Sun Rose, 174.

— native, in Somerset Combe, 222.

Sun Roses, 222.

— evergreen, dwarf, 77.

Swamp Lily, 89.

— — American, 88.

— Lilies, American, 102.

Sweet Brier, 60, 64, 67, 95, II9,
231.

— Briers, 61, 64, 86.

— Cicely, 238.

— Flag, the, 108.

— Williams, 131.

Swertia perennis, 203.

Symphytum, 47, 190, 204.

— asperrimum, Igo.

— bohemicum, 25, 132, 201.

— caucasicum, 25, 132, 190, 201.

— orientale, 25.

Symphyandra pendula. 198, 205.

Syringa persica, 210.

— vulgaris, 210.

Tamus communis, 207.

Tea Rose, 11, 17, 120, 124.

Teazle, foliage of, on hedge-bank in
spring, 48.

Telekia, 192.

— cordifolia, 193, 199.

— speciosa, 203.

Index 301

Teucrium chameedrys, 108, 204. Tritoma, 102, 193, 210.
Tew Park, 134. — in grass, group of, 193.
Thalictrum, 191, 203. Trollius, 34, 192, 198, 203.
— aquilegifolium, 199. — europzeus, 219.
— minus, 192, 215. — group of, 30.
Thermopsis barbata, 199. Tropzeolum pentaphyllum, 53,
— fabacea, 204. 207.
Thistle, cotton, 183. — speciosum, 53, 194, 199, 207.
— — great, the, 248. — tuberosum, 53.
— — silvery, the, 248. Tropzeolums, perennial, 53.
— milk, 248. Tulip, 66, 193.
Thistles, exotic, 47. -~ Wood, the, 21, 252.
Thlaspi alpestre, 205. 221. Tulipa, 193, 203, 206.
— latifolium, 153, 198, 201, 204. — cornuta, 252.
Thorn, 59, 62, 63, 86, 97. — florentina, 252.
— Cockspur, 59, 63, 127. — Gesneriana, 201.
Thorns, 95, 127. — suaveolens, 2o1.
Thrift, 251. — scabriscarba, 201.
Thyme, 139. — sylvestris, 21, 252.
Thymus, 118, 204. Tulips, 21, 209.
— citriodorus, 205. Tunica, 118.
Toothworts, 53. — saxifraga, 173, 198, 204, 205.
Trachelium, 204. Tussilago fragrans, 198, 204.
—- ceeruleum, 204. Typha, 106, 255.
Trailers and climbers, 200. — angustifolia, 106.
Traveller’s Joy, 215. — latifolia, 106.
Tree Pzonies, 138.
— Willows, British, 211. Umbilicus chrysanthus, 205.
Trees and Bushes, Climbers for,

68. Vaccinium, 203.
— British Wild Flowers and, 211. | —bog, 242. |
— Pine, 83. — vitis-idzea, 84.
Trees, smoke, 71. Valerian, Greek, 246.
Trefoil, bird’s-foot, the, 225, 226. — red, 247.
Trichomanes, 205. Verbascum, 47, 194, 204.
Trichonema ramiflorum, 206. — Chaixii, 199, 200.
Trientalis, 251. — phlomoides, 194, 199, 206.
— europza, 203. Vernonia, 47, 155:
Trifolium alpinum, 204. Veronica, 118, 195, 200.
Trillium, 83, 192. — austriaca, 198.
— grandiflorum, 49, 192, 203. — candida, 108.
Trilliums, 53, 143- — fruticulosa, 205.
Triteleia uniflora, 204, 206. — saxatilis, 198.

302

Veronica laurica, 198.

Vesicaria utriculata, 160, 204, 205.

Vetch purple, 50.

— wood, the, 226.

Viburnum Lantana, 240.

— Opulus, 212, 240.

Viburnums, native, 240.

Vicia, 204.

—-argentea, 198, 201.

—cracca, 226.

— sylvatica, 226.

Villarsia, 105.

— nympheeoides, 246.

Vinca herbacea, 198.

— major, 201, 243.

— minor, 195, 243.

Vine, 3.

— Wild, 132, 133.

Vines, 52.

— American, 52.

— Wild, 68, 72.

Viola, 53, 116, 195.

-— canadensis, 195.

— cornuta, 198, 209.

— cucullata, 198.

— lutea, 222.

— pedata, 195.

-— tricolor, 222.

Violet, 195.

— Bird's-foot, the, 195.

— Dog’s-tooth, 20, 84, 169.

— Sweet, 145, 196.

-— Water, the, 108, 250.

Violets, 3, 19, 66, 83, 2to.

— Dog’s-tooth, 53, 83.

Virginian Creeper, 69, 71, 132,
158.

— Creepers, I0, 52, 86, 158.

—- Poke, 186.

Virgin’s Bower, 30, 50, 65, 67,
161.

— — Hair Bell, the, 30.

Viscaria oculata, 205.

Index

Vitis, 200, 207.

— eestivalis, 200.
—amooriensis, 200.
— cordifolia, 200.

— Isabella, 200.

— Labrusca, 200.

— laciniosa, 200.
—riparia, 200.

— Sieboldii, 200.

— vulpina, 200.
Vittadenia triloba, 204.

Waldsteinia geoides, 204.

— trifolia, 198, 204.

Wall Cress, 153.

Wallflower, common, the,
185, 222, 247.

Wall Rue, 236.

—on a wall at Lord Mansfield’s,
Highgate, 236.

Water and Bog Gardens, The
Brookside, roo.

— Arum, I12.

— Crowfoots, 214.

— Dock, great, the, 105, 255.

— Elder, 212, 240.

— Iris, 108.

— Lily, 182.

— — White, the, 220.

— — Yellow, the, 221.

— plants, 103, 182.

— Ranunculuses, 108.

— Violet, 108, 250.

Wayfaring tree, the, 240.

Weigela rosea, 210.

Wellingtonia, 211.

Wheat, 3.

White Beam, 232, 233.

Whortleberry, 242.

Wild Brier, 123.

— cherry, 232, 233.

— flowers, British, garden of the,
ari.

160,

Index

Wild garden at Crowsley, 129.

— — at Great Tew, Tiger Lilies in,

—- <utuni Crocuses in the, 129.

— — Cyclamen in the, 163.

— — Giant Scabious for the, 44.

— — Green Flellebore, the, in the, 38.

— — hardy exotic flowering plants
for the, 146, 197.

— —large-leaved Rockfoil in the,
210.

— — Lilies in the, 177.

—w—plants chiefly fitted for the,
43.

— — —of vigorous habit for the,
198.

—— some results, 129.

— — type of erect Composite for the,
43.

—— White Japan Anemone in the,
32.

— — Wild and other Roses in the,
119.

— Gardening on Walls, Rocks,
or Ruins, 114.

— Pear, 232.

— Rose, 58, 60, 67, 120, 123, 124.

— — growing on a Pollard Ash in
Orchardleigh Park, 121.

— Roses, 227, 228.

—w— in the hedge, arr.

— Service, 232, 233.

Willow, Bedford, the, 261.

— British, 261.

— crack, the, 261.

— — in Kennet Valley, 263.

— creeping, the, 262.

— French, 82, 167.

-- goat, the, 261.

— Herb, 95, 133; 234.

— netted, the, 262.

— Weeping, 69.

— White, the, 257, 258.

303

Willow, white, in Hampshire, 259.

— Woolly, the, 262.

-—— Violet, the, 261.

Willows, 240, 247.

— British, 257, 258.

— garden, ait.

— native, 211, 239.

— ornamental, art.

— red, 258.

— tree, British, arr.

— Yellow, 258.

Windflower, 151.

—- Apennine, 151.

—— blue, 33.

— blue, 33.

— — Robinson's, 216.

— Japan, 151.

— Snowdrop, the, 32.

Windflowers, 3, 31, 53, 215.

— native, 215.

Winter Green, creeping, 84.

— Greens, 53, 243.

Wistaria, 70, 72, 86.

— frutescens, 207.

— sinensis, 200, 207.

Wood Anemone, 14.

Woodbine, native, 240.

Wood Forget-me-not, 17.

— Hyacinth, the bell-flowered Scilla
naturalized with, 14.

— Hyacinths, 3, 22.

— Lily, 192.

— Plantation, and Shrubbery, 75.

— Sorrel, 183.

— Tulip, 252.

Woodland Drives
Walks, 94.

Woodruff, 92, 131, 210.

—and Ivy, 144.

— White starred, the, 247.

Woods, 82.

Woodsias, 83.

Wormwood family, the, 47.

and Grass

304
Wormwood, Sea, the, 249.
Xerophyllum asphodeloides, 88.

Yarrow, 102, 148.

— common, the, 148, 249.
— golden, 78.

Yarrows, 47.

— golden, 148.

Yew, 271.

— common, the, 268, 271.
— fence, 66.

— Golden, the, 271.

Index

Yew, Irish, the, 271.

— tree at Great Tew, large white
Clematis on, 69.

—trees barked by rabbits, 208.

—— old, 268.

Yews, 66, 156.

Yucca, 199.

— flaccida, 199.

— gloriosa, 210.

— recurva, 199.

Yuccas, 102.

Zietenia lavanduleefolia, 198.

THE END

OXFORD : HORACE HART, PRINTER TO THE UNIVERSITY

BY THE SAME.

THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. Design, position, and
arrangement, followed by a description of all the best plants and flowering

shrubs for it, and their culture. Illustrated. Third Edition. John Murray.
1893.

ALPINE FLOWERS for English Gardens. Second Edition.
THE SUB-TROPICAL GARDEN; or, Beauty of Form in the

Flower Garden. Second Edition.

HARDY FLOWERS. Description of upwards of 1300 of the most

ornamental species, with Directions for their Arrangement and Culture.
Fifth and Cheaper Edition.

THE PARKS AND GARDENS OF PARIS. Considered in
Relation to the Wants of other Cities, and of Public and Private Gardens.
Being notes made in Paris Gardens. Second Edition. John Murray.

GARDEN DESIGN AND ARCHITECTS’ GARDENS. Ilus-
trated, to show, by actual examples from British Gardens, that clipping and
aligning trees to make them “harmonise” with architecture is barbarous,
needless, and inartistic. 1892. John Murray.

FROM HOLBORN TO THE STRAND; the Tme Line.
London: The “Garden” Office. 1893.

GOD’S ACRE BEAUTIFUL; or, The Cemeteries of the Future.
With Illustrations. London: John Murray. New York: Scribner and
Welford. Published in a cheaper form and with additions under the name
—CREMATION AND URN-BURIAL. Cassell and Co., Limited.

FOURNALS.

THE GARDEN. An Illustrated Weekly Journal of Gardening in
allits branches. Vol. XLIV.

GARDENING ILLUSTRATED. For Town and Country.
A Weekly Journal for Amateurs and Gardeners. Vol. XV.

FARM AND HOME. A Weekly Illustrated Journal of Agriculture
inallits branches. Stock, Dairy, Tillage, Stable, Pasture, Orchard, Market-
Garden, Poultry, House. Vol. XII.

WOODS AND FORESTS. A Weekly Illustrated Journal of
Forestry, Ornamental Planting, and Estate Management. Vols. I. and II.
1885.

COTTAGE GARDENING. Poultry, Bees, Allotments, Food,
House, Window and Town Gardens. Vol. III. 1894.

THE GARDEN ANNUAL, ALMANACK, AND ADDRESS
BOOK. Containing new plants of the past year. Alphabetical list of
Nurserymen, Seedsmen, and Florists. Lists of Gardens, Country Seats, and’
Gardeners, &c. London: The ‘‘Garden” Office. Vol. XIV. 1894.

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