272 THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



Where space for bog gardens is limited, a very charming carpet to the Lilies just 

 named would be the Wood Lily of North America (Trillium grandiflorum). The 

 two things may be planted or replanted at the same season when necessity arises. 

 The Trillium, moreover, would come in spring-time and would protect the growth 

 of the Lilium against our late spring frosts. For the Liliums a foot deep of peat, 

 leaf-soil, and turf, with sharp river grit, would form a good bed, and with a mulch 

 each year of leaf-soil and a little very rotten manure would serve them for many 

 years. It may surprise many to know that under such conditions these TriUiums 

 would in a few years, if left alone, attain to nearly 2 feet and be lovely in the size 

 and purity of their flowers. In another of these depressions Cypripedium 

 spectabile could easily be established, or a bed may be devoted to the more showy 

 hardy species, giving 6 inches of peat or more, with leaf-soil added. The species 

 named is rather late in sending up its growth, and affords plenty of time for a 

 carpet of Trillium to flower before much headway is made. Other beautiful 

 carpeting plants for these would be found in the American Mayflower (Epigaea 

 repens or Pratia angulata), and if the position be shaded, as it should be for the 

 Cypripediums, a charming, yet delicate, fringe may be found in Adiantum pedatum. 

 Besides C. spectabile, C. pubescens and C. parviflorum are well deserving attention, 

 together with Orchis foliosa, the beautiful " Madeira Orchis," and the Habenarias, 

 especially H. ciliaris and fimbriata ; all delight in moisture and require but little 

 root room. Then if a glow of rich colour was needed in such places it could be 

 supplied in Spiraea venusta or S. palmata, both delighting in moist soil. Another 

 fine effect may be had by grouping Lobelia fulgens, or indeed any of the scarlet 

 Lobelias. In wet parts may be planted Osmunda regalis, Onoclea sensibihs, 

 Struthiopteris germanica, and Astilbe rivularis, allowing room for each. Groups 

 of the herbaceous Phloxes in their best and most distinct shades, particularly 

 of salmon scarlet and the purest white, would find their natural wants completely 

 satisfied in the bog garden and give fine colour. In English gardens it is only in 

 a moist season that we see the Phlox in even fair condition, for the reason that 

 the original species is a native of wet meadows. This condition we can best 

 imitate by deep digging and heavy manuring, and so much the better if the beds 

 of these be saturated with water. Only in the constant cooling moisture of the 

 bog can Primula japonica be seen in perfection, for here will it produce rosettes of 

 leaves z\ feet across, and giant whorls of its crimson flowers, attaining to nearly 

 the same height. Another charming Primrose is that from the swampy mountain 

 meadows of the Himalayas, P. sikkimensis, essentially moisture-loving ; but to 

 get the best results this must be treated as a biennial, grown on quickly, and 

 planted in the bog as soon as large enough to handle. Other species of Primula 

 suited to the higher and drier parts of the bog would be found in P. cashmeriana, 

 capitata, denticulata, rosea, farinosa, involucrata, viscosa, and others, all alike 

 beautiful in their way, and attaining greater vigour with the abundant moisture. 

 Some of the smaller kinds of the viscosa type are better for slight shade, such 

 as may be provided by Dielytra spectabilis (a really delightful plant in boggy 

 ground) and various Spiraeas. It should be noted that many shade-loving plants 

 delight in full sun when given abundant moisture at the root. Particularly 

 noticeable is this with the Liliums I have noted previously. In the early part 

 of the year the bog garden should be aglow with such things as Marsh Marigolds, 

 in single and double forms. In the wet mud in the lower parts and about the 

 stepping stones these would appear quite natural, and in like places Ficaria 

 grandiflora, a plant too rarely seen, with its blossoms of shining gold ; then 

 Senecio Doronicum, with golden orange flowers, Dielytra eximia, TroUius : any 

 of the Dentarias and Dodecatheons likewise are all well suited for the raised 



