FLOWERING AND ORNAMENTAL PLANTS. 219 



ing in shade, as most of them do, there are many town 

 lots so hedged in by high buildings as to forbid the 

 growth of other plants, but which are well adapted to 

 growing ferns. Beds for these may be treated as low 

 rockeries. In Part IV directions are given for preparing 

 soil for them. 



The Wild Garden is a place where interesting wild and 

 cultivated plants are brought together in the most nat- 

 ural manner, and allowed to live and struggle, much 

 as they do when wild. In small grounds a place in tlie 

 midst of groups of trees and shrubs, or in large grounds 

 a number of acres partly wood and partly open, treated 

 thus for revealing the wildness peculiar to woods and 

 clearings, may be rendered a most enjoyable place. Where 

 space will admit, hardy flowers, grasses, ferns, and creep- 

 ers should be scattered about, and thickets be formed of 

 shrubs, including brambles. Some clumps of the more 

 graceful wild-looking plants of the garden should be 

 placed here, together with those gathered from woods 

 and clearings. Here is a place where the Fennel-leaved 

 Paeony will be enjoyed more than would an improved 

 variety with large gobular flowers ; the single Briar Rose 

 more than the best improved Hybrid Perpetual. Some 

 annuals may be scattered over the soil in spots, to come 

 along as they can, and some of these will live for years 

 by self-seeding. 



Eocks, stumps, and mounds, clothed with Mosses, 

 Lichens, Winter-green, Partridge-berry, and many other 

 little wild things are well in such a place, and could 

 there be a small brook with aquatic plants, trees, and 

 rocky cliffs festooned with climbers, little would be lack- 

 ing to render the spot constantly attractive. The loveli- 

 ness and ceaselessly varying cliarms of such scenes are 

 indeed difficult to describe, and something of the kind 

 would prove to be one of the most gratifying spots in 

 any place, no matter what other features of adornment 



