CHAP, viii VILLA GARDENING 49 



of the Wood Anemone, planted where they can stand some time 

 and form broad irregularly-shaped masses, are very effective. 



The Primrose is more at home in a semi-wild condition than 

 when planted in the beds or borders. How beautiful Snowdrops 

 and Lent Lilies (Daffodils) are when springing out of the ground 

 in great clusters in some grassy nook against a background of 

 shrubs ! Honesty (Lunaria biennis) is most effective in a scattered 

 kind of group on one of the elevations in undulating ground where 

 one can meet it unawares on turning a corner. The Lily of the 

 Valley could be used in the same way — only in its native home it 

 thrives best under a thin shade amid decaying leaves and vege- 

 table matter, which are probably the accumulations of centuries. 

 There are, of course, many spring flowers which will come into the 

 beds and borders properly so called ; but how interesting it will be 

 if, in designing the spring gardens, we can arrange, amid the shrub 

 and tree-gi'owth forming its margin, informal groups of the plants 

 I have named, and others which a little study will bring to light. 

 Can anything be more beautiful than our hardy native heath 

 Erica carnea 1 In sandy soil it Avill spread out into a broad mass 

 that is exceedingly effective. The Wallflowers require but little 

 care in their culture. But it must be borne in mind that before 

 anything which is expected to have any degree of permanence is 

 planted, the ground shoidd be well prepared, for even our native 

 plants pay in increased beauty for good treatment. Besides these 

 permanent features to which I have briefly adverted, there are 

 spring-flowering trees and shrubs in great variety — the Almonds 

 and Cherries, for instance ; the latter — bearing, in some cases, 

 double flowers — are beautiful in spring. Then there are the Bar- 

 berries in variety, whilst the Lilacs, flowering Currants (Ribes), 

 the Forsythia, Kerria japonica, the Golden Chain (Laburnums), 

 and the Thorns, which herald in the summer, are unapproached by 

 anything which comes after. 



Among other families of plants which require more attention, 

 and are well adapted for planting in the borders anywhere, may 

 be named the Alyssums, Arabis, Crocus, Cyclamen, Corydalis, 

 Doronicum, Erythronium (Dog's-tooth Violet), Diceutra (Fumi- 

 tory), Gentians, Iris reticTilata, and others. Iberis (perennial 

 Candytufts) are very showy in spring in any position. I saw 

 recently a great spreading mass of Iberis correiefolia growing on 

 a mound, which was quite the feature of the place. The Hepaticas 

 are a very beautiful family, not nearly so mixch cared for as they 

 deserve. Somewhat frequent division suits them best. The 

 Alpines, Phloxes, the Scillas, the Forget-me-nots, the Tulips, and 

 Fritillarias with the Narcissi, would alone, if only a fraction of 



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