42 THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



of the European Lilies thrive in ordinary borders. They may be 

 naturalised too, or some of them, in deep moist peat bottoms ; for 

 example, the American swamp Lily (L. superbum). Lilies are so 

 varied in their nature and stature that they may adorn almost any 

 aspect in sun or shade. The new and rare among them will have 

 special beds or borders, and we have men who will have Lily Gardens. 

 And as these lovely flowers tumble into our lap from the woods and 

 hills of Western China, Japan, and California, untouched by man 

 until he found them made to his hand a few years ago, it was reason- 

 able to suppose that some of them would take care of themselves, 

 if trusted in likely spots, with us. I put some of the Panther Lily 

 deep in a leafy hollow in a Sussex wood, just to see if it would 

 survive in such conditions. Whether owing to a series of cold wet 

 seasons and the want of the glorious sun of the hills in Nevada 

 County, California, where I found it, I know not, but after the first 

 season it did not come up. I thought no more of it, but a friend 

 going into the same wood some years afterwards found a colony of it 

 in bloom. 



Next to the Lily in value as an outdoor flower is the Narcissus, 

 though when we know the Iris better it may find a high place. But 

 the wondrous development of the garden forms of 

 Narcissus. Narcissus during recent years, and their fitness for 

 our climate, give it great value. Mountain plants 

 in origin, for the most part they are as hardy as rushes, and those 

 few southern forms that will only live in dry banks and at the foot of 

 warm walls need not concern us who look for pictures of Narcissus in 

 the open air. We have not to ask where the Narcissus will grow, 

 as there are few places they will not grow in with the usual garden 

 culture, and in some cool, loamy soils they take kindly to the turf. 

 Hence it is easy on many soils to have a garden of these flowers, 

 grouped and massed, set in turf, and giving us many flowers for the 

 house as well as pictures in lawn and meadow. These precious early 

 flowers will also have their place in the garden for cut flowers or the 

 nursery bed, where the many new forms of Narcissus may take their 

 place until plentiful. The true hardiness of the flower allows of its 

 being enjoyed in all parts of these scattered islands. In planting 

 Narcissus in the wild garden the mistake is in planting all over the 

 surface without relief. I have made the mistake myself and have 

 regretted it. When they cover the ground like tiles on a roof, they 

 are not nearly as effective as in simple groups. The practice of 

 the Trade of offering mixed kinds is attractive but quite wrong. 

 Much the best way is to use mixtures rarely and always to have 

 distinct plants. 



The Iris is one of the oldest of our garden flowers, in many forms 



