THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



and in the midlands. And, even where things seem hardy, some of 

 them, like Fuchsias, never give the charming effects we get Trom 

 them in the west of Ireland, in Wales, and in warm coast gardens, 

 whatever care we take. Such facts should not discourage, because 

 they only emphasise the lesson that the true way in a garden is 

 for each to do what soil and climate allow of, and in that way we 

 arrive at the most important artistic gain of all, i.e., that each garden 

 has its own distinct charms. 



A very lovely group is the Lilacs, much enriched of recent years 

 by the introduction of new species and many charming varieties of 



the common old Lilac lovely plants, worthy of 

 Lilacs. the finest days of our English spring. Few of 



the forms found in France seem to thrive in our 

 gardens, owing to grafting on the Privet, which often, after a year 

 or two's poor bloom, kills the plant and begins to take care of 

 itself. How much evil has been done to English ideas of flower- 

 ing shrubs by thrusting this Privet everywhere ! Lilacs, being 

 hardy in all parts of Britain, deserve our best care, and should 

 always be grouped together in the open sun. They should always 

 be bought from nurserymen who raise them from layers or suckers 

 in the good old way, and should be, once grown up, always kept 

 a little open and free by simple pruning, so that we may get hand- 

 some trusses. With these, too, must be grouped such lovely things 

 as the Snowdrop tree, the Stuartias, and Magnolias. 



The Magnolias have recently become more numerous, and it 

 will be easy soon to have a Magnolia garden, at least in favoured 



places. The tree Magnolias should come among 

 Magnolias. the taller flowering trees in the distant parts of 



our flower grove Horse Chestnuts, Buckeyes, 

 Tulip Trees, Laburnums, Catalpa, and Yellow Wood. The Alpine 

 Laburnum, so very beautiful in bloom, becomes a tall, slender tree 

 where not overcrowded, and the flowering Ash (Ornus) must not be 

 forgotten among the taller flowering trees. For the Paulownia, so 

 beautiful in France and Italy in spring, our climate is not warm 

 enough to secure full size or health, save in the most favoured places 

 in the south. 



Some shrubs of modest charm as to their flowers give very pretty 

 effects in well-placed groups, such as the flowering Currant, Tamarix, 



and Ceanothus on walls. But none are more 

 Wild Roses. charming than the wild Roses in summer, the 



Sweet Brier being taken as representing our 

 native wild Roses ; the Glossy Rose (R. lucida), the American 

 wild Roses ; the many flowered Rose (Polyantha), and the Japanese 

 (R. rugosa). These and others I have planted in hedgerows and 



