APRIL 55 



The second weed that I often wish to transplant into 

 my garden, but dare not, is the goosegrass, or silver 

 weed, Potentilla anserina. Its beautiful leaves have a 

 silver sheen that make it very attractive ; but it is better 

 kept outside the garden, and it grows everywhere. 

 It is found in the Arctic regions and it is found 

 in New Zealand, and so has as wide a range as almost 

 any known plant, except, perhaps, the little fern 

 Cystopteris fragilis, which not only grows as far north 

 as lat. 76 deg., and as far south as New Zealand, but 

 was also found by Whymper in the Equatorial Andes. 



But it is not only for their beauty that I have an 

 affection for some of the weeds, but, speaking as a 

 gardener, I am sure that they are often very useful. 

 We may see how in a hedgerow the most delicate 

 plants nestle themselves close to and under those of 

 the coarsest growth, and seem all the better for it ; 

 and I have seen many instances in which delicate seeds 

 and young cuttings have been saved when protected by 

 weeds, when those not so protected have perished. 

 One of the most interesting gardens and the most 

 untidy I ever saw was Professor Syme's in Fifeshire. 

 It was a mass of weeds, and rampant weeds ; but 

 among the weeds, and apparently rejoicing in them, 

 was a collection of some of the rarest plants, growing 

 in greater luxuriance than I had ever seen elsewhere. 



