WILD WALL-GARDENS 231 



children, the plants must play their game without the pry- 

 ing eye. 



Wild birds sow most of the little trees and shrubs in the 

 wall-garden ; and even they act unconsciously, like the 

 human gardeners that planned its first foundation. By the 

 selective genius of the spot berry-bearing plants are especi- 

 ally favoured. Here grow both the wild strawberry crooking 

 its neck over its red drooping fruit, and the garden straw- 

 berry already becoming a dwarf, but still flinging out its 



runners in its own manner, and colonising fresh cracks 

 between brick and brick. Raspberries grow sparingly and 

 uncomfortably on the crests of walls ; the arid site finds out 

 their native preference for cool thickets and the wet northern 

 hills. But gooseberries and red and white currants all 

 thrive ; they grip the stones with roots like eagles' feet, and 

 ripen their fruit to a liquid glow in the warmth close to the 

 wall. Little apple saplings lift their cool green leaves, but 

 seldom attain flower or blossom. But among the garden 

 fruits the wild berries of the shrubberies and thickets ripen 

 in season ; any berry that is loved by the birds gets its chance 

 of joining the wild garden. Little hawthorns with muscular 



