A LITTLE BOG BORDER 101 



pipe running through the bog, thus enabling one to 

 keep the soil moist with the minimum of trouble. But 

 the same end is achieved by timely attention with the 

 watering-can. 



The choice of soil is all important because it must 

 be that which is capable of holding and retaining moisture. 

 My little bog border was made up chiefly of peat and 

 leaf-mould with a little turfy soil mixed in, and I have 

 found it answer well. There ought to be not less than 

 eighteen inches depth of soil rather more would be an 

 advantage so that in hot weather there is no danger 

 of the bog drying up. It needs to be kept thoroughly 

 moist from spring until autumn ; subsequently, of course, 

 it will be kept quite moist enough by the winter rains. 

 It is necessary to make the soil fairly firm as it is put 

 in, otherwise, in time, as it becomes wetted through, 

 it will sink too low. 



Here, then, we have a border, it may be as big or 

 as little as you please, drained and filled with a peaty, 

 leafy soil, such as bog plants delight in. What shall we 

 place in it to justify this somewhat elaborate preparation ? 

 Well, success with the flowers I shall recommend seems 

 to me to be well worth the outlay and labour, and that 

 they will thrive in such a position I have proved. First 

 of all there is the big-leaved Japanese Primrose, that sends 

 up strong stems in May which, as they lengthen, produce 

 tier on tier of blossoms that may be crimson or pale 

 rose or pink, according to the variety obtained. Then 

 there is its very near relative Primula pulverulenta, 



