THE WILD GARDEN. 161 



with Alder, a tree that grows in any cool soil. Years afterwards, 

 walking one day through the Alder, I found the Bayonne Daffodil in 

 perfect bloom. The roots had doubtless been weak and taken time 

 to recover. 



Ten years ago I planted many thousands of Narcissi in the grass, 

 never doubting that I should succeed with them, but not expecting 

 I should succeed nearly so well. They have thriven admirably, 

 bloomed well and regularly ; the flowers are large and handsome, and 

 in most cases have not diminished in size. In open rich, heavy 

 bottoms, along hedgerows, banks, in quiet open loamy fields, in every 

 position they have been tried. They are delightful seen near at hand, 

 and also effective in the picture. The leaves ripen, disappear before 

 mowing time, and do not in any way interfere with the farming. The 

 harrowing and rolling of the fields in the spring hurt the leaves a 

 little, but the plants are free from this near wood walks, by grass 

 walks and open copses and lawns which abound in so many English 

 country places. 



As to the kinds we may naturalise with advantage, they are 

 almost without limit, but generally it is better to take the great 

 groups of Star Narcissi, the Poet's, and the wild Daffodil, of which 

 there are so many handsome varieties. We can be sure that these 

 are hardy in our soils ; and, moreover, as we have to do this kind of 

 work in a bold and rather unsparing way, we must deal with kinds 

 that are easiest to purchase. There is hardly any limit except the 

 one of rarity, and we must for the most part put our rare kinds in 

 good garden ground till they increase, though we have to count with 

 the fact that in some cases Narcissi that will not thrive in a garden 

 will do so in the grass of a meadow or orchard. 



The fine distant effect of Narcissi in groups in the grass should 

 not be forgotten. It is distinct from their effect in gardens, and it is 

 most charming to see them reflect, as it were, the glory of the spring 

 sun. It is not only their effect near at hand that charms us, but as 

 we walk about we may see them in the distance in varying lights, 

 sometimes through and beyond the leafless woods or copses. And 

 there is nothing we have to fear in this charming work save the 

 common sin overdoing. To scatter Narcissi equally over the grass 

 everywhere is to destroy all chance of repose, of relief, and of seeing 

 them in the ways in which they often arrange themselves. It is 

 almost as easy to plant in pretty ways as in ugly ways if we take the 

 trouble to think of it. There are hints to be gathered in the way 

 wild plants arrange themselves, and even in the sky. Often a small 

 cloud passing in the sky will give a very good form for a group, and 

 be instructive even in being closer and more solid towards its centre, 

 as groups of Narcissi in the grass should often be. The regular 



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