THE FLOWER GARDEN IN AUTUMN. 243 



cuspidatum, sachalinense, and complexum, and a very soft and good 

 effect they gave together in a rough hollow where no garden plants 

 less vigorous than these would have grown. 



Thus we have a noble array before coming to some old flowers 

 of autumn, the Meadow Saffrons or " autumn Crocuses," many of 

 the common kind of which fleck the meadows in autumn. There 

 are other kinds, too, which of recent years have been added in 

 greater numbers to our gardens, some of them pretty, and the 

 double kinds prettier than most double flowers. As they grow 

 naturally in meadows, in turf is a delightful way to have them 

 in gardens, though new and rare kinds should be grown in nursery 

 beds until they are plentiful. They are not difficult to grow, and 

 should often be placed in moist grassy places. 



Then there are the true autumn Crocuses, which are very little 

 seen in gardens, but are most delicate and lovely in colour. Coming 

 for the most part from sunny lands, they do best in light soils ; but 

 some, like C. speciosus, grow in any soil, and all are worth grow- 

 ing. Among the best is C. nudiflorus, naturalised in Britain, in 

 colour one of the most lovely flowers. To get little pictures from 

 such plants we must have them happy in grass or among dwarf 

 plants, and on sunny banks and grassy corners of the lawn or pleasure 

 ground. 



In mid-October they have often taken away large areas of bedding 

 plants in the London parks ; while, at the same time, there are many 

 lovely hardy flowers in perfect bloom. No doubt severe frosts may 

 destroy any kind of flower soon, but for those who live in the country in 

 the autumn it is something to have bright colours and beautiful plants 

 about them late, and these are afforded as well by the Starworts and 

 other hardy plants in October, as the fairest flowers that come in 

 June. When we have a severe September about London, many 

 gardens of tender plants are shorn of their beauty, whereas, the hardy 

 flowers go on quite untouched for a month or six weeks later, and 

 not merely bloom as do heliotrope and geranium, in a fine autumn, 

 but as the meadow flowers in summer, with vigour and perfect health. 

 Therefore, it is clear that, whatever the charms of tender plants may 

 be for the summer, those who live in the country in autumn are 

 unwise to trust to anything but the finer hardy plants. 



Thus, without touching on rarities or things difficult to grow, we 

 have a handsome array of beauty for the autumn garden, even leaving 

 out of the question the many shrubs and trees which are beautiful in 

 foliage or fruit in autumn, and there are many of these in any well- 

 stored garden. 



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