INTEODUCTION. 



and temperate climes, or for any interesting- and beautiful hardy 

 vegetation. We live in a country which is, on the whole, better 

 calculated for the successful culture of the most beautiful vegetation 

 of northern and temperate climes than any on the face of the earth, 

 and at present we take as much advantage of it as if we lived in one 

 where, from extremes of some sort, such vegetation could not exist, 

 and where extraordinary and expensive artificial means were 

 requisite for the enjoyment of a little vegetable beauty. That the 

 natives of cool latitudes are of an inferior degree of beauty cannot 

 be admitted. Travellers who love many aspects of vegetation give the 

 palm, I believe, to that of the meadows, heaths, and uplands of cool 

 countries and the high mountain sides near the line of perpetual snow, 

 and certain it is that the finest Orchids of our stoves do not surpass 

 in beauty Lilies and Irises, that are as easily grown as the common 

 Seakale. The reason sometimes urged against the free use of 

 hardy perennials, that they do not remain so long in flower as what 

 are called bedding plants, is a groundless objection, or if not, 

 why not apply it to the contents of the greenhouse and stove ? 

 There it would be sad to think that any one aspect of vegetation 

 should prevail for months at a time, ana why should not the same 

 taste be exercised in some select spot in the open garden ? The fact 

 is that when rightly understood the very fugacity of the most tran- 

 sient kinds will not be considered objectionable ; fortunately, however, 

 a great number of species remain a sufficiently long time in bloom 

 for their beauty to be thoroughly enjoyed. 



The culture of the finest hardy perennials need not interfere in 

 the slightest degree with that of bedding plants, or anything else 

 indeed, it would enhance the beauty of all ; and in almost every 

 garden there is, goodness knows, an abundance of room for improve"- 

 inent of this kind. To discuss the subject from the basis of the 

 t( mixed border," is completely to beg the question, and in most 

 cases when people discuss this question, the old mixed border seems 

 to represent their ideal of the highest beauty to be attained by the 

 use of the hardy herbaceous and alpine flora of our gardens. To me 

 it has a very different and a very much wider and nobler aspect. I 

 have been somewhat surprised that people have spoken so encourag- 

 ingly of the matter, considering their point of view. During the past 

 eight or nine years I have sought after hardy plants of all kinds un- 

 remittingly, and previous to that I had seen a few good old-fashioned 

 mixed borders ; but at no time have I ever seen anything in this way 



