12 THE WILD GARDEN. 



exposure on bare dug and often dry liorder. The old 

 Pulmonaria (Mertensia virginica) is one of tlie loveliest spring 

 flowers ever introduced. It is verv rare in i>-ardens, Imt if 

 placed in a moist place near a stream, or in a peat l)ottom, it 

 will live ; whereas it frequently dies in a garden. The newer 

 and more easily grown Mertensia sibiriea is a lovely plant, 

 taller and flowering longer. These two plants alone would 

 repay any one for a trial of the wild garden, and will illus- 

 trate the fiict that for the sake of culture alone (apart from 

 art, beauty, or arrangement) the wild-garden idea is worth 

 carrying out. 



Among the many plants suitable for the wild garden none 

 look more at home than Borage, a few seeds of which scattered 

 over fresh dry ground soon germinate, and form fine ])atclies 

 that will flower during the summer. Although only an 

 annual, once it is introduced there is no fear of losing it, as it 

 comes up somewhere near the same spot each succeeding 

 year, and when in bloom the peculiar Solanum-like sha])e 

 of the blossoms, and their rich blue colour, make it beautiful. 



The Cretan Borage is a curious old perennial, seldom seen 

 in gardens; and deservedly so, for its growth is robust and 

 its habit coarse. It is, however, a capital plant for the wild 

 garden, or for rough places — in copse, or shrubljery, or lane, 

 where the ample room which it re(piires would not Ije be- 

 grudged, and where it may take care of itself from year to 

 year, showing among the boldest and the hardiest of the 

 early spring flowers. 



Thus, though I say little of the Alkanet (Anclmsa) tribe, 

 several of which could be found worth a place with our own 

 handsome Evergreen Alkanet, and do not mention other im- 



