26 



THE WILD GAKDEN. 







colonies, in cold grassy places, where ninny otliei- ]>lants 

 wonld perish. 



The Winter Aconite (Eranthis hyenialis) shonld be 

 naturalised in every country seat in Britain — it is as easy to 

 do so as to introduce the thistle. It may he placed (piite 

 under the Ijranches of deciduous trees, will come up and 

 flower when the trees are naked, Avill have its foliage developed 

 before the leaves come on 

 the trees, and be afterwards '"^'^'""ivr"^'^- •''" 

 hidden from sight. Thus 

 masses of this earliest flower 

 may be grown with- 

 out the slightest 

 sacrifice of space, 

 and only be noticed 

 when Itearing a 

 bloom on every little 

 stem. That fine old 

 ])lant,the Christmas 

 Rose ( Hellel lorus 

 niger), likes partial 

 shade better thaii full exposure, and should be used abun- 

 dantly, giving it rather snug and warm positions, so that its 

 flowers may be encouraged to open well and fully. Any 

 other kinds might also be used, liecently many kinds of 

 Helleborus have been added to our gardens, not all of them 

 so conspicuous at first sight as tlie Christmas Eose, yet they 

 are of remarkable beauty of foliage and habit as well as of 

 blossom, and they flower in the spring. These, too, show the 



They 



The (Ireeii Hellebore in the Wild (iarden. 



advantage of the wild garden as regards cultiAation 



