40 



THE WILD GARDEN. 



of blossoms — hut in gardens not yet. Some may say that 

 this cannot he done in gardens ; l)nt it can he done infinitely 

 hetter in gardens than it has ever been done in nature ; because, 

 for gardens we can select plants from many countries. We 

 can effect contrasts, in which nature is poor in any one place 

 in consequence of the comparatively few plants tliat naturally 

 inhabit one spot of ground. People seldom remember that " the 

 art itself is nature; " and foolish old laws laid down by land- 

 scape-gardeners are yet fertile in perpetuating the 

 notion that a garden is a " work of art, and there- 

 fore we must not attempt in it to 

 imitate nature." 



Sometimes, where there are 

 Uirge and bare slopes, an excellent 

 effect may be obtained by planting 

 the stouter climbers, such as the 

 Vines, Mountain Clematis, and 

 Honeysuckles, in groups or masses 

 on the grass, away from shrubs or 

 low trees ; while, when the banks 

 are precipitous or the rocks crop 

 forth, we may allow a curtain of 

 climbers to fall over tliem. 



Endless charming; combinations 

 may be made in this way in many 

 spots near most country houses. The following genera 

 are among the climbing and clinging hardy plants most 

 suitable for garlanding copses, hedges, and thickets : — Ever- 

 lasting Peas (many kinds), the hardy exotic Honeysuckles, 

 Clematis (wild species maiiily), the common Jasmine, 



<!S*!^ 



The Nootka Bramble ; type of free- 

 growing flowering shrub. For 

 copses and woods. 



