100 THE WILD GARDEN. 



even in stature. Whatever plants may seem best to associate 

 with in gardens, an innnense nun:iher — more than two 

 thousand species of those now cultivated — would thrive to 

 perfection among our meadow Grasses, as they do on the 

 Grassy breast of the mountain in many lands. Some, like 

 the tall Irises or Columbines, will show their heads clear 

 above the delicate bloom of the ( irass ; others, like the 

 Cerastiums, will open tlieir cups below it, in this way 

 multij^lying the variety of effects that may be obtained. 

 The varieties of Columbine in the Grass were perhaps tlie 

 prettiest flowers at the time of my visit. The white, purplish, 

 and delicately -variegated forms of this charming old plant, 

 just seen above the tops of the long Grass, growing singly, 

 in little groups, or in spreading colonies, were sufficient in 

 themselves to form a wild garden for June. Established 

 among the Grass, they will henceforward, like it, take care of 

 themselves. The rosy, heart-shaped blooms of the Dielytra 

 spectabilis are recognised at some distance tlirough the Grass, 

 and, so grown, furnish a bright and peculiarly pretty effect. 

 Tree Pa^onies succeed admirablv, and their oreat heads of 

 flower quite light up this charming wilderness. I'lants of the 

 Goat's Beard Spinea (S. Aruncus) are very stately and grace- 

 ful, even now, before their flowering, being quite G It. high. 

 In a few weeks, when the numerous flowers are open, they 

 will present quite another aspect. In the wild garden, apart 

 from the naturalisation of free-growing exotics, tlie establish- 

 ment of rare British flowers is one of the most interesting 

 occupations ; and here, under a Pine tree, the modest, trail- 

 ing Linmea borealis of the northern Fir- woods is beginning 

 to spread. The Foxglove was not originally found in the 



