122 THE WILD GARDEN. 



Bugle, Ajuga. — Not a very iiuintToiis family so far as represented 

 in gardens, but some of the species are valuable for the wild _i,'arden, 

 notably Ajuga genevensis, which thrives freely in ordinary soils in 

 open and half- shady places among dwarf vegetation, and affords 

 beautiful tufts and carpets of l)lue. It spreads rapidly and is hardy 

 everywhere. The plants mostly come from the cool uplands and hills 

 of the temperate regions of Europe and Asia. 



Yarrow, Achillea. — A numerous family of hardy plants spread 

 tlirougli Northern Asia, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Hungary, etc., but 

 more in Soutliern than in Central or Northern Europe. In the Alps 

 and Pyrenees numerous species are found. The Golden Yarrows (A. 

 Eupatorium and A. filipendulina) are stately herbaceous plants, witli 

 liroad handsome corymbs of brilliantly showy flowers, attaining a height 

 of 3 feet or 4 feet, and growing freely in any soil. These are well 

 worthy of naturalisation. Various other Achilleas would grow 

 quite as well in copses and rough places as the common Yarrow, 

 l)ut we know of none more distinct and brilliant than tlie preceding. 

 The vigorous white-flowering kinds are superb for shrubberies, where 

 tlieir numerous white heads of flowers produce a singularly pleasing effect 

 under the trees in summer. With few exceptions these plants have 

 never been grown out of botanic gardens, many of them being thought 

 too coarse for the mixed border. They are, nevertheless, remarkablj^ 

 l)eautiful both in flower and foliage, and many effects never before seen 

 in gardens may be obtained by massing tliem under trees in shrubberies 

 or copses, as a rule allowing one species to establish itself in each place 

 and assume an easy natural boundary of its o\vn. The small Alpine 

 species woidd be interesting plants for stony or bare rocky places. 



Allium. — A most extensive genus of plants scattered in abundance 

 throughout the northern temperate and alpine regions of Europe and 

 Asia, and also iu America. Some of the species are very beautiful, 

 so mucli so as to claim for them a place in gardens notwithstanding 

 their disagreeable odour. It is in the wild garden only, however, that 

 this family can find a fitting home ; tlrere species tliat do not seem 

 attractive enough for the garden proper would afford novel effects at 

 certain seasons. One of the most desirable effects to produce in the 

 wild garden would be tliat of the beautiful white Narcissus-like Allium 

 of the south of Europe (A. neapolitanuni). The sheets of this in the 

 Lemon orchards of Provence will be remembered with pleasure by 

 many travellers. It would thrive in warm and sandy soils : there is an 

 allied species (A. ciliatum) which does well in any soil, affords a 



