HARDY EXOTIC FLOWER IXG PLANTS. 



133 





improvement of tlie size of the individual blooms ; tliey are so matted 

 together in the sliruhheries I have mentioned, and liave remained so 

 long in the same placi', lliat the flowers are small." 



Virgin's Bower, Ukmatis. — Mostly climbing or trailing plants, 

 free, often luxuriant, sometimes rampant, in habit, with bluish, violet, 

 purple, white, or yellow flowers, produced most pi'ofuselj', and some- 

 times deliciously fragrant. They are most suited for covering stumps, 

 planting on rocky places, among low shrulis in copses, for draping over 

 the faces of rocks, sunny banks, or the bmws of sunk fences, covering 

 objectionable railings, 

 rough bowers, chalk 

 pits, hedges, etc., and 

 occasionally for isolat- 

 ing in large tufts in 

 oj)en spaces where 

 their effect could be -=C^- 

 seen from a distance. 

 Xot particular as to 



soil, the stronger kinds .^-^^ White-flowered European Clematis (C. erecta). 



will grow in any 



ground, but the large-flowered new hyljrids will thrive best in warnr, 



rich, deep soil. 



C. Viorna, C flanimula, montana, campaniflora, Yiticella, and 

 cirrhosa, must not be omitted from a selection of the wild kinds. The 

 new garden hybrids will also be useful. 



Dwarf Cornel, C'ornus canadensis. — This charming little bushy 

 plant, singularly beavitiful from its white bracts, is a very attractive 

 subject for naturalisation in moist, sandy, or peaty spots, in which our 

 native heaths, Mitchella repens, Linna-a borealis, and the Butterworts 

 would be likely to thrive. It would also grow well in moist woods, 

 where the herbaceous vegetation is dwarf. 



Mocassin Flower, Cypripedium spedabile. — The noblest of hardy 

 orchids, found far north in America, and thriving perfectly in England 

 and Ireland in deep rich or vegetable soil. Wherever the soil is not 

 naturally peat or rich vegetable matter this fine plant will succeed on 

 the margins of beds of rhododendrons, etc. It should be sheltered bj'- 

 surrounding bushes, and be in a moist position. Others of the genus, 

 and various other hardy orchids, are worthy of naturalisation ; but the 

 mocassin flower is the best as well as the most easily tried at present. 



Sowbread, Cyclamen. — It was the sight of a grove nearly covered 



