HARDY EXOTIC FLOWERINli PLANTS. 143 



(Gentianella) wnnld grow as freely in moist places on any of our own 

 mountains as it docs on its native liills ; as, indeed, it would in all 

 moist loams, where it could Jiot lie choked by coarse and taller subjects. 

 Tlie tall willow Gentian (G. asclepiadea) is a handsome plant, which, in 

 the mountain woods of Switzerland, may be seen bloomiii,^ anion.i; long 

 grass in shade of trees, and this fact is suggestive as to its use in this 

 country. 



Snowdrops, Galantltus. — The charms of our own Snowdrop 

 when naturalised in the grass are well known to all, but many of the 

 new kinds have claims also in that respect, such as Elwesi and G. 

 plicatus. It is surprising how comparatively few people take 

 advantage of the facility with which the Snowdrop grows in grass, so 

 as to have it in pretty groups and colonies by grass-walks or drives. 

 The accompanying illustration, which shows it on the margin of a 

 streamlet in a Somersetshire valley, shows that it is not particular as to 

 situation. It suggests the many places it may adorn other than the 

 garden border. 



Cow Parsnips, Heracleum. — Giant herbaceous plants, mostly 

 from Northern Asia, with liuge divided leaves, and umbels (sometimes 

 a foot across) of white or whitish flowers. They are very suitable for 

 rough places on the banks of rivers or artificial water, islands, or in 

 any position in which a very vigorous and liold tyjje of foliage may be 

 desired. In arranging them it should be borne in luind that their 

 foliage dies down and disappears in the end of summer. When 

 established they sow themselves, so that seedling plants in abundance 

 may be picked up around them. In all cases it is important that their 

 seed should be sown immediately after being gathered. But it is also 

 important not to allow them to monopolise the ground, as then they 

 Ijecome objectionable. To this end it may, in certain positions, be 

 desirable to prevent them seeding. 



Day Lily, Hemerocallis. — Vigorous plants of the lily order, with 

 hjug leaves and graceful habit, and large and showy red-orange or 

 yellow flowers, sometimes scented as delicately as the primrose. There 

 are two types, one large and strong like flava and fulva, the other short 

 and somewhat fragile like graminea. The larger kinds are superb 

 plants for naturalisation, growing in any soil, and taking care of them- 

 selves among coarse herbaceous plants or brambles. 



Christmas Rose, Helleborus. — Stout but dwarf perennials, with 

 showy blooms appearing in winter and spring when flowers are rare, 

 and with handsome leathery and glossy leaves. They thrive in almost 



