40 OUR ROCK-GARDEN 



anticipation our rock-garden is bright in sheltered 

 positions with patches of the snowdrop. The plant 

 stands its ground sturdily enough in the keenest 

 weather and the most boisterous gales, frail-looking 

 and delicate as it appears. It should be in flower 

 by February, and when once planted should be left 

 undisturbed. Some would tell us that the snowdrop 

 is not really one of our native flowers, but however 

 that may be, we at least know that for centuries it 

 has been springing up in our woods and shady 

 pastures. 



The question as to what is and what is not 

 indigenous is a very difficult one, if we insist on 

 proof and pedigree. Of course if we can definitely 

 show that a certain plant was introduced, designedly 

 or accidentally, by the Phoenician merchants, the 

 Roman legionaries, or any one else, centuries of 

 residence amongst us, and the happiest adaptation 

 to English conditions, will not suffice ; it must 

 be throughout the ages considered as having at 

 most been granted letters of naturalisation ; but 

 most of us will be well content to welcome amongst 

 us, and enrol in our Flora, such a plant. If we come 

 down to very hard fact, nothing we presume must 

 be held really indigenous to these islands unless it 

 can be demonstrated that it was already flourishing 

 here while Adam and Eve were yet in Eden. If 

 it were not here at the beginning of all things 

 it came from somewhere else. This sounds un- 



