528 GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS 



knowledge, not only of the plant and its needs, but of proportion and 

 right use of form and colour. It is therefore most important in large 

 places, or places of whatever size that are carefully designed, to have a 

 regular system established, on the advice, if possible, of a competent 

 garden artist, and to keep to the same year after year, for it is a matter 

 that calls for the most highly trained ability. 



The few best vase plants are already well known, among them being 

 the Paris Daisy (Chrysanthemum frutescens)^ and it is better to put these 

 to their best use as to proportion and environment than to search about 

 for a larger number of plants that may possibly be used in vases. 



Planting a Strip Of Woodland. Amateurs are sometimes placed 

 in the position of the following inquirer, and this letter and answer to it 

 may assist others in need of similar advice : " I have lately thrown a 

 small strip of wood into the garden by pulling down part of the boundary 

 wall. I want advice as to the way to make it as attractive as possible. 



1 am having holes prepared for suitable plants. It is bounded on two 

 sides by a small river, and on the third by a ditch ; this and the river 

 usually overflow in winter, and in the summer dry up almost altogether. 

 The soil has never been dug, and is hard like clay, and full of roots. 

 The natural soil of the garden is very good. The trees are mostly Haw- 

 thorns, but there are some Beeches, a few Oaks, and a little grove of 

 Wild Cherry trees at one end. I should very much like to grow some 

 Lilies, Japan Anemones, &c., and thought of digging good large holes 



2 feet and 3 feet deep, and filling them up during the summer 

 with manure, refuse, and good soil. In one rather shady place there is 

 a little mound. What could I plant to trail over it and hang down ? " 



To this question we would advise for the chief planting Leucojum 

 cestivum, Daffodils, and Solomon's Seal, also hardy Ferns, including 

 Hart's Tongue. One plant likely to do well would be Iris /(Ktidissima^ 

 also the common Columbines, and Woodruff. Of Lilies the most suitable 

 would be the Martagon and the white variety. For trailing over the 

 mound, Ivy, Periwinkles, and Moneywort. Ivy is charming with Snow- 

 drops coming through it. Snowdrops would also probably do well 

 planted in quantity. If a large effect is desired, Polygonum Sieboldi 

 should be used, or if a group of flowering shrubs, Guelder Rose, or still 

 better, its original native form, the Water Elder ( Viburnum Opulus). 

 In planting in such a place it is well to maintain a different character to 

 that of the garden, by the use of plants that are either hardened natives 

 or might be wild. Nearly all those named are of this nature. Two 

 feet would be deep enough for the prepared holes, and we would not 

 advise making the soil too rich. 



Pomegranate, The. It is very curious and interesting to notice 

 how many beautiful things are seldom seen in an English garden, 

 although suitable for our climate. The Pomegranate is an illustration, 

 as the Curator of the Royal Gardens at Kew says : " Planted at the 

 foot of a south wall and treated generally like a well-groomed Peach 

 tree, it will flower from June to September. Its flowers are as rich 

 in colour as any scarlet flower known, and they last several days if cut 



