44 The Wild Garden. 



wild state for banks, stumps, chalk-pits, hedges, copses, 

 and even for planting in masses in grassy places. 



Richer sheets of noble bloom are not to be seen in 

 the open air in any northern clime than those produced 

 by the new hybrid clematises raised by Jackman of 

 Woking and others. They are capable of beautifying 

 any position, and seem to conform to almost any mode 

 of culture or training — pegged down, trained up on 

 stakes, or nailed against walls ; but there is certainly 

 no spot which suits them so well as the face of a large 

 rock, natural or artificial. Planted in deep good soil, 

 above and behind such an object, the shoots will fall 

 over the face of the rock in vigorous matted tufts, and 

 in due season become so densely covered with flowers as 

 to resemble a truly imperial robe of purple. They may 

 also be planted so as to fall over the side-walls of rustic 

 bridges either over walks or streams, and may be allowed 

 to run over the face of bare sunny banks, where they 

 would produce a magnificent effect. The variety best 

 known at present is Jackman's (Clematis Jackmani) ; 

 but there are many other kinds. 



Meadow Rues. Thalictrums. This large and well- 

 marked family is of somewhat too coarse and weedy a 

 nature for garden culture ; but, being possessed of a very 

 vigorous habit, and being also distinct in aspect, it is 

 precisely one of those that are suitable for planting here 

 and there in the wildest and roughest parts of our planta- 

 tions. Of the rather numerous kinds of these grown in 

 our botanic gardens, the most ornamental are the plumy 

 Meadow-rue and the fetid Meadow-rue : as these are 

 capable of producing distinct and desirable effects, I will 



