30 The Wild Garden. 



For rocky bare places and sunny sandy banks 

 we have the spreading Gromwell (Lithospermum 

 prostratum), which, when in flower, looks just as if 

 some exquisite alpine Gentian had assumed the 

 form of a matted hispid bush, to enable it to hold 

 its own among creeping things and stouter herbs 

 than accompany it on the Alps. Also the dwarf 

 spring-blooming Lungworts (Pulmonarias), the 

 handsome profuse-flowering Italian Bugloss (An- 

 chusa),and the Apennine Hounds-tongue (Cynoglos- 

 sum), and that strong old plant the Cretan Borage 

 (generally known as Nordmannia cordifolia), which 

 opens its lavender-blue and conspicuous flowers in 

 early spring, and is tall and strong enough to main- 

 tain its position even among Docks or Nettles. It 

 would be found to delight in any old lane or by- 

 path with the winter Heliotrope or the like, while 

 there would be no fear of its becoming a weed, like 

 that sweet-scented wilding. 



We will next turn from the Forget-me-not order 

 to a very different type of vegetation — hardy bulbs. 

 Howmanyof us really enjoy the beauty which a judi- 

 cious use of a profusion of good and cheap Spring 

 Bulbs is certain to throw around a country seat or villa 

 garden .' How many get beyond the miserable con- 

 ventionalities of modern gardening, with its edgings 



