The Garden of British Wild Flowers. 193 



on almost any soil or situation, and may be grown 

 with ease even in large towns, provided always 

 that they are fully exposed to the sun, and get a 

 few thorough waterings during very dry summers. 

 They are dotted over with white flowers in early 

 Summer, the stems of which should be cut off as 

 soon as the flowers perish ; but to me their great 

 beauty is in Autumn, when they glisten into various 

 tints of the most refreshing green, and all through 

 the winter, when they remain in the same condi- 

 tion, or emerge from the deepest snows verdant as 

 leaves in June. S. hypnoides, abundant in Scot- 

 land, Wales, and northern England, with its varieties, 

 is our most important plant in this way ; and S. 

 caespitosa, found on some of the higher Scotch moun- 

 tains, is nearly allied to it, and of nearly equal merit. 

 There is no necessity for going to the Scotch or 

 any other mountains for these mossy Saxifrages, 

 as they are grown a great deal here and there — may 

 be had from many nurseries — and seed is offered 

 in some catalogues. 



Green is attractive to many people, especially 

 in winter, and to those whose eyes require refresh- 

 ment after severe mental exertion or sedentary 

 work — a very large class indeed, nowadays. In 

 towns it is difficult to get shrubs to retain 



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