The Garden of British Wild Flowers. 333 



grown in garden waters ; but, irideed, these are in- 

 variably neglected. 



If you have ever seen the Flowering Rush (Buto- 

 mus umbellatus) in flower, you are not likely to 

 omit it from a collection of water plants, as it is 

 conspicuous and distinct. It is a native of the 

 greater part of Europe and Russian Asia, and dis- 

 persed over the central and southern parts of Eng- 

 land and Ireland. Plant it not far from the margin ; 

 it likes rich muddy soil. The common Sagittaria, 

 prevalent, very prevalent in England and Ireland, 

 but not in Scotland, might be associated with this ; 

 but there is a very much finer double kind to 

 be had here and there, and which is probably 

 a variety of the common kind. It is really a fine 

 plant, its flowers being white, and resembling, but 

 larger than, those of the old white double rocket. 

 It grows in abundance in the tea or pleasure 

 gardens of the Rye House at Broxbourne, 

 where it fills a sort of oblong basin or wide 

 ditch, and looks quite attractive when in flower. 

 Its large tubers, or rather receptacles of farina, 

 are frequently discovered and destroyed by wild 

 fowl, which suggests that it might be worth plant- 

 ing as food for such birds. 

 Among bold and picturesque plants for the 



