The Garden of British Wild Flowers. 235 



fully beautiful than the flower-laden stems of the 

 Solomon's-seal arching forth from such posi- 

 tions. It is not enough to meet with the Lily- 

 of-the-valley in the garden, we should meet with it 

 in the wilderness, by the woodland walk, among 

 the Primroses and Bluebells, and wherever native 

 or hardy plants are cultivated. The Star of 

 Bethlehem (Ornithogalum umbellatum) and the 

 drooping Ornithogalum are established in several 

 parts of the country. The first is a well-known old 

 garden plant ; the second a handsome kind with 

 drooping flowers. With these I will group the 

 Meadow Safiron (Colchicum autumnale), which is 

 abundant in some parts of Ireland and England, 

 and frequently cultivated as a garden plant, com- 

 monly under the name of the Autumn Crocus, which 

 name properly belongs to the blue Crocus nudi- 

 florus before alluded to.. Both plants should be 

 associated in every garden. 



In the rather large Grass family the common 

 Ribbon Grass (Phalaris arundinacea variegata), 

 Hierochloe borealis (a rare northern plant, sweet- 

 scented when dried). Milium effusum (a handsome 

 wood grass, rather common), the exquisitely grace- 

 ful Apera Spica-venti of the eastern counties, the 

 Hare's-tail Grass of the Channel Islands (Lagurus 



