2 The Wild Garden 



in favour of this 'bedding' system. This was car- 

 ried to such an extent that it was not uncommon, 

 indeed it was the rule, to find the largest gardens 

 in the country without a single hardy flower, all 

 energies being devoted to the few exotics for the 

 summer decoration. It should be borne in mind that 

 the expense for this system is an annual one ; that no 

 matter what may be spent in this way, or how many 

 years may be devoted to perfecting it, the first sharp 

 frost of November announces yet further labours. 



Its highest results need hardly be described ; they are 

 seen in all our public gardens ; our London and many 

 other city parks show them in the shape of beds filled 

 with vast quantities of flowers, covering the ground 

 frequently in a showy way. I will not here enter into 

 the question of the merits of this system ; it is enough 

 to state that even on its votaries it is beginning to pall. 

 Some are looking back with regret to the old mixed- 

 border gardens; others are endeavouring to soften 

 the harshness of the bedding system by the intro- 

 duction of fine-leaved plants, but all are agreed that 

 a mistake has been made in destroying all our old 

 flowers, from Lilies to Hepaticas, though few have 

 a fair idea of the numbers of beautiful hardy plants 

 which we may gather from every northern and temperate 

 clime to grace our gardens under a more artistic 

 system. 



My object in the Wild Garden is now to show how 

 we may have more of the varied beauty of hardy 



