Some Results 137 



of plants from what may be thought their most perfect 

 state of blossom, may be itself a new pleasure instead of 

 a warning that we must cut them down or replace them. 

 Not to mow is almost a necessity in the wild garden, 

 and as there is often in large gardens much more mown 

 surface than is necessary, many will not regret it. 

 Here the Grass is left unmown in many places. Of 

 course it may be cut when ripe, and most of the spring 

 flowers have past and their leaves are out of danger. 

 Even in parts where no flowers are planted the Grass 

 is left till long enough to cut as meadow. Except where 

 wanted as a carpet, Grass may often be allowed to grow 

 even in the pleasure ground ; quite as good an effect is 

 afforded by unmown as the mown Grass — indeed, better 

 when the long Grass is full of flowers. Three-fourths 

 of the most lovely flowers of cold and temperate regions 

 are companions of the Grass — like Grasses in hardiness, 

 like Grasses in summer life and winter rest, like Grasses 

 in stature. Whatever plants may seem best to associate 

 together in gardens, an immense number — more than 

 two thousand species of those now cultivated — would 

 thrive to perfection among our meadow Grasses, as they 

 do on the Grassy breast of the mountain in many northern 

 lands. Some, Hke the tall Irises or Columbines, will 

 show their heads clear above the delicate bloom of the 

 Grass ; others, like the Cerastiums, will open their cups 

 T>eIow it. The varieties of Columbine in the Grass were 

 perhaps the prettiest flowers at the time of my visit. 

 The white, purplish, and delicately-coloured forms of 



