150 The Wild Garden 



remembered by many travellers. It would thrive in warm 

 and sandy soils, and there is an allied species (A. ciliatum) 

 which does well in any soil, gives a similar effect, and 

 produces myriads of star-like white flowers. Singular effects 

 may be produced from species less showy and more curious 

 and vigorous, as, for example, the old yellow A. Moly. 



Alstrcemeria. — All who care for hardy flowers must admire 

 Alstrcemeria aurantiaca, especially spreading into healthy 

 masses, and when there is a great variety in the height of the 

 flowering stems. A valuable quality of the plant is, that it 

 spreads freely in any light soil, and is quite hardy. For dry 

 places between shrubs, for dry or sandy banks (either planted 

 or bare), or heathy places, this plant is admirable. I have 

 noticed it thriving in the shade of fir trees. It is interesting 

 as being a South American plant, thriving in warm soils, 

 but often slow and dwarf on cold soils. 



Marsh Mallow, Alihcea. — These are plants rarely seen out 

 of botanic-gardens, and yet, from their vigour and showy 

 flow^afs, may be effective in the wild garden. The common 

 Hollyhock is an Althaea, and in its single form is tj^ical of 

 the vigorous habit and good showy flowers of other rampant 

 species, such as A. ficifolia. A group of these plants would 

 be effective near a wood walk, no flower garden being large 

 enough for their extraordinary vigour. 



Alyssum. — In spring every single little shoot of the wide 

 tufts and flakes of these plants sends up a little fountain of 

 small golden flowers. For bare, stony, or rocky banks, and 

 for poor sandy ground, and ruins, they are admirable. 

 Alyssum Wiersbecki and A. saxatile are strong enough to 

 take care of themselves on the margins of shrubberies, &c., 

 where the vegetation is not very coarse, but are best for 

 rocky or stony places, or old ruins, and thrive freely on 



