154 



The IVild Garden 



be grown in gravel and sandy places. In certain positions 

 in large gardens it would be an improvement to allow the 

 very walks or drives to become covered with very dwarf 

 plants — plants which could be walked upon with little injury. 

 The surface would be dry enough, being drained below, and 

 would be more agreeable to the feet. 



Asphodel, Ji sphodelus. -^The Asphodels are among the 



plants that have 

 never been popu- 

 lar, the habit of 

 the species being 

 somewhat coarse 

 and the flowering 

 period not long ; 

 and yet they are of 

 a distinct order of ' 

 beauty, which well 

 deserves to be seen 

 in open spaces in 

 shrubberies. The 

 plants are mostly 

 natives of the coun- 

 tries round the 

 Mediterranean, 

 and thrive freely in 

 ordinary soils. 

 Lords and 

 Ladies, Arum. — Mostly a tropical and sub-tropical family, 

 some plants of which grow as far north as Southern Europe. 

 These are quite hardy in our gardens. The Italian Arum 

 deserves a place in the wild garden, from its fine leaves 

 in winter. It should be placed in sheltered places where 



TALL ASPHODEL in copse. 



