2i8 The Wild Garden 



spots, and pretty for chalky soils, on which it flowers 

 freely. Being uncommon it is just the sort of plant 

 to which those who have the right soil may give the 

 hospitality of the garden. 



Adonis autumnalis is the pretty 'pheasant's-eye,' an 

 annual plant found in corn-fields, and of which the seed 

 is offered in catalogues under the name of Flos Adonis. 



The Ranunculus, or Crowfoots, begin with R. aquatilis 

 and its several varieties, and several other species of 

 Water Ranunculi with divided leaves. Few gardens 

 offer any facilities for cultivating these. The most 

 we can do is to introduce them to a pond or stream 

 in which they are not already found, or add one of 

 the long-leaved or rarer kinds to the common kind 

 or kinds ; but their home is in the fresh stream, ' hither, 

 thither, idly playing,' or in the lake, and therefore they 

 hardly come among garden plants. I have tried to 

 grow all the kinds I could get, but the Canadian weed 

 or the common R. aquatilis soon exterminated them. 

 R. Ficaria is the pretty shining-leaved yellow kind, which 

 abounds in moist and shaded places in spring ; R. Flam- 

 mula (the Spearwort) is a native of wet marshes and 

 river-sides in all parts of Britain, and is well suited 

 for planting by the water-side, though not so hand- 

 some as the greater Spearwort, R. Lingua, which is 

 2 or 3 feet high, and with large showy, yellow 

 flowers. It is very fine near water, and is freely scat- 

 tered over the British Isles, though not often plentiful. 

 These plants must usually be coUefcted in a wild state, 



