254 The Wild Garden 



found in only a few localities, and thriving on rocky 

 borders and banks among dwarf plants. It is common 

 on the Continent, and may be readily had from some 

 nurseries, and in all botanic gardens in this country. 



The common Lily of the Valley is a true native plant, 

 abundant in some counties, though wanting in others. 

 The graceful Solomon's Seal (Polygonatum multiflorum) 

 and the Lily of the Valley should be planted to establish 

 themselves in a semi-wild state in every place which 

 has a shrubbery or wood. The Star of Bethlehem 

 (Ornithogalum umbellatum) and the drooping O. nutans 

 are established in several parts of the country. The 

 first is a well-known old garden plant; the second 

 a handsome kind with drooping flowers. To these we 

 may add the Meadow Saffron (Colchicum autumnale), 

 abundant in parts of Ireland and England, and fre- 

 quently cultivated as a garden plant, commonly under 

 the name of the Autumn Crocus, which name properly 

 belongs to our blue Crocus nudiflorus. 



A Gladiolus (G. illyricus) has recently been found 

 in the New Forest, near Lyndhurst ; it is worthy of 

 culture, and indeed is, or was, a favourite plant in many 

 gardens before it was discovered as a British plant, 

 having come to our gardens from Southern Europe. 

 The Spring Crocus (C. vernus) is abundant in the 

 neighbourhood of Nottingham, and other parts of Eng- 

 land and Ireland; and the less known but equally 

 beautiful Autumn Crocus (C. nudiflorus). is also natural- 

 ized in Derbyshire, about Nottingham, and in a few 



