2 THE WILD GARDEN. 
duction there has been a gradual rooting out of all the old 
favourites in favour of this “bedding” system. This was 
carried to such an extent that it was not uncommon, indeed 
it has been the rule, to find the largest gardens in the country 
without a single hardy flower, all energy and expense being 
devoted to the production of the few exotics required for the 
summer decoration. It should be distinctly borne in mind 
that the expense for this system is an annual one; that no 
matter what amount of money may be spent in this way, or 
how many years may be devoted to perfecting it, the first 
sharp frost of November announces a yet further expense 
and labour, usually more heavy than the preceding. 
Its highest results need hardly be described; they are 
seen in all our great public gardens; our London and many 
other city parks show them in the shape of beds filled with 
vast quantities of flowers, covering the ground frequently in 
a showy way, or in a repulsively gaudy manner : nearly every 
private garden is taken possession of by the same things. I 
will not here enter into the question of the merits of this 
system; it is enough to state that even on its votaries it is 
beginning to pall. Some are looking back with regret to the 
old mixed-border gardens ; others are endeavouring to soften 
the harshness of the bedding system by the introduction of 
fine-leaved plants, but all are agreed that a great mistake has 
been made in destroying all our old flowers, from Lilies to 
Hepaticas, though very few persons indeed have any idea of 
the numbers of beautiful subjects in this way which we may 
gather from every northern and temperate clime to adorn our 
gardens under a more artistic system.. 
My object in the Wild Garden is now to show how we 
