THE COMMON SHRUBBERY, 63 
about hardy plants than naturalising the Lily of the Valley 
in pleasant spots about a country house. It is in every gar- 
. den, of course, and very often so crowded and so starved that 
it seldom flowers well. A bare garden border is not so suit- 
able for it as that in which it may be found in a thin wood, 
or in little openings in a copse, where it enjoys enough 
light, and gets shelter too. Frequently the fresh wood soil 
would be more welcome to it than the worn-out soil in a 
garden; also by planting it in various positions and soils, we 
The Lily of the Valley in a copse. 
may secure an important difference as regards blooming. 
In a cool woody place it would bloom ten days later 
than in an exposed warm garden border; and this difference 
could be increased by carefully selecting the position. Apart 
altogether from the wild garden and its charms, this difference 
in the time of blooming of the Lily of the Valley would be a 
great advantage to all who have to provide cut flowers, inas- 
much as it would give them late bloom in plenty without 
trouble. However, giving reasons for the naturalisation of 
the Lily of the Valley is surely unnecessary. The only sur- 
