BROOK-SIDE, WATER-SIDE, AND BOG GARDENS, 77 
the most delightful kind could be formed. The juxtaposition 
of plants inhabiting different situations 
water-plants, water- 
side plants, and land-plants thriving in moist ground—would 
prevent what would, in many cases, be go undesirable—a 
general admixture of the whole. Two distinct classes of effects 
could be obtained, the beauty of the flowers seen close at 
hand, and that of the more conspicuous kinds in the distance, 
or from the other side of the water of a stream or lakelet. 
An interesting point in favour of the wild garden is the 
succession of effects which it may afford, and which are sug- 
gested by the illustrations on the next pages, both showing a 
succession of life on the same spot of ground. In gardens in 
early summer at present the whole of the portion devoted 
to flower-gardening is dug up raw as a ploughed field, just 
when the earth is naturally most thickly strewn with flowers. 
A very little consideration and observation will suffice to 
make it clear that a succession of effects may be secured 
without this violent disfigurement of our gardens in the 
fairest days of early summer. These are not the days for 
digging or planting either, and the system that necessitates 
them is pernicious in its effects on our gardens. 
It is equally an enemy of all peace or rest for the gar- 
dener, who, having trenched, dug, enriched, planted, and sown, 
through the autumn, winter, and spring, might certainly begin 
to look for the fruits and flowers of his labour, when he has 
to face the most trying effort of all—the planting of the 
flower-garden in May and June with a host of flowers too 
tender to be committed to the earth at an earlier season. 
The bog-garden is a home for the numerous children of 
the wild that will not thrive on our harsh, bare, and dry 
