132 THE WILD GARDEN. 
Cheiranthus will be found to grow on ruins quite as well, but at 
present we are not quite sure of these. The clear yellow Erysimum 
ochroleucum is very like a wallflower in type, and thrives well in dry 
sandy places, With these might be associated Vesicaria utriculata. 
Meadow Saffron, OColchicum.—In addition to the meadow 
saffron, plentifully dotted over the moist fields in various parts of 
England, there are several other species which could be readily 
naturalised in almost any soil and position. They would be particularly 
desirable where 
subjects that flower 
in autumn would 
be sought; and 
they are charming, 
seen in tufts or 
colonies on the 
lawn or in the 
jg. pleasure-ground. 
Crocus.— One 
or two Crocuses are 
naturalised in Eng- 
land already, and 
there is scarcely one 
The foliage of the Meadow Saffron in Spring. of them that willnot 
succeed thus if pro- 
perly placed. They should not be placed where coarse vegetation would 
choke them up or prevent the sun getting to their flowers and leaves, 
Some of the delicately-tinted varieties of vernus are well worth dotting 
about in grassy places and on sunny slopes, if only to accompany the snow- 
drop. C. Imperati is a valuable early-flowering kind, and the autumnal 
flowering ones are particularly desirable ; but we must not particularise 
where all are good. “In the plantations here,” writes a correspondent, 
“on each side of a long avenue, we have the common Crocus in every 
shade of purple (there are scarcely any yellow ones) growing literally 
in hundreds of thousands. We have no record of when the roots were 
originally planted (and the oldest people about the estate say they have 
always been the same as far as their recollection goes) ; but they grow 
so thickly that it is quite impossible to step where they are without 
treading on two or three flowers. The effect produced by them in spring 
is magnificent, but unfortunately, their beauty is but short-lived. I 
have transplanted a good many roots to the wild garden, to the great 
