84 TOWN AND WINDOW GARDENING 



are Wind-flowers, wild Hyacinth, Wood-violets, and 

 Celandine. Enchanter's Night-shade is a visitor that is 

 inclined to be too pushful, but we like a little left, to study- 

 its life-history as related so delightfully by Grant Allen. 

 Under the Osmundas there is a carpet of Oak and Beech 

 Fern, but below the hardy common Ferns we let the 

 Alpine Strawberry run about — how bright its scarlet 

 berries in the cool green leaves! — and Wood-sorrel, that 

 most engaging weed, claimed by many as the true Sham- 

 rock of St. Patrick. There is no wild flower more in- 

 teresting ; its triune leaflets are so sensitive, closing if 

 startled, or if the wind be chill, and on hot summer after- 

 noons it is amusing to listen for the cracking of its tiny 

 artillery as the seed-pods burst, to fling their harmless 

 contents all around. 



In very early spring Blue-bells and the constant Prim- 

 rose find warm corners on our Fern-bank, and show bright 

 faces sooner than elsewhere. It is here the "spotted 

 Orchis takes his annual step across the earth" — why is 

 this plant so walkative ? Wood-sanicle is another weed 

 we allow no one to pull up ; it is to us a living lyric of 

 copse and woodland. Such simple plants are doubly 

 sweet when growing in the small surburban garden, houses 

 to right of us, houses to left of us, and houses over the 

 way. 



And now a word or two to those who fear to make a 

 fernery too near the house. Here is an extract from my 

 garden log-book, written in December 1901 : "The 

 Fern-bank against the Ivied wall is looking almost as well 

 as in August. The plants are simply revelling in the 

 moist still air. The undergrowth of Oak, Beech, Lime- 

 stone and Bladder Fern is gone, and some of the Lady 

 Fern is yellowing, but the Hart's-tongues are greener than 

 ever ; their bosses show up well, and the Male Fern and 

 hardy Polystichums and Polypodies are still flourishing, 

 many of them growing from a centre like gigantic 



