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FLORA AND BYLVA. 



Often simple and good effects will come 

 from the growth of one family of shrubs or 

 plants. One such garden I have seen with a 

 most beautiful collection of Lilacs, planted to 

 hide and break the outline of a fence, beside 

 a long path winding in and out amidst a va- 

 riety of these shrubs such as I have seen no- 

 where else. They were varied by other shrubs 

 and clumps of bulbous and other plants which 

 thrive in partial shade. To wander down that 

 path in Lilac-time was a thing to remember. 

 Their guardian could tell which were the most 

 fragrant, and which lasted best when cut, and 

 which were really distinct from the mere flo- 

 rist's fancies, and other points of Lilac-lore. 

 This is but typical of what may be done with 

 a variety of plants and shrubs, either of one fa- 

 mily, or it may be related only inculture, such 

 as marsh and water plants, or hardy bulbs and 

 tubers from many lands. The Violet, in its va- 

 rieties, or any good hardy plants, may be so used. 

 In no case need such studies mean the neg- 

 lect of other plants ; in fact, the aim should 

 be a succession of such plants to complete as 

 far as may be the floral year, and timed so as 

 to allow to each its turn of care and admira- 

 tion. Some of our best plants, the Rose, Carna- 

 tion, Dahlia, and Chrysanthemum have their 

 devotees it is true, but their special culture is 

 mainly a round of shows and of hair-splitting 

 variations, so that the distinction from a true 

 garden standpoint is more of a loss than a gain 

 to the plant, as giving a double and false stan- 

 dard of value. Plants merely good for exhi- 

 bition are best left alone — our concern is for 

 garden beauty only. Nor need the restriction 

 be in any sense a botanical one. One of the 

 loveliest garden-fancies I have met was what 

 its author called a Garden of Spices, in which 

 every plant was grown for its perfume, massed 

 in great clusters, amongst which the bees 

 held carnival— clusters the odour of which 

 often greeted one at a distance of yards. The 

 sweetest plants both in flower and leaf from 

 the whole temperate world were gathered into 

 a small area. Clusters of sweet Roses, Jasmine, 

 Honeysuckle, or Lemon-Verbena stretched 

 forward each from its own place, while bunches 

 of blue Wistaria, fragrant Bignonia, and other 

 less-known climbers, swung down in profusion 

 from overhead. The whole was so beautifully 

 graded that one passed by unseen stages from 



tender exotics, through a long array of plants 

 becoming increasingly hardy, until one wan- 

 dered out at last amongst fragrant Pines and 

 Myrtles, with a natural carpet of Wild Thyme, 

 Rosemary, Lavender, and nativeherbs,with no- 

 thing foreign intermixed but seemed as much 

 at home as the wildest of them. True, the 

 spot was in itself unique — a long strip of undu- 

 lating shore overhanging the Mediterranean, 

 in a climate famed for its perfumes ; but the 

 idea might be adapted nearer home with plants 

 that enjoy our clime,and any scheme which gets 

 [ us away from the stereotyped garden and weari- 

 some monotony of the ordinary " bedding " 

 and shrubbery is worth attempting. — B. 



Rhamnus angustifolia. — When selecting 

 shrubs for the garden it is natural and right 

 to choose, as far as possible, those with distinct 

 merit of flower or fruit ; still there are plants, 

 possessing neither of these claims, deserving 

 of place for their foliage and form, and amongst 

 such this plant is a good one. In this country it 

 is rarely seen in gardens, and, though more fre- 

 quently used on the Continent under the name 



J of Rhamnus Perrieri, is nowhere common. 



i Though a variety of Rhamnus alaternus^ it is 

 very distinct, and far more useful than the wild 

 plant common over the south-west of Europe 

 as a straggling shrub or small tree, which varies 

 much in size and habit, but is seldom good 

 enough for gardens, the flowers small and green, 

 and the dusky-red berries not showy. The va- 

 riegated varieties, though better in habit, still 

 betray too often the scanty looseness of the type. 

 Rhamnus Perrkri, on the other hand, is a low, 

 dense-growing shrub of garden origin and mo- 

 del form, its shining dark-green leaves of irre- 

 gular outline well displayed and attractive at 

 all seasons. For the rock-garden, where ram- 

 pant bushes are out of place, or for use with 

 other dwarf shrubs in winter bedding, this is a 

 good plant. — B. 



Creer des fleurs, — c'est le seul ouvrage pour 

 lequel Dieu accepte des collaborateurs. L'art 

 a cree des fleurs; quel doux orgueil s'il naissait 

 une plante nouvelle semde par vous, — une 

 plante qui n'existerait que dans votre jardin, 

 — dont personne ne verrait les couleurs et ne 

 respireriat les parfums que ceux a qui vous 

 les donneriez, comme Dieu a donne les autres 

 plantes a tout le monde. — Alphonse Karr. 



