ASA GRAY'S LILY. 



263 



two tiers one above the other. They aver- 

 age 2 inches across the tube, are spotted 

 maroon-black on the inner surfaces,with 

 chocolate-coloured anthers within the 

 tube. The plant is easy to grow in any 

 damp, but not shady, situation, such as 

 the banks of streams, or the cool fernery ; 

 it often appears quite at its best planted 

 with the hardy Orchids and moisture- 

 loving Iris. It is finest in peat and leaf- 

 soil, or light loam with leaf-soil added 

 to it. It should be planted in September 

 or October,and flowers in July. Though 

 somewhat sombre in colour as compared 

 with the Lilies from western America, it 

 is good in groups among low-growing 

 shrubs or herbs in a moist corner, where 

 it is more at home than amid border- 

 plants of stronger growth and brighter 

 colouring. 



G. B. MALLETT, Colchester. 



Too many "Ponticums." — We are threatened with 

 the marring of our best home landscapes by the ill- 

 judged planting of the common Rhododendron ponti- 

 cum. The fact that it is rabbit proof, and that it grows 

 rapidly and flowers well in light soils, has caused an 

 indiscriminate use of it. For cover, experience has 

 shown us that it is totally unfit — rabbits, indeed, lie 

 in it, and it is difficult to beat them out, but phea- 

 sants never enter it. This does not seem to be from 

 any noxious properties in the plant, but because they 

 cannot run freely between the close-growing stems 

 as they can under other bushes. All shrubs are apt 

 to annoy the eye if over frequent, and this is just 

 the error into which we are falling with our ponti- 

 cums. As a rule the Rhododendron is best used in 

 what are termed middle distances. It is there you 

 will best enjoy its blossom in June and its verdure 

 in winter. Do not plant it close to the eye, under 

 the windows of your sitting-rooms, or along the ter- 

 race margins or walks. Keep those choice bits for 

 choicer plants, for delicate shrubs, or the finer hybrid 

 Rhododendrons, the foliage of which is better than 

 that of ponticum. But hang them thickly on that 

 sunny hill-side up to the very crest, and fill with rich 

 masses that dell, into which you look down from the 

 frail foot-bridge, or the solitary wood-walk high 

 above ; then you will know how to enjoy your Rho- 

 dodendrons as you never did before. 



THE GARDEN BEAUTIFUL. 

 HOME LANDSCAPE AND HOME 

 WOODS. FORMING WOODLAND 

 RIDES. 



We have lately shown how to get rid of 

 some of the worst of our now profitless 

 underwoods, so often worn out, thin, 

 and poor in effect ; and now we take 

 up a subject of scarcely less importance, 

 namely, the tracing and making of sim- 

 ple rides through woods. These are 

 necessary for shooting, as well as for the 

 clearing of the woods, driving, hunting, 

 and the pleasure of riding orwalking in 

 them, and they are often best dealt with 

 in replanting worn-out underwoods. 

 The older and more picturesque the 

 woodland, the easier the task of making 

 drives pleasant to the eye at all times as 

 well as right for use, though it is not un- 

 usual to see many woods without rides 

 of any value. It is not a hard task to im- 

 prove them, making them at first a little 

 more open than is common, and cutting 

 away here and there to bring into view 

 good groups of trees, or any helpful in- 

 cident such as a gully of Ferns. Native 

 plants are often beautiful in masses near 

 these rides, and their effect seen in any 

 clear way in shade is as good as that given 

 by any exotic plants. These are among 

 the right places to have beautiful native 

 plants that may be absent naturally in 

 the district, such as Solomon's Seal, Lily 

 of the Valley, and Willow Herb ; also 

 many of our hardy Ferns, introduced 

 again to their home in moist spots in the 

 woods, sorts such as the Royal Fern, 

 robbed by the hawkers from the many 

 spots in the home counties where it once 

 graced the shade with its stately form. 



