NORMAN TOWER GARDEN 27 



variety, flowers well, but needs constant propagation to keep 

 up a good stock. Pasonies, Phloxes, Thalictrums, Incarvilleas, 

 Aconitums, Pyrethrums, Asters and many others are grown, 

 a few of the best of each only, as room is strictly limited. 

 Ostrowskya magnifica I have in the garden, but it is what 

 gardeners term a very " mifFy " or difficult subject. It exists 

 and brings to perfection now and then some blooms which 

 are superb, but I cannot say it merits the term " magnifica " 

 in the Norman Tower garden, though it undoubtedly is a 

 splendid plant when well grown. It is said to grow in a 

 chalky soil in its native home, which was partly the reason 

 for my trying it here. Being placed close under a high wall, 

 many of the plants become very drawn and spindly ; they 

 thereby lose much of their character, and staking of plants, 

 which usually do not require it, becomes an absolute neces- 

 sity. And in consequence of the border being very narrow 

 (its average width being only 4 feet), and because it is 

 raised above the level of the walk (in some places as much 

 as 2 feet), it drains very rapidly, and thus requires copious 

 waterings when the plants are in full growth. 



At the base of the slope below the Round Tower and 

 immediately beneath the " Daffodil bank " is a bog garden. 

 Here are grown a number of those plants which are at home 

 in moist spots. Astilbes are well represented, most of them 

 attaining their maximum height and flowering freely. Several 

 of the Cimicifugas are to be found growing here, with Funkias, 

 Hemerocallis, Loosestrifes, various Irises, Gentians, Primulas, 

 and a variety of other subjects which like plenty of moisture. 

 At the higher end of the bog are the tanks for water-lilies, the 

 overflow of which runs into the bog in a series of streamlets, 

 and helps to keep it moist. Some of the best of the hybrid 

 Nymphasas are grown in those lily-pools, with ferns and other 

 suitable plants to fringe the sides, the whole making a cool 

 and pleasing picture. 



Bulbous plants have been lavishly used to beautify the 

 garden. Narcissi, Tulips, Scillas, Fritillaries, Gladioli and 

 Liliums all being laid under contribution. Narcissi have 



