SPRING FLOWER GARDENING. 



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of low shrubs, or under tall trees, the brightening effect it gives 

 is generally excellent. 



Neither time nor space will permit me to do more than 

 briefly mention other plants which belong to the later spring 

 season, which are of varying interest, affording variety to the 

 borders or other positions to which they may be assigned. 

 Amongst the most prominent may be named — Alyssum saxatile, 

 Adonis vernalis, Trillium grandiflorum, Orobus vermis, Ery- 

 thronium dens-canis, Cheiranthus Marshalli, Corydalis cava 

 and nobilis, Dielytraspcctabilis, Doronicumcxcelsum, Pulmonaria 

 azurea, Triteleia uniflora, Leucojum vemum, Muscari (the 

 Grape Hyacinths), Uvularia grandiflora, Omithogalum nutans. 



In regard to the cultivation generally of herbaceous and spring 

 plants, I venture to caution those who may be led to imagine 

 that everything they desire may be accomplished in one season, 

 as with summer plants. No expenditure of money can secure 

 this. Nursery-grown plants are often necessarily small from 

 being cramped in pots, and a large stock of healthy subjects for 

 large effects can only be secured in the course of years. There 

 is a point of maturity in the period of life of every plant when 

 its best qualities are exhibited, and its power of resisting climatic 

 trials and the attacks of insects is the greatest. This vigour 

 belongs to some plants in the first year of their existence, to 

 others in the second, to others at a greater length of time. To buy 

 a plant in its declining time is to court failure, and immaturity 

 may cause disappointment. We have all failed in our early 

 trials, and even been led to condemn plants we have subse- 

 quently found of the first value and interest. 



Browning says — 



Oh, to be in England now that April's there ! 



I think it is generally conceded that there is a freshness 9 

 purity, and beauty in spring flowers, either in masses or grown 

 singly, that give them a special attraction. Our arrangements 

 hitherto have been made to secure an early garden of bloom, 

 March and April being the months in which it was desirable our 

 greatest display should take place; we have thus given less 

 attention to Pansies and other May-blooming plants, though 

 fully recognising their value. The system of bedding generally 

 is gradually undergoing modifying influences, and is more 



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