THE SOCIETY'S OAK DEN AT WISLEY. 



03 



and the late owner of the Wisley Garden, G. F. Wilson, Esq., informed 

 them that there was a site at Wisley that might suit their purpose, and 

 although they did not get the Garden then, thirty years afterwards the 

 Society were so fortunate as to obtain it as a gift, with all the work of 

 the late G. F. Wilson added and developed. The Natural Garden, so 

 well planned and beautiful, we are keeping the same as it was at 

 Mr. Wilson's death, as it would be very difficult to improve it. In the 

 early part of the year Trilliums, Erythroniums, Narcissus cyclamincus, 

 Primroses are flowering, followed later by Lilium rubellum, Lilium 

 gigaiitcum, &c, all of which succeed famously under the trees ; in fact, 

 the two Liliums named are superb in the shade. The reason is probably 



Fig. 17. — Almost the same View as Fig. 16 in Early Spring. 



that the fallen leaves are allowed to lie on the ground instead of being 

 raked off, and thus a natural food is annually supplied to the plants. 



Fig. 16 shows a somewhat damp situation in the Garden, where 

 Ericas, Pcrnettyas, Phormium tenax, and similar plants thrive splendidly. 

 The Phormium has leaves about eight feet long and is growing in the 

 wettest place, a position it likes. In fact, in another part of the Garden 

 it grows vigorously in a wet bog without any protection in the winter. 

 In amongst the Ericas is Primula rosea, and quite near, under the 

 shade of overhanging branches, are Shortias and the difficult Epigcea 

 repens, both of which rejoice in a cool, shaded spot, with a peaty soil to 

 root in. 



Fig. 17 is another view of the same place with Andromeda flori- 

 bunda and Bryanthus empetrifolius in bloom, a charming little plant 

 which is not so much known as it deserves. 



