64 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Fig. 18 is one of the prettiest views in the Garden : the ponds filled with 

 Water-lilies, the rustic bridge nearly covered in the spring with Wistaria 

 multijugdj with its tassels of blossom two feet long, and a clump of A bies 

 pungens glauca, Cupressus macrocarpa, and other conifers in the distance 

 give a most pleasing effect. Just beyond (fig. 19) are some rustic steps 

 that are always admired in the early months of the year, as all amongst 

 the stones are growing Primroses, hardy Cyclamens, small Ferns, and 

 similar plants, making it difficult to use the steps without treading on 

 flowers or foliage. This again is under the thick shade of deciduous 

 trees ; all the banks on either side of the steps we have recently planted 

 with good British Ferns, w 7 hich are now looking very well. 



Fig. 18. — One of the Ponds. 



It would probably be impossible to get Water-lilies to grow and flower 

 more freely than they do in the ponds at Wisley (fig. 20), and as there are 

 so many trees close to the water, their leaves falling into the ponds may 

 have something to do with their success ; but probably the sheltered 

 position, shallow water, and full exposure to the sun, thus getting warmer 

 than is possible with deeper or larger sheets of water, are answerable for 

 not only the freedom and size of the flowers but also for their extra- 

 ordinary earliness every year. On the margins of these ponds are planted 

 Iris Kmmpferif Saxifraga peltata, Osmundas, Spiraeas, and similar 

 moisture-loving plants, which always bloom splendidly. In fact, fig. 21 

 shows how well these do when they can get their roots into water. 



