366 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Poplar. These grew well and afforded shelter to the Austrian Pines 

 and the latte ' formed the screen so much desired, and then gardening 

 in a most successfal manner was accompUshed. Of course it takes a 

 few 5^ears to do all this. 



It is only natural that I should be asked " What is your idea of an 

 Informal Garden ' ? " I will give one or two examples. First, I 

 will allude to the Wisley Gardens of the Royal Horticultural Society. 

 These afford an almost unexampled illustration of informal gardening, 

 in the combination of the Wild Garden and the Rock Garden with their 

 immediate surroundings. But it may be said there is no mansion at 

 Wisley. True, but if such were built upon the higher ground it would 

 be an ideal example in every respect, healthy beyond any question, 

 with splendid views and the informal gardens at one's feet, so to speak. 

 First you have the Rock Garden with the open informal garden on 

 the east, backed up by the fine avenue of Bamboos, and the Water 

 Garden where the Nymphaeas, Iris Kaempferi, and Gunner a manicata 

 luxuriate. Next to these is the Wild Garden amidst the shelter of the 

 trees, a garden of the woods, a type of gardening of which more use 

 should be made. To my mind this is the most enjoyable part of the 

 Wisley Gardens. Onward towards the river there are ideal types 

 of Herbaceous gardening. Where the trials are conducted it must 

 of necessity be of a formal character for greater facilities in working. 

 When Mr. G. F. Wilson — a keen and thorough gardener — took over 

 this property he had an undoubted knowledge of the soil, the 

 surroundings, and the capabiUties of the estate, and of the 

 shelter afforded. In any garden these are essentials of the first 

 consideration, for it is far better to be able to assist nature and take 

 advantage of every favourable position as to soil, shelter, &c., than it 

 is to fight against nature and try to° accomplish what is well-nigh 

 impossible. Wisley Gardens, open as they are to all Fellows of this 

 Society, should not be merely visited from time to time, but the ideas 

 there carried out should be studied carefully. In this way it would 

 be possible to carry away in one's mind some practical suggestion 

 from each part of it. Note, for instance, in the early spring the lovely 

 effect produced by Narcissus cyclamineus in its moist, sheltered 

 situation — one of the gems of the entire garden. Again, the Japanese 

 Iris (/. Kaempjevi) in early July is well worth a visit ; this Iris 

 is in an ideal spot, and it associates so well with the Nymphseas and the 

 Gunnera manicata in the background. Primula japonica in varied 

 colours, as well as other species of Primula, thrive amazingly in the 

 ditches and sides thereof. Farther in the wood are to be found 

 many examples of Lilium giganteum, as well as other members of the 

 same genus. I have at no time seen Lilium giganteum growing and 

 flowering so finely as at Wisley. Many Ferns are also growing most 

 naturally and luxuriantlv in the wood and on the outskirts of it. 

 The Rhododendrons and Azaleas are very fine in their season. I have 

 only enumerated a few of the features in this beautiful spot. The 

 Rock Garden will speak for itself and grow more attractive year by 



