INFORMAL AND WILD GARDENING. 367 



year. It was not planted for immediate effect, hence all the plants 

 have room to grow and establish themselves. It is this type of 

 gardening I should like to see encouraged and extended, and especially 

 the wood gardening. Bamboos are frequently seen in other gardens, 

 but "I have rarely seen them so effective as at Wisley. They 

 are planted in an ideal position, open to the west, protected on the 

 east, and as informally as one could desire. 



Another garden still quite informal, but of greater extent than 

 Wisley, is that at Leonardslee, Horsham, Sussex (figs, 94, 95,) the seat 

 of Sir Edmund Loder, Bt. When I was allowed to visit this garden last 

 spring I was amazed at the extent, the luxuriance, and the beauty of 

 it, as well as at the wealth of plants. To enumerate a tithe of them 

 would be quite impossible in the time I have at command. What 

 impressed me most was the utter absence of formality throughout. 

 And this is what I want to impress upon others. There are gravel 

 paths, it is true, but they are quite of third-rate consideration, comfort- 

 able and safe enough to walk upon, but Httle trouble to maintain. 

 Rhododendrons of the choicest kinds — some of them hybrids raised 

 upon the spot — are one of the chief features. A.zaleas are there in 

 profusion, and so are many species of the Coniferse, all growing in perfect 

 abandon. Now why is this ? It is the result of great care, fore- 

 thought, and discrimination on the part of the proprietor. Before 

 planting, or extending the planting, every consideration was given 

 to the situations and the plants to be dealt with. This has been 

 done to perfection. In another spot hardy Palms, Trachycarpus 

 excelsus, and Camellias are equally fine, so also is the Rock 

 Garden, where many unique examples are to be seen. This has been 

 estabhshed much longer than the Rock Garden at Wisley, hence it is 

 better furnished, but the whole design is quite informal. 



I will now allude to a third example of informal gardening, one that 

 is within the reach of the many. It is that at " The Wilderness," 

 Rev. Shirley, near Croydon, the residence of our energetic Secretary, the 

 Wm. Wilks, M.A., V.M.H. (figs. 82-91). This garden is practically and 

 to all intents and purposes Mr. Wilks's own design. True he did not plant 

 the fine old oaks and other trees, but he so fitted his garden in as to 

 take the fullest advantage of them. The house itself is comparatively 

 new, but it fits in well with the trees and other surroundings. The 

 garden thus appears much older than the building itself. Against the 

 house there is a commodious verandah, then the small but well-kept 

 portion of lawn commences at once and extends a Httle distance, and 

 then at once begins the wild garden. Upon the lawn, which is kept 

 mown, there are climbing roses grown as specimens, each one well apart 

 from its neighbour (fig. 83). The chief open view is towards the south, 

 with a good expanse on the western side as well, where there is a mixed 

 border of flowering plants next to the house. Both on the eastern 

 and western boundaries there are plantations of trees, chiefly decidu- 

 ous. When under the verandah there is an entire absence of formaHty 

 look where you will. In the wild garden the paths are narrow, but are 



