THE HARDY FLOWER GARDEN 23 
The townsman is certainly at a disadvantage as 
regards his opportunities for studying the natural 
flora of his neighbourhood. The builder and the 
road-maker have eradicated the Wildflowers, and 
the dweller amidst paved streets and brick buildings 
may be unaware that a few years ago Centranthus 
ruber might have been gathered on the chalk banks, 
Verbascum blattaria in the meadows, and the rosy 
coloured Achillea millefolia on the slopes of neigh- 
bouring fields. But even in towns there are often 
places where one gets a glimpse of some native 
plant that would be worth including in our garden 
collection, and at any rate would serve as a guide 
to the subjects that will best thrive with us. 
At the very least, the townsman can read of our 
native plants and learn of the situations, soils and 
particular conditions in which they grow, and such 
study will help him much in the choice of plants 
for his own garden. 
