18 NATIVE FLOWERS OF VICTORIA. 
CHAPTER II. 
Growing the Native Flora. 
G ardeners have declared that the difficulties 
in the way of growing the native flowers are 
either too great for them to overcome, or that 
the plants do not make a satisfactory growth com- 
mensurate with the labour and care involved. This 
is certainly a mistake, as the flowers and plants of 
Australia are no more difficult to grow than those of 
other places. The hardy character of our flora has 
previously been referred to; therefore if our plants 
are hardy it is our business to keep them so. They 
should neither be nursed nor coddled up, nor given 
too much attention. Of course the method of treat- 
ment of any plant depends entirely on the native 
habitat and soil-conditions of the plant. For in- 
stance, if the home of the plant is in a cool dark 
jungle, where the soil is made up of the leaf mould 
of many generations, it would be folly to transport 
such a plant into the hardiest situation of our gar- 
dens, and vice versa. 
It should be further remembered that a very large 
proportion of garden plants are either hybridised or 
improved by sport or seed selection. Such plants 
are bred into garden conditions and can be more 
readily subjected to ordinary cultural and manurial 
operations. There are several ways by which native 
plants may be obtained. They may be brought from 
