May 12. 1892. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER 
347 
A mongst the different phases of gardening in the open air 
what we may term woodland gardening is the most charming, 
for in that we have a combination of the picturesque and the 
beautiful. Many no doubt at some time or other during the spring 
months, when everything is starting into life, have observed during 
their rural wanderings some charming picture in a copse, glade, or 
even on a sunny hedgerow bank, and have been struck with the 
beauty of the common Pi inorose. Wood Hyacinths, Wood Anemones, 
and later on by the Foxglove, wild Clematis, Honeysuckle, and wild 
Roses. No doubt the\7 have wished that the picture could be 
transferred to their own gardens. Often again they may have 
noted a rivulet, pond, or bog where masses of the Bog Orchis, Bog 
Bean, Flowering Rush, Water Forget-me-not, Water Violets, 
Arrow Heads, Water Lilies, Caltha palustris, and other pretty 
water and bog plants were growing in Nature’s profusion, and I 
am certain no costly flower garden has ever been mor.3 admired. 
Pictures like these cannot be had in town gardens, unless there 
should be facilities out of the common, but there are many rural 
districts where they could be produced or improved upon by the 
naturalisation of the many hardy bulbs and plants, including 
climbers and trailers, of which we have now such a variety adapted 
for the purpose. During the past six years I have been trying 
to produce such effects as those indicated, and with the addition 
of the many spring flowering bulbs and other hardy plants we 
have improved the scenes around us. What were once uninter¬ 
esting glades and woollands now form a large wild garden, with 
its different attractive pictures, and as the season changes it proves 
a source of p'evsure to all concerned. As each year comes round 
the various bulbs and plants increase in size, and so form bolder 
groups. The thousands of Snowdrops, Daffodils, Winter Aconites, 
Snake’s Head Lilies, Crocuses, both vernal and autumn, are a sight 
to behold. Nowhere do Daffodils have a better effect than when 
growing out from grass ; and on the margin of shrubs, rough 
woodland wa'k^, or even by rivulets, the flowers appear to come 
larger and fresher. 
The bulbs when they are flrst planted must not be put out 
symmetrically, but in irregular groups, as if they had established 
themselves naturally, and beyond the first planting no other trouble 
or care is needed. The foliage must be allowed to decay naturally, 
and then the bulbs will increase and the flowers appear in greater 
profusion every season. There are several varieties of Daffodils 
which may now be purchased in quantity at a cheap rate, such as 
the common double D iffodil (Telamonius plenus). Peerless Nar¬ 
cissus (lucomparabi is), and Stella, and there are also several others 
which bulb merchants who make a speciality of Daffodils sell at a 
cheap rate for the purpose of naturalisation. The removal of the 
foliage when the plants are growing in the grass before it has 
decayed is no doubt the reason why, in several instances, the 
planting of hardy bulbs has caused disappointment. The results 
have not come up to expectations through the bulbs being planted 
where the grass has to be cut. True, the grass has to be cut at 
some time or other, if only to prevent the plants being overgrown 
by coarse herbage, but more often for affording pleasure in viewing 
or walking amongst the flowers. We generally cut the grass about 
three times during the s-^ason, but on no acc lunt do we cut from 
over the bulbs until the foliage has all decayed. 
No. 620.—Von. XXIV., Thihd Serie.s. 
The blue Wood Anemone (Anemone apennina) is a beautiful 
flower for naturalising amongst grass, especially if planted on sunny 
slopes or in open glades. A. fulgens (the scarlet Windflower) I 
have successfully naturalised amongst the grass, and also the Grape 
Hyacinth (Muscari), Scilla sibirica (blue Squill), American Cow¬ 
slips, Dog’s Tooth Violets, Snake’s Head Lily (Fritillaria melea- 
gris), Solomon’s Seal, Hyamnthus candicans, Crocuses, and Snow¬ 
drops by thousinds. We also have the Meadow Saffron (Colchicum 
autumnale) and its double form, and very beautiful they look 
appearing amongst the grass in autumn—I had nearly said by 
themselves, but we have some grand clamps of that splendid 
autumn Anemone, A japonica alba, and the pink form, also quan¬ 
tities of the Torch L ly (Tritoma uvaria). Rambling over old 
stumps and on hedges the purple Clematis becomes all aglow, and 
although we have plants with thousands of flowers in more con¬ 
spicuous positions, yet nowhere is the effect more charming than on 
the hedges. A very attractive feature in autumn is the bright 
foliage of the Virginian Creepers, both the old form and Veitch’s. 
We have them climbing up the trunks of trees, particularly Lirch, 
and more should be made of them for this purpose. In time we 
hope to have them festooning the branches in graceful profusion. 
Alchough we are exceptionally favoured with positions for 
woodland gardening on an extensive scale, it can be carried out 
just the same in a more curt tiled space, if there is only the 
enthusiasm to carry on the work. Last autumn we planted and 
otherwise beautified an old limestone quarry. The steep rocky 
slopes, like miniature precipices, presented facilities for planting 
rambling Roses, Honeysuckle, Clematis, Cotoneasters, and, amongst 
the boulders, masses of Yuccas. For such positions masses must be 
planted so as to give an imposing effect, whilst here and there the 
yellow Laburnum, scarlet Thorn, Mountain Ash, and such-like 
flowering trees will add to the variety of the scene. In the shady 
nooks quantities of the Male Fern (Lastrea Filix-mas) dug out of 
the hedgerows, are now becoming established, and afford cool 
ret'’eats to show off the natural effect of this, one of our hardiest 
British Ferns. The Rose of Sharon is also used with advantage, 
its bright yellow fl awers lighting up some steep banks in the 
autumn. Crataegus Lelandi, the best form of the Pyracantha, is 
particularly effective when covered with its bright berries in 
autumn, but as in our case birds are numerous, the berries quickly 
van'sh, whereas if this was not the case they would remain on 
during the best part of the winter. I am thinking of trying 
Tropaeolum speciosum, and only hope it will succeed, for no more 
gorgeous effect could be produced than masses of this festooning the 
shrubs. Leycesteria formosa is a fine shrnb, either for shrubbery or 
wild gardening. In autumn it is a mass of berries hanging in long 
bunches like Grapes. 
Amongst plants growing naturally in the grass in a damp spot I 
may note the following. Spiraea aruncus produces a grand effect ; 
Bocconia cordata is also stately and effective. In autumn the 
Michaelmas Daisies unfold their blossoms, also the perennial Sun¬ 
flowers. I do not know any hardy plants in bloom in their season 
which so brighten up the surroundings as these, and being vigorous 
growers there is no fear of their not succeeding ; they grow and 
increase at a marvellous rate. Another noble plant which we have 
is the Pampas Grass, one large group of forty or fifty plants being 
generally a fl iwing mass, but last season it was not so good as 
usual, the hard winter having left its mark. In a damp spot open 
to the sun the different varieties of Iris have a very bold effect, 
the colourings showing up remarkably well. The varieties best 
adapted for the pu'-pose are the Pogon and rhizomatous section, 
commonly known as the Flag Ids. 
Of the various hardy herbaceous plants adapted for the purpose 
of naturalisation there is an almost endless variety, and I could 
write page after page in praise of those which I know will 
succeed well. The vernal Gentian naturalised amongst grass in an 
open and sunny, albeit moist and well drained position, forms a 
No. 2276.—VoL. LXXXVL, Old Series. 
