May 30th, 1885. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
613 
THE BOG GARDEN. 
Thebe is probably no feature in gardening so full 
of interest, and capable of producing such pleasing 
results at such a minimum of expense, as the bog 
garden, and yet no other department receives so small 
an amount of attention. There is only one con¬ 
clusion to be drawn from this undeniable fact, namely, 
that it is not sufficiently understood; indeed, in a great 
majority of cases it is altogether unknown, and-even 
in good hardy plant gardens they only rarely occur. 
This state of things is much to be regretted, since 
by its adoption pleasant corners, full of interest for a 
considerable season of the year, may take the place 
of spots which have hitherto borne the surest 
evidences of disorder and neglect. 
A bog garden may be formed in a variety of ways, 
and in a variety of positions, according to the class of 
plants which it is desired to introduce. Bog and 
marsh-loving plants, such, for example, as Gunnera 
scabra and Magellanica, together with various 
Bamboos, Saxifraga peltata, and others, are fitting 
examples for the embellishment of moist, grassy spots, 
or such parts of lawns as can be supplied at will with 
the overflow from fountains. Such things as these, 
too, planted on sloping banks where abundant supplies 
of water can be had, and good drainage is guaranteed, 
lend additional charms to an already beautiful and 
picturesque spot. Here and there in gardens naturally 
boggy spots may be found which might easily be 
turned to good account, and wherever these occur 
they should be well and carefully planted with suitable 
subjects. 
In the majority of instances, however, an 
artificial bog will have to be formed, and this may be 
done in the following simple manner:—Its position is 
the first question to be decided, and this will depend 
much on individual circumstances; for instance, 
should a rock garden already exist, no more suitable 
place can be suggested than at the foot of the rock, 
or at least in close proximity thereto, as in such a 
position it will have the full benefit of all the rain 
draining from the rockery. Should the position 
chosen be on the lawn, it should be made with 
sloping sides and be at least from 9 ins. to 1 ft. 
below the ordinary level. It will also be necessary 
to remove the soil or a portion of it so as to place a 
drain-pipe at the bottom of the bed to avoid stagna¬ 
tion. This is essential, for though a plant may 
inhabit bogs or wet ground, either wholly or partially 
submerged all the year round, it must be distinctly 
borne in mind that that plant has as great a dislike 
for anything approaching stagnation as it may have 
for a sandy waste. Having said so much with regard 
to stagnation, it might appear superfluous to add 
another word of caution, but I would advise that no 
attempt whatever be made to puddle the sides or 
bottom. I would rather give preference at all times 
and under all circumstances to a plentiful supply 
of water with a free drainage, and thereby ensure 
vigorous, healthy plants. 
There are a number of plants which, though not 
strictly bog or marsh plants, delight to have their 
roots in an uniformly moist soil, and to accommodate 
such as these the sloping sides will be found to answer 
admirably, or if the surface of the bed be undulated 
they will be readily accommodated, and success become 
a certainty. Should water be in abundance it will be 
an easy matter by means of pipes to convey it to any 
given spot, having, where possible, the water well 
under control, so that little or much may be given as 
the case may be. I have at the present moment in 
my mind’s eye some of the best formed bog gardens 
of which we can boast, and by briefly detailing some 
of the particulars of their construction may best 
illustrate the real value of such additions to the 
garden. The first one is situate in the Botanic 
Gardens at Cambridge, and owes its origin to the 
energies of Mr. Lynch, the able curator. It is on a 
large scale, and is in close proximity to the lake by 
which it is supplied with water. It is so constructed 
as to accommodate all classes of moist or water- 
loving plants; some are submerged, and others when 
the water is highest only have their roots reaching it, 
with the soil around semi-saturated. In this way a 
great number of plants for which a great variety of 
soils and situations have been prescribed, are doing 
remarkably well, and this in very ordinary soil, thus 
showing that the great secret was an uniform amount of 
moisture rather than any special soil or cultural skill. 
Another portion at the southern end is set apart for 
plants inhabiting woods and such like places. For 
these a number of rough stools of trees are brought 
together, the spaces being filled with peaty soil. In 
course of time these roots will decay, and thereby lend 
additional aid to the plants about them. Then we 
have a narrow margin for such moisture-loving plants 
as Pinguiculas, Parnassias, Sarracenias, and many 
more; and one and all seem to be quite at home. 
Another fine bog garden is to be seen at Belvoir 
where Mr. Ingram, in addition to an artificial bog 
of choice subjects, plants such things as Bamboos, 
Gunneras, Spiraea venusta, Saxifraga peltata, Os- 
munda, or Boyal Fern, and others of similar require¬ 
ments on sloping lawns, which can be saturated at 
will. In a garden once under my own supervision, 
the position selected for a bog bed was shaded with 
trees, where Carexes, wild, had grown undisturbed. 
The position was on an incline, and the water supply 
was the overflow from an aquatic pond in the rock, 
garden. In its course many Ferns were watered well 
and grew luxuriantly, and when it reached the bog it 
was a mere rippling stream, which is in reality tie 
best of all forms of water supply. The bog consisted 
of peat in the one half and loam in the other ; a 6-m. 
drain of brick-bats covered the bottom, over which 
was placed a covering of rough material to insure free 
drainage. The bed was then filled and the peat trod 
down somewhat firmly, to prevent it becoming of too 
spongy a texture. Some stepping-stones here and 
there were put in, and the bed was ready for planting. 
— E. J. 
- Q_■ *_ 9- 
ACACIA RICEANA. 
Three years ago I planted out of a 5-in. pot one of 
these beautiful Australian climbers in a span-roofed 
house, and it has now reached the top of the pilhr, 
11 ft. high, and down the roof on each side 10 ft. Each 
season it has been clothed with flowers, and its 
graceful habit has commanded the admiration of 
all who have seen it. To say that it covers the 
pillar to the height named, gives but a meagre idea 
of the size of the plant, as it really formed a golden 
column, 2 ft. 6 ins. in diameter in any part of its 
perpendicular growth. A space 1 ft. by 2 ft. was 
enclosed with bricks laid without mortar at one end 
of the bed in the centre of the house, and filled with 
peat and loam in equal parts. It was intended that 
the bricks should be moved, and that a larger root run 
of suitable compost (or what is regarded as such) 
should be provided as the plant required it. This, 
however, has not been necessary, as the roots have 
forced their way between the bricks and entered the 
bed, which is composed of ordinary garden soil. 
I have made use of these loose brick enclosures for 
the past twelve years, and find them most convenient 
for Gardenias, Stephanotis, Bougainvilleas, and other 
stove climbers; Boses, Clematis, and Bignonias in 
the greenhouse, and Tomatos wherever a corner 
suits and allows room for extension. Till this simple 
expedient suggested itself to me I found it most 
difficult to deal with large plants trained under the 
roof of the houses when they required repotting. 
My first attempt to avoid it was made by enclosing 
soil with bricks one or two courses in depth, and 
stand the pots on this, and if the roots made their 
appearance in it another course was added. At the 
proper time all this would be moved, excepting that 
portion the pot might stand upon, and replaced with 
fresh compost. It occurred to me that if I abandoned 
the use of the pot in such instances altogether, I 
might secure better results, and such has proved to 
be the case. The bricks preserve the outside roots 
from extremes of heat and drought, and when the 
plant is dry in the centre it is moist against the 
bricks, where the best of the roots are usually found. 
The difference between the thickness of a pot and 
a brick, and the moisture they will absorb, will in a 
measure account for this, and command the latter 
wherever they can be conveniently used. In passing 
through the houses no one would scarcely observe 
ours, as they are mostly surrounded by plants, and 
the top course of bricks is also turned to account to 
stand plants in small pots upon.— TV. P. B. 
FAIR MAIDS OF FRANCE, OR BATCHELORS BUTTONS. 
