Following these we may include a collection of  herbaceous Spiraeas, the large shrubby Meadow-sweets. One of the best is S.palmata, with handsome   foliage and rosy crimson flowers. In the neighborhood of water, the effect produced by the rich coloring of this variety is charming. S.venusta, S. aruncus and S.ulmaria, the latter the double form of the wild Meadow-sweet, are all worth cultivating. Spiraeas are so often grown in garden borders or in the poor soil in mixed shrubberies, that the opportunity of planting them in what approaches their natural habitat should not be neglected. Given ample room and an abund­ance of moisture, they exhibit a freedom of growth which is surprising.

We would arrange a deep bay in the Rhododendron belt, and here prepare a home for a colony of swamp­ loving lilies. Unless of a peaty nature, it would be well to excavate the existing soil to a depth of a foot, filling in with a prepared compost of leaf soil, peat and road grit. A few barrow loads of chopped turf will also help to provide an ideal bed in which to plant some of the noblest flowers to be found in our gardens.

L.giganteum is magnificent in such positions, and, like the others, requires only some sheltering undergrowth as a slight protection in early spring. The foliage, unlike most lilies, consists of broad tufts of heart shaped leaves, from which spring the stout stalks six or eight feet high. These are topped by long racemes of frag­rant white flowers, slightly tinged with purple.

The Swamp Lily (L.superbum) is another fine variety for the outskirts of the bog garden, the clusters of deep orange flowers are borne on stout purplish stems. The beautiful Californian Lily (L.pardalinum) of which there are many sub-varieties, must not be forgotten. In moist, peaty soil it increases in size yearly, the pendent blossoms, vivid orange spotted with chocolate, being most effective.

Of smaller habit is L.canadense (Canadian Lily), which should be grown in bold clumps to show its clusters of golden red flowers to best advan­tage.

All these North American Lilies revel in cool, moist soils, and in their native haunts are found, glow­ing masses of color, in swampy regions. As a ground work for the Liliums, good use might be made of the White Wood Lily (Trillium Grandiflorum), which covers the ground with a carpet of rich green foliage, studded with snow white, three petaled blossoms. Apart from its own beauty, it serves as a protection to the Liliums during the early months of the year.

Skirting the rough pathway, irregular drifts of the Indian Primrose (P.sikkimensis) might be planted. In May, and onwards for several weeks, the sheets of yellow blossoms would make a beautiful picture between the moss grown stones. These Asiatic Primroses, which come to us from the wet mountain slopes of the Himal­ayas , are seen at their best in the bog garden. P.denti­culata would prove equally at home, spreading its tufts of leaves and large clusters of lilac flowers in the spring sunshine.

P.japonica grows rampantly in moist spots, and bears no resemblance to the same plant struggling for existence in a dry garden border. P.rosea, small but charming, and P.capitata, with flowers of a wonder­ful purple shade powdered with white, would occupy the sides of slight knolls. A corner must also be found for the Bird's Eye Primrose (P.farinosa) bearing its dainty lilac blossoms above rosettes of silvery leaves. In a sheltered corner near a few rough stones it is delightful.

Now that we are approaching the pools and softest ground, Osmunda will form a fitting background to the many small bog plants that we must take care to include. This noble fern will attain a height of six feet or more, when its roots can spread freely in moist, porous soil. Spleenwort (Asplenium), Nephrodium, and the North American Sensitive Fern (Onoclea) are other suitable forms.

Quaint and interesting flowers there are in abundance, as well as those of real beauty. The Marsh Helleborine, for instance, with purplish flowers and handsome foli­age, the Marsh Orchis (0.latifolia) and O.foliosa. The Habenarias, orchids from North America, would do well in damp corners. One of the best is H.fimbriata. All these plants look best grown in isolated clumps, and afford a striking contrast to flowers of simpler habit.

Cypripedium spectabile, already referred to, deserves a well shaded, peaty hollow entirely to itself: it is too good a plant to mix singly with others. Sarracenia purpurea, with its blood veined trumpet leaves and sinister aspect, might be taken as the evil genius of the bog garden, a plant of ill-omen, from which some deadly potion might be brewed. It is quite hardy, and belongs to the family of Pitcher-plants. The Fritil­laries, natives of English water-meadows, would soon become established in grassy patches near the stream.

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