34 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



Mr. Henderson: The roebellenia is a trifle expensive. The 

 reclinata or canariensis are just as graceful ?nd not so expensive. 



^Ir. Williams: The roebellenia is expensivi\ but it is tlie most 

 graceful palm you can use for any purpose. 



]\Ir. Williams: The next paper Ave have is "Perennial Flower 

 Eed," by Mr. Ammet Hooge, Omaha, Nebraska'. 



The Secretary: It is impossible for him to be here, so I\Ir. 

 Henderson says, and he sends the paper here to the meeting of the 

 society. 



Mr. Williams: The secretary will read the paper. 



PERENNIAL FLOWER GxlRDEN. 



By Araniet Hooge, of Omaha. 



HARDY PERENNIAL. PLANTS. 



Hardy Perennial Plants. — Suitable for the State of Nebraska. 

 Tlie climatic conditions of Nebraska, and in fact the middle western 

 states, are not as favorable as states along the Great Lakes, and 

 especially along the coast where the moisture is greater than here. 

 Still with careful selection of varieties and proper cultivation and, 

 the proper preparation of the ground, whether you plant one or one 

 thousand, the ground must first be put in condition so the plants will 

 thrive, they wall amply repay you for the work. I consider spring 

 planting the best. I would prepare the ground in the fall by using a 

 liberal supply of old manure, either horse or cow manure. Be sure 

 tint it is well rotted and pulverized. Di.^ up tlie soil good and deep. 

 Go down two feet if you like, and pulverize well as you go along, 

 mixing the manure in. So much for the preparation. Now a few 

 words about the situation and space allowed each plant. Hardy plants 

 are mostly used as a foreground for shrubs or fences. The said fence 

 to be covered with hardy climbers, the names of which I will give 

 later. The space allotted each plant must depend as a rule on the 

 height the plant will attain during the season's growth. Plants grow- 

 ing up to two feet should be planted about 14 inches apart. Tanev 

 growing plants will require from 16 to 20 inches apart. 



Then comes the care of the plants during the summer. If you 

 have a long dry spell, as we so often have had in the last few years, 

 a liberal amount of watering of course is needed. Then put the man 

 behind the hoe to work with frequent stirring up of the ground around 

 the plants. This is encouraging to the plants and discouraging to 

 the weeds. Tall growing plants must be tiel up to a neatly painted 

 stick to keep the wind from breaking them down. 



Remove all old flower stocks and decayed leaves. There is not 

 much to be done for hardy perennials during the winter except when 



