1879.] EVERGREEN HERBACEOUS PERENNIALS. 155 



easily be obtained by the thousand if the demand is raised, as the 

 various kinds that are suitable may be increased by the simplest means 

 ad libitum. Not a few of the class to which I invite attention in this 

 paper are already employed in the parterre in summer in various ways. 

 Carpet-bedding has drawn a few of the more suitable forms of Semper- 

 vivums, Saxifragas, and a few other hardy perennials into service with 

 excellent effect in that style of garden decoration. In geometrical 

 designs two hardy plants of similarly adaptable habit of growth are 

 successfully introduced, with perfect harmony alike with the design 

 and the gayer classes of plants more commonly employed for the sum- 

 mer furnishing of the flower-garden. An old familiar plant, such as 

 Pennyroyal {Mentha pulegium), only requires to appear with its leaves 

 tinted golden instead of green ; or the pretty but weedy Stitchwort 

 (Stellaria) to assume the same hue instead of its pale grassy green, to 

 become the pet plants of the period with flower-gardeners. Neither of 

 these is in the category which I am considering. They are not ever- 

 green, or rather ever-yellow, to such a degree as to render them com- 

 mendable for the purpose of clothing the bare surface of the earth in 

 winter ; but being familiar plants to flower-gardeners, their habit of 

 growth will serve to illustrate a considerable number of the species 

 and varieties of hardy plants which I should like to see more generally 

 employed in the way spoken of. There cannot beany objection to the 

 introduction of plants of similar habit to these, if only they can be 

 proved to have colour sufficiently distinct and pronounced to aid in 

 producing a contrast or pitching a harmony with something else. 

 Well, the proof will be more or less difficult just according to the depth 

 of the prejudices of those who address themselves to the weighing of 

 it. But those who are in earnest about the improvement of flower- 

 gardening, and about getting the largest amount of pleasure at all 

 seasons of the year from the flower-garden as a result of their efforts 

 and outlay, will have few prejudices to overcome : they will test and 

 try and judge all subjects that may be brought before them on their 

 merits. This is exactly what I should wish to see done with many of 

 the plants which I shall name and briefly describe before I close this 

 paper. 



The styles of flower-gardens to which I consider the class of plants 

 in view best adapted are terrace-gardens, where either box or stone 

 edgings are used, or panelled ones, in which the design is viewed from 

 a greater or less elevation, and which are based in gravel-walks or de- 

 ficient in surrounding masses of green. Being all plants of a neat 

 compact habit of growth, which will be improved by the close attention, 

 in keeping to which they would be subjected in the flower-garden, they 

 are capable of being worked into any design, no matter how intricate. 

 The perfection of the summer keeping would tend to enhance their 

 beauty in winter. It is only when they are allowed to degenerate into 

 untidy condition that many of the neatest and prettiest of the ever- 



