400 THE GARDENER. [Sept. 



nowhere and useless, and where a constant war is waged with bye- 

 paths in the shape of notice-boards, iron hoops, and stumps. 



No wonder a taste is growing for the wild garden, the wilderness, 

 and the woods, with cool and natural footpaths made at a fraction of 

 the expense required for acres of hard gravel, and infinitely more en- 

 joyable. The Squire's Gardener. 



HERBACEOUS P^EONIAS. 



In a season like the present, when the general run of bedding-plants 

 are at this date (15th July) no bigger, but in many instances actually 

 smaller, than when they were planted out, certain herbaceous plants 

 come out in splendid contrast to these draggled denizens of warmer 

 climes. A very considerable number of herbaceous plants is to be 

 found in full flower at the present time, bidding defiance to the weather, 

 bad though it be. Butthemost conspicuous, and certainly themost showy 

 of all in bloom, now nearly a month behind their time, are the Pseonias 

 whose name stands at the head of this paper. These stand unrivalled 

 for effect in the distance ; and really, in such weather as we have ex- 

 perienced during this strange blending of spring and winter which has 

 usurped the place of our summer, it becomes a point of some import- 

 ance to consider and keep in view that flower-garden effects which can 

 be noted and enjoyed under the protection of a roof are just such as only 

 could be enjoyed out of doors by none except the most robust; for who, 

 besides, would dare all the risks of rheumatism or endless colds certain to 

 attend on exposure to the unseasonable weather which has prevailed all 

 over the country for months past ? These Pasonias are not only amongst 

 the best plants for distant effects on the margins of masses of shrubs, but 

 they are grand and effective objects when viewed by themselves singly 

 or in masses made up solely of the different sorts that may be drawn 

 together. They take the highest place amongst the grander types of 

 herbaceous flowers. Improved as they have been during recent years, 

 there is a very great variety of beautiful colours, as well as ample form 

 and size and substance, to be obtained by careful selection from the 

 lists of raisers and dealers who make a speciality of them. In the 

 matter of colouring they rival the Rose itself, in so far at least as Hybrid 

 Perpetuals are concerned. Indeed they present some colours, such as 

 white, in greater purity than are to be found in any H.P. Rose ; and 

 nearly every other shade of colour presented by that class of Rose is 

 splendidly exhibited in one variety or another of the Paaonia. There is 

 also a very considerable range of duration of the flowering period of 

 the different varieties : some are early, some late, and some are more 

 enduring or persistent than others. Many also are little less fragrant 

 than the Rose itself. 



