248 



GARDENERS' CHRONICLE 



Twelve Hardy Perennials for Cut Flowers 



THE great virtue of this class of plants as garden 

 flowers is now an established fact and no garden 

 can be called complete unless it contains at least 

 some of them. Their permanenc_v, their brilliancy 

 when in bloom, and their ability to lend themselves 

 equally well to the landscape or to decorative work 

 such as cut flowers, make them almost indispensable 

 at a time when greenhouse cut flowers are taking a 

 much-needed rest. In naming a limited number of 

 kinds one has to omit many having claims for inclu- 

 sion in the list but for all-around usefulness the follow- 

 ing is my choice of twelve : 



1. Pxrcthnim hybridum or Persian daisy — prob- 

 ably so-called from the Greek pyr=fire — referring to the 

 acrid roots of the genus. Their pretty fern-like foliage 

 in the Spring is followed by the profusion of brilliant 

 double and single blooms in Summer, which are un- 

 equalled as cut flowers and for house decoration. 

 There is almost nothing so artistic and attractive as a 

 vase of these flowers. They are of very simple culture 

 and very hardy. 



2. The peony, according to the old Greek legend, 

 was named afteh the physician, Paeon, who used the 

 plant to cure a wound 'inflicted by Hercules. The 

 peony (although its flowering season is very short) is 

 probably one of the best hardy plants for cut flowers, 

 bearing large and handsome flowers deliciously rose 

 scented. The peony season can be extended fully two 

 weeks by cutting the buds when just showing color, 

 wrapping tightly in wax paper with the stem end 

 open, putting into deep vases and then into cold stor- 

 age. The water in the vases should be changed fre- 

 quently. 



3. Coreopsis grandiflora is the most serviceable 

 hardy plant of large daisy-like golden flowers on 2 ft. 

 to 2^ ft. stems, blooming profusely from June until 

 late Autumn, uninterruptedly, particularly so if the 

 flowers are constantly cut. As a cut flower to last this 

 is one of the best. 



4. Veronica (speedwell, cancerwort). is a splendil 

 plant which gives us some of our most useful material 

 for the hardy border and. because of its rich shades of 

 blue, furnishes us with a rare color and is unexcelled 

 for cutting purposes. 



5. Gaiilardia grandiflora (blanket flower) a showy 

 plant covered with flowers from June until frost, a 

 feature quite rare with perennials. The daisy-like 

 flowers of unusual colorings produce a fine efTect in 

 the border and are excellent for cut flower purposes, 

 having good self-supporting stems and lasting a long 

 time in water. The flowers should be kept cut to en- 

 sure a continuity of bloom and strong plants. 



6. Pliysostcgia ( false dragon head. Anicriiran 

 heather) tall perennial, native to this country, at best 

 during August, a month which gives us few choice 

 perennials to cut from, and this is a splendid one for 

 cutting. 



7. Ccntaitrca moiiUuia (cornflower) is a good sub- 

 ject of easy culture, being eft"ective in the border and 

 invaluable for cutting, bearing large blue flowers from 

 June until August. 



8. Clirysaiithciinnii (shasta dai.sy or giant moon- 

 penny daisy), absolutely hardy and of easy culture, but 

 to obtain the best results the flowering shoots, which 

 appear soon after the Spring growth of foliage, should 



. be removed until Midsummer, after which the flowers 

 .will be much larger, have better stems and form one 

 of the finest cutting materials. 



9. Scabiosa caiicasica (pincushion flower), are very 

 handsome border plants which produce a succession of 

 flowers from June until frost that are very serviceable 

 for cutting purposes. 



10. Anemone japonica (windflower), divide them- 

 selves into the Alpine or Spring and Summer varieties, 

 and the Japanese varieties. The latter are among the 

 most gorgeous of the hardy perennials as well as be- 

 ing among the most useful, as they bloom from August 

 until frost kills them ; the\- are of inestimable value as 

 cut flowers. The Alpine varieties are also good for 

 cutting but quite short of stem and perhaps not so 

 good as the Japanese in this respect. 



11. Delphiiiitiin (larkspur), is one of the loveliest 

 blue flowers in existence ; its range of shades and 

 throat markings are unapproached by any others, vary- 

 ing" from the palest blue to the darkest indigo and 

 violet. It is of the easiest culture, being very hardy. 

 The spikes are superb for cutting purposes, and if cut 

 to within a few inches of the ground immediately after 

 blooming another bloom may be obtained at the end 

 of the Summer. 



12. Hcliantlius orgaylis (willow-leaved or sky 

 rocket sunflower), so-called from the brilliant color 

 of the flowers. This is probably one of the finest of 

 the sunflowers. It is rather tall growing, ranging from 

 6 feet to 10 feet, but a specimen plant has all the. ap- 

 pearance of a fountain of yellow flowers. The latter 

 lasting well as cut blooms in September and October. 

 — Siiiithern Florist. 



Timely Advice. — Naturalist (displaying a flower he 

 had just plucked) : "Young man, do you know to what 

 family this blossom belongs?" Boy: "Mrs. Jones'; and 

 y'd better beat it before she knows ye picked it." — 

 Conntrv Gentleman. — P. 



THE BEAUTY OF AGE 



It is sad that Old Time is so swift to dismember 



All our castles in Spain — that they crumble so soon, 

 That the churl will not spare, for the snows of December, 



One rose of the many he squanders in June : 

 But 'tis ordered by Nature and idle to quarrel 



With the sovereign mother who never deceives ; 

 If we cannot have roses \vc sometimes have laurel, 



And the laurel is sweet though made only of leaves. 



It is sad that the fugitive Graces will leave us 



When the wrinkles have come and the face has grown grim, 

 And the dear little Loves, though afflicted to grieve us, 



Will fly from the eyes that are hollow and dim ; 

 But 'tis known that the delicate bloom on the flower 



Is the fleetest of all those delectable things 

 Which are meant to be tempting for only an hour. 



And that Cupid — the sprite — is provided with wings. 



When the sky's growing dark and the red sun is setting 



We should stir up the embers, and call up the Elves 

 Of Mirth and Content, and, all troubles forgetting, 



Make a gay world for others — and so for ourselves ! 

 'Tis the beauty of -Age to be tranquil and gentle. 



Whatsoever may happen resigned to its lot, 

 And though gray locks and crowsfeet are not ornamental 



There's a grace in the wearing to make them forgot. 



So, a welcome to all that my Fate may provide me, 



Be it joy or sorrow, a cross or a crown I 

 Here's a grasp of the hand for the comrades beside me ! 



Here's a smiling good-by as the curtain comes down! 

 And when the play's over, and everything ended. 



And you hear in your musing the sound of a knell, 

 Give me one loving thought for the good I intended, 



And a rose for my pall, as you bid me Farewell ! 



— U'm. IViiitcr. 



