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GARDENERS' CHRONICLE 



same plant or group along a border, while dthcr.-, would 

 deem such repetition necessary to maintain proper bal- 

 ance. When a border is straight and narrow, 1 believe 

 the best effect may be had by using a few plants or groups 

 of the same type and color at given intervals. In a 

 border of irregular outline, or one of good width, repe- 

 tition is less needful. Perennial j)lants are so numerous 

 and choice that there is little excuse for stereotyped 

 methods of planting. Nothing is more disappointing 

 than to enter a garden in which one border typifies the 

 rest. This condition every gardener should try to avoid 

 if he would have his garden give real pleasure, .\gain. 

 so many people having a fondness for a certain plant 

 will put it here, there and everywhere, and thus mar the 

 interest of a garden. Of course, no matter what pains 

 is taken in planting it will probably take years of study 

 and observation to get just the desired effect, and this is 

 one of the real pleasures of growing perennial plants — 

 striving to get better results each year. 



Delphiniums rank among the best hardy border plants. 

 There are several special of the perennial delphiniums, 

 ranging in height from 1^ feet to 8 feet. Their habit 

 of growth is striking and the stiff spikes of bloom are in 

 most intense shades of blue, as well as in mauve, jjurple, 

 sulphur, white and scarlet. Among the dwarfed kinds 

 are D. chincnse. 1 feet, blue and white varieties; D. car- 

 dinale, 3 feet, scarlet flowers in August. A handsome 

 plant but not a long liver, D. niidicaide, 1J4 feet, orange 

 scarlet, and flowers in July. The noble hybrid forms, 

 however, are of surpassing beauty when well grown. 

 They require a deep rich soil, free from fresh manure 

 which has a tendency to breed disease, but the ground 

 should be abundantly rich nevertheless, (jood varieties 

 are: ■ Amos Perry, Hugo Portman, King of Delphiniums, 

 Queen Wilhelmina, Lize and Rev. E. Lasceles. No 

 plant has been so greatly improved of late years as the 

 delphinium. New varieties come to light annually and 

 it is both easy and interesting for the amateur to raise 

 seedlings each year and retain varieties of merit. Del- 

 phiniums should be cut down immediately after flower- 

 ing to insure succession of bloom. Established plants 

 give two crops of bloom, while one year old plants flower 

 more or less the whole season. 



The peony ranks high in popular favor. There are 

 two distinct types of peony, one of a shrubby nature, 

 P. Motitan, called the tree peony, and the other a strictly 

 herbaceous plant. Both are extremely hardy, showy, 

 and easily grown. A deep rich soil suits tliem and they 

 should be \\(i\\ supplied with moisture at all times, espe- 

 cially during the period of flowering. Peonies are some- 

 what accommodating, as they will endure full sunlight 

 or a partially .shaded position. They, however, resent to 

 some extent disturbance at the root, and for this reason 

 established plants should not be lifted more often than 

 is absolutely necessary. When transiilanting must be 

 done it is just as well to remove the old soil from the 

 tubers and give the plant a fresh start in rich soil. \'ari- 

 eties are very numerous and range in color from white 

 to deepest crimson. There is also great diversity in form 

 and size of the blooms and the aspirant who is looking 

 for the best would be well advised to visit the establish- 

 ment of a si)ecialist and make a selection while the plants 

 are in bloom. .After flowering the foliage always looks 

 well and for this reason peonies are given wider usage 

 than any other hardy perennial. 



Astilbe, erroneously called spircca. has always been held 

 in high esteem. For the margin of streams or ponds it 

 is a most desirable plant. It is also a splendid border 

 plant and may be used for forcing in pots for which 

 purpose nearly all varieties are very suitable. No niat- 

 ter where grown, astilbes should never want fur water at 



the root during active growth. As gartlen plants, the 

 value of astilbes has been greatly enhanced by the intro- 

 duction of many beautiful hybrids. They grow from 

 3 feet to 6 feet in height according to the variety and 

 flower during July and August. The Arnidsii hybrids 

 are among the most striking: .-i. Ceres, rosy lilac in 

 color, about 4 feet in height; A. gloria, similar in color 

 but finer than the foregoing; A. Juno, rosy violet and a 

 very handsome ])lant ; Pink I^earl, dense panicles of a 

 delicate pink shade; A. J'cnus, deep rose, tall and branch- 

 ing spikes; A. Dazddii, also tall and a striking plant with 

 good foliage, and flowers reddish -purple, not an old plant 

 but already the foundation stock of many of the very 

 best hybrids; A. Mocrhcimi, similar in habit to the last 

 named, but the flowers creamy white in color. Peach 

 Blossom and Queen Alexandra are pink varieties some- 

 what dwarfed in habit and flower earlier than the above 

 mentioned. 



The perennial aster is popularly known as Alichaelmas 

 Dai.sy or starwort. Here is a native plant which is 

 gradually finding its way into American gardens and 

 rightly so, because it possesses real merit as a garden 

 plant. This aster has received greater attention at the 

 hands of the English hybridizers than probably any other 

 perennial plant. The different species and varieties vary 

 in height from 2 feet to 8 feet, and can therefore be put 

 to many and varied uses in the garden. The various 

 shades of color in the starworts are too well known to 

 quote, but it must be conceded that the newer hylirids 

 have more intensified coloring and larger flowers than 

 the species. Good varieties are King ( jeorge \', Robin- 

 son \'. C. Louvain. Serene, Edwin Beckett, Mens, 

 Brightest and Best. 



Hcuclicra (Alum Root) is a compact plant with pretty 

 bluish-green foliage, fine for a position near the front of 

 the border as it is practically evergreen. There are sev- 

 eral varieties of Henchcra sanguinca which have coral red 

 flowers. H. Nancy Perry has pink flowers, and is per- 

 haps the finest form. 



Aconitum is a very satisfactory plant for the border 

 as it does well if planted in full sun and a little better 

 perhaps in half shade. The color of the flowers is for 

 the most part in shades of blue or violet, although there 

 is a white variety and one, A. Napelhis var. bicolor, with 

 blue anfl white flowers. The different varieties bloom 

 over an extended ])eriod, from July until late October. 

 The best varieties are ./. uuliiiiiiialc, A. Fisclirri, A. U'il- 

 soiii. and several named sorts of A. Xopcllits. They vary 

 in height from 3 feet to 8 feet. 



Achillea is a perennial useful as a border plant as well 

 as for cutting. It thrives in ordinary soil and cither in 

 sun or half shade, though it jircfers the former. The 

 outstanding varieties are ./. miHefoHiini roseuni, and ./. 

 Ptarmiea var. The Pearl. They are of rather rampant, 

 growth and increase rajiidly by undcrgound runners and 

 require drastic treatment to keep them in bnunds. 



Anchusa is a useful i)lanl on accoimt of the unusual 

 color of the flowers. ./, ilnliea var. Dropmore. a clec]) 

 gentian blue, and the \ariety Opal has flowers of clear 

 sky blue. 



There are many arteuiisias in culti\;\lion although 

 the \-ariety A. lacli/Jora is by far the most worth while. 

 It grows 5. feet to 6 feet tall and has branching spikes 

 of creamy while flowers the end of .August in mid- 

 Octobcr. It should be in every perennial border. 



Bnltonia is a tall growing plant resembling the Michael- 

 mas Daisy. The varieties B. asleroidcs, white, and B. 

 hitisquama. pale lavender, are the best. Flow-ers in Sep- 

 tcnfl;er and Ocloher, and is good for nnturalizing or 

 ])lanting in the shnflibery. 



Catitpanula \^ a Icll-shaprd llnwiT and one nf the 



