[RISH GARDENING 



VOLUME IX 



No. 95 



Edited by C- F. Ball. 



A xMONTHLY JOURNAL DEVOTED TO THE 



ADVANCEMENT OF HORTICULTURE AND 



ARBORICULTURE IN IRELAND 



JANUARY 



1914 



The Herbaceous Border* 



By J. W. Besant. 



' LIBR> 



NEW Y 



60TANI 



QAkO 



The revival in the cultivation of herbaceous 

 plants during the last ten years or so has been 

 not less remarkable than the wonderful enthu- 

 siasm displayed by lovers of iVlpines. True, 

 Aljiines or those plants usually looked upon as 

 such lend themselves more readily to cultiva- 

 tion in small gardens since a very fair collection 

 may be grown in quite a small space, yet the 

 herbaceous border has become a necessity in 

 gardens of moderate size, and may be con- 

 sidered quite indispensable in large gardens 

 and public parks. 



This revival is due to several causes, chief 

 ami:)ng them being a greatly increased love of 

 gardening, dissatisfaction with the bedding out 

 system, which is costly, and the more permanent 

 joys of herbaceous plants. 



There are few positions where herbaceous 

 plants of some kind may not be grovvn, and it is 

 in their wonderful variety that the chief attrac- 

 tion lies. Quite a number may be grown in 

 shady places, many are adapted for wild garden- 

 ing, and in this latter connection it is doubtful 

 if the possibilities of such things as Oriental 

 Pojipies, Asphodels. Lupins, Aquilegias, &c.,for 

 planting in grassy meadows has yet been fidly 

 realised. 



The most brilliant effect, however, is obtained 

 in the well cultivated border, the position care- 

 fully chosen, the work of prei:)aration done 

 thoroughly, and the subsequent selection and 

 planting ])erforraed with judgment. 



Although as stated above there are sorts 

 adaptable enough for various positions, it is 

 best where there is choice in the matter to form 

 the border in an open sunny position away from 

 the im])overishing influence of large trees, but 

 if possible with some shelter from the i)revailing 

 direction of rough winds. 



It is very desirable, hovvever, that the border 

 should have a good background, as nothing so 

 much enhances the general ap])earance at all 

 times, emphasising and throwing into relief, as 

 it were, the various components. 



Various means of achieving this end rise to 

 mind. Should a wall happen to be in a suitable 

 position it may be made beautiful with a choice 



collection of climbing and trailing plants which 

 will lead down naturally to the border and form 

 a j)leasing harmony with the herbaceous plants. 

 An evergreen hedge of Yew or Holly is hardly 

 inferior to the creeper-clad wall, the sombre 

 hue of the hedge contrasting well with the bright 

 colours in the border. In the same way a 

 shrubbery may be made to serve as a background, 

 and many good effects are obtained in this way. 

 Where no background exists it is quite possible 

 to make one of trellis wovk furnished Avith Roses, 

 of which there are so many delightful kinds — 

 Clematises, Honeysuckles and Vines. The 

 latter plan of course involves some expense in 

 providing the trellis, but the subsequent result 

 will amplv' justify it. Lastly, there may be no 

 immediate background to the border except, as 

 in the illustration, that which is formed by tall, 

 strong growing plants forming an irregular line 

 along the back, and against which dwarfer kinds 

 show up remarkably well. 



An important point, where it can be managed, 

 is to have a broad grass edging along the front, 

 or, better still, allow the lawn to form the fore- 

 ground of the picture. The fresh green coloui 

 of the grass plays as important a part in develo])- 

 ing the beauty of the border as does a suital)le 

 background. 



It is, perhaps, unnecessary in these enligh- 

 tened days to labour the question of thorough 

 preparation of the soil, but nothing less than 

 two feet of rich material should satisfy those 

 desirous of a fine and lasting dis])lay. To 

 achieve this it is necessary to trench the ground, 

 an 0])eration which requires some judgment. 

 To the writer's mind there is nothing like turning 

 the soil upside down, but if the work is to be 

 done in spring this is not advisable, as the plants 

 have to be got in as soon as possible, and the 

 subsoil has not had time to become aerated and 

 suital)le for the roots to make use of. Again, 

 if the subsoil be stoney or gravelly, it is obviously 

 useless to bring it to the surface, and the only 

 \Aay, in such circumstances, is to remove it 

 to get sufficient depth; then, when passed 

 through screens, the stones and gravel may be 

 used on roads and walks. Well rotted manure, 



