Photo by] 



The Herbaceous Border, Royal Botaxic Gardens, Glasnevin. 



[C. F. Ball. 



Making a Herbaceous Border, 



By C. F, Ball, Royal Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin. 



THE borders of our ancestors were different 

 to what our up-to date mixed borders are 

 now. Then every plant had its two feet 

 or so of ground, and after it had bloomed the 

 bare space remained for the year. The gor- 

 geous geraniums and other showy bedding 

 plants coming along altogether routed this style 

 of gardening, and now in their turn will probably 

 be relegated to the more or less formal and pre- 

 tentious garden. The cost of storing and pro- 

 pagating tender subjects is an expensive matter, 

 and many people become tired of the same 

 monotonous blaze of colour for several months. 

 The hardy plant border was one of the first 

 expressions of flower gardening, and is one of 

 the most natural ; it can be adapted to the large 

 or the small garden, and can be made a constant 

 pleasure to the beholder for quite seven months 

 of the year. During this time no space of 

 ground need be bare or idle ; the scene will be 



ever gay and ever changing. Once laid out 

 and planted satisfactorily, it will be a permanent 

 pleasure ; many of the plants may then be left 

 undisturbed, others will grow too quickly and 

 want replanting, but it must be remembered 

 that most cultivated plants will suffer if 

 neglected. 



The site may be a varied one so long as the 

 plants can enjoy a free circulation of air, full 

 sunlight, and a moderate amount of shelter 

 from strong winds. 



The border can be made on either side of a 

 straight or curved walk or with an irregular 

 margin, according to situation and taste, but 

 to get a good effect for a large border the width 

 should not be less than ten or twelve feet. 

 Where a wall is at the back of the border, this 

 should be covered by climbers. Evergreen 

 shrubs form a pleasing background to an ir- 

 regular border. If they are very strong-growing 



