PERENNIAL FLOWERS. 323 



the plants are dead or very feeble, I shall start again from seed. 

 It would pay any one to sow a packet each year and so keep up 

 their stock if need be. 



The Funkias, or Day Lilies, are very handsome perennials. Funkia 

 Subcordata, having large, white, fragrant flowers, in large sprays, 

 is the best. Any one, even with a small place, can have a clump of 

 this variety. It can be planted in a sheltered, shady corner by the 

 house. It likes moisture. There is a variegated variety the foliage 

 of which is very ornamental but the flowers insignificant. 



The Hemerocallis. or Lemon Lily, is the choicest, most 

 useful, easiest grown perennial of ironclad hardiness I know. I be- 

 lieve it will grow anywhere and under the most adverse conditions. 

 I judge so from the action of mv own plants. I set a small plant in 

 the poorest soil and the most exposed position on our place, and it 

 is now a large clump, and in June sends up many flowering stalks, 

 each one bearing several large, lily-like blossoms of a pleasing lemon 

 color and very fragrant. They bloom for some time, and the flowers 

 make beautiful large bouquets. It is an old plant but is rarely seen 

 in cultivation at the present time. 



If your grounds are large you may have Delphiniums (Perenniaf 

 Larkspur). There are several varieties, white and shades of blue. 

 They are tall, rank growers, profuse and handsome bloomers, and if 

 planted in variety will give bloom from May until late in the fall. 

 They are fine for borders, as a background for other lower grow- 

 ing plants or among the shrubbery, the blue varieties being espe- 

 cially effective in the last named place. They like sunshine. They 

 are not so suitable for. small places. 



Much is said about Rudbeckia (Golden Glow). I can't say I 

 am very much in love with it as a plant, but I like the blossoms for 

 cutting. Cut large bunches with long stems, add a little green that 

 is suitable, drop them carelessly into a tall or large vase, let them 

 arrange themselves, and they are a close second to the yellow Chry- 

 santhemum. It is not suitable to small places, and even on large 

 ones one clump (and you will have to yearly curtail that) is enough. 

 Put it. in the background where it can peep over some lower grow- 

 ing shrub. To give large and perfect flowers — otherwise it is no bet- 

 ter than a weed — it must be liberally fertilized, as it is a gross, feeder. 



The Perennial Phlox is well worthy a place anywhere. They 

 have been so much improved, and new varieties added, that one who 

 had not seen any other than the old loose panicled white and lav- 

 ender pink would hardly recognize these new and improved Phlox 

 as belonging to the same family. When in bloom, gorgeous is the 

 word that trulv describes them. Thev have verv large and close 



