104 HNARDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS. 
whether it be the one or the other, for spherical is the true face for the 
display of colour, and the richness of the flower. 
HARDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS, 
THEIR BEAUTY AND VALUE. 
BY MR. CHITTY, STAMFORD-HILL. 
Ir was a gratifying circumstance to find some beautiful varieties of a 
most useful class of plants so well represented in the February number 
of the Casiner. The numerous species and varieties of Potentilla 
deserve to be introduced into the flower-garden wherever practicable, 
on account of the surpassing beauty of many of them, the length of 
time they continue to flower, and the ease with which they may be 
cultivated. 
But the object of the present paper is not so much to recal attention 
to the above-mentioned genus exclusively, as to the opening remark in 
the number referred to, viz.,—‘‘ The hardy herbaceous perennial 
flowers form a permanent, valuable class.” Such is really the case. 
A garden containing a well-selected variety of the most useful peren- 
nials is at all times a subject of interest, even in the winter season, 
when their flowers and leaves have passed into decay, and there remains 
nothing to indicate their existence but the stubs of their flower-stalks, 
or a stout stick, or label marking their locality. The spots so marked 
are regarded with interest by the cultivator, because objects are buried 
there that will, with the revivifying influences of spring, burst forth 
with renewed vigour, and bloom, and beauty, for his gratification. 
Searce any of the enjoyments of a garden are to be surpassed by that 
which is realized on witnessing the successional development and 
growth of a border of perennial plants during the early days of spring, 
when the mind is feasting itself with the assurance that in a few short 
weeks or months these bursting treasures will flower with their wonted 
splendour, affording gratification to every beholder. Again, it may 
be said that these are objects of ‘ permanent” interest, because, 
although the flowers of a perennial plant may be exceedingly fugacious, 
yet the root remains, to excite solicitude for its future well-being, and 
to give pleasure from the idea of having it in possession. 
In these days there is a danger of neglecting this important class of 
plants, a main object with flower-gardeners appearing to be the pre- 
servation and raising a sufficient quantity of soft-wooded plants for dis- 
play in the beds and borders during the summer months, and securing 
a sufficiency of ornamental plants for the decoration of the conservatory, 
greenhouse, &c., to the partial, and, in some cases, almost entire 
neglect of the subjects under consideration. 
With a sufficiency of room, and a little management, a continual 
display of the most interesting and beautiful kind may be kept up from 
the earliest days of spring until quite late in theseason. The first appear- 
ance of spring will be indicated by the Snowdrop; Crocus, with its many 
beautiful varieties; Hyacinth; Narcissus, in several varieties; early 
