194 GARDENIiq^a FOR PLEASURE. 



being hardy, they remain in the same place for many 

 years in succession. Plants of this class were formerly 

 more popular than they have been of late years, the taste 

 for brilliant bedding effects having caused these former 

 favorites to be neglected. Recently the taste for peren- 

 nials has revived, and while they cannot serve as substi- 

 tutes for what are known as bedding plants, they are ex- 

 ceedingly useful for those who wish to have flowers with 

 but little trouble, as most of them can remain for eight 

 or ten years without requiring any other care than to 

 keep them clear of weeds. It will renew their vigor, 

 however, when the clumps become too large, to lift, 

 divide, and re-set them in fresh soil. For the best results 

 it is advisable to re-set most of them every third year, 

 while some may remain in place indefinitely, taking care 

 to give them a yearly manuring, as the vigorous growing 

 ones soon exhaust the soil immediately around them. 

 In setting out these plants, the taller kinds should be 

 placed at the back of the border, or in the center if 

 the bed is to be seen from both sides, while those of the 

 lowest growth are to be placed at the edge, and those of 

 intermediate size between. 



A proper selection of these plants will give a succession 

 from early spring until frost stops all bloom. Many of 

 these perennials remain unchanged from their natural 

 state, but bloom in our borders just as they appeared in 

 .their native woods and hills in different parts of the 

 world, and seem to show no disposition to *' break" or 

 deviate from their normal form, notwithstanding they 

 have been in cultivation for a century or two. On the 

 other hand, many have, by ^' sporting," or by hybridizing 

 and crossing, as in the case of Peonies, Phloxes, Irises, 

 and others, produced many florists' varieties, which show 

 forms and colors not found in the native state of the 

 plants, and the frequent occurrence of double flowers 

 among them shows that cultivation has not been without 



