THE FOXGLOVE AS A BORDER PLANT. 



tion. In the common foxglove we really 

 did not have enough range of color to 

 warrant an extensive planting, and it may 

 be due to this that the plant has been al- 

 lowed to drop into the background, but 

 now varieties appear having the recom- 

 mendations of freedom of flowering, ro- 

 bust growth, and individual blooms of 

 great substance, bold form, and wide 

 range of beautiful colors and shades. 

 One form that is always admired, either 

 on the plant or cut, is the pure white with 

 purple sprays on the lower portion of the 

 bell shaped bloom So great has been 

 the improvement in size and shape of 

 the blooms that they compare very 

 favorably with the improved Gloxinias, 

 which they considerably resemble in 

 this respect. For the present perfection 

 of the Foxglove, we thank the French 

 nurserymen for their untiring efforts in 

 selecting and hybridizing until perfection 

 be reached. 



The best use, no doubt, to which the 

 Foxglove may be placed is in the border, 

 as we often see the Hollyhock now 

 employed, with evergreens as a back- 

 ground. A bold clump thus placed and 

 grown in greatest health, gives us a 

 change and one which will be greatly 

 admired. 



Generally speaking, such tall growing 

 things are best kept at a distance, though 

 well arranged clumps may be used with 

 great effect in a conspicuous place. 



pretty well forward occasionally ; but it 

 is necessary to give the matter of such a 

 location considerable study, as it will 

 mar one's grounds if not properly placed. 



( )ne great advantage of the Foxglove 

 IS that seedlings come up of their own 

 accord in countless numbers, where all 

 the flowers are not cut, so that it is only 

 necessary to do the thinning out and 

 transplanting in order to keep up "the 

 supply. However, there is one objection, 

 that is, the losing of many of the finest 

 kinds, as one cannot tell what the seed- 

 lings will produce unless grown in sepa- 

 rate clumps of single colors. 



The wild garden and our parks afford 

 excellent opportunities for introducing 

 the Foxglove, and when once establish- 

 ed, one need not fear of its becoming 

 much crowded out by the other subjects. 

 While its beauty and appearance are so 

 out of the ordinary growth, its time of 

 flowering will be eagerly looked for each 

 season when once the finer introductions 

 become known. 



A package of mixed seeds of the latest 

 hybrids may be had 50 cents of some of 

 the larger seed houses, and will give 

 nearly all of the desirable varieties. 

 Sown first in a pan or bo.x, and after- 

 ward transplanted to 18 inches apart, 

 they give a fine display. 



The best soil is a loose loam, thor- 

 oughly enriched and well drained. 



HaRKISII AM) LoMllKI.OkUM LiLIKS 



Can be potted in six or seven inch pots 

 (top of bulb near top of soil) at any time 

 after having a dormant period of a few 

 months. Water sparingly until ball fills 

 with roots and top growth is well estab- 



lished, then they will need more water : 

 never let any lily in active growth get 

 wholly dry. After blooming, dry off, keep 

 in cool, dry position without disturbing 

 the bulb until it is again fit to repot, when 

 shake out of old soil and pot as above. 



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