46 JOTTINGS OF A GENTLEMAN GARDENER 



of Annuals in regard to their height applies also to peren- 

 nials. It is a mistake to plant too slavishly according to 

 height. Of course the place for Michaelmas Daisies, Tall 

 Echinops, Delphiniums, Anchusas, and tall Lupins, is near 

 the back, but occasionally put a bold plant or two near the 

 front. In one part of the border a small kind of valley of 

 dwarf plants may run almost to the back of the border, 

 terminated by a single good tall Lupin or Aconitum. 

 Consider the plants described in the following chapter 

 and make some scheme which will give a variety. Do not 

 put too many plants which flower at the same time together 

 in the same part of the border. 



Perennial borders should be as wide as possible ; in small 

 gardens not less than 3^-4 ft.; where space is available 

 12-13 ft- is not too wide ; but really fine effects may be 

 obtained with 8 or even 6 ft. Narrow borders are less 

 easy to manage, for in them the bigger masses of perennials, 

 which look so fine in wide borders, appear out of place. 



During winter after a thaw, go over the border and firm 

 the plants again, for they will be loosened. If planting is 

 carried out in March, water frequently and thoroughly if 

 the soil or season is at all dry, otherwise a more or less 

 severe check will ensue. 



After an interval of two or three years most perennials 

 require dividing. This is best done in November or March. 

 The clumps are cut with an old carving knife. In many 

 cases it is best to discard the old centre parts of the clumps 

 and reset only the strong outside portions. 



Perennials from " Cuttings " : Many perennials, such 

 as Doronicums, many Campanulas, Erigerons, Delphiniums, 

 Phloxes, Pyrethrums, Sedum spectabile, and Stachys, may 

 be propagated at the end of May or the beginning of June 

 by means of cuttings. This is the most reliable way of 

 increasing varieties bearing double flowers. Young shoots, 

 the root-stocks if possible, should be cut just below the 

 ground, for they may then have small roots on them ; 

 but if they cannot be obtained take shoots which appear 

 just above the ground. These should be prepared in the 



