64 JOTTINGS OF A GENTLEMAN GARDENER 



violas are useful for planting as edgings to the perennial 

 border. 



Papaver : This is the perennial poppy of which there 

 are so many lovely named varieties. They are not at all 

 difficult to grow, requiring only a good rich soil in a sunny 

 or half-shady border. Some of the flowers are huge and 

 the plants are noble ones for any border. They are propa- 

 gated by division of the roots or from seed, but this needs 

 patience. They flower from May-October, and should have 

 plenty of water. Plant in October or February. 



Good Varieties. 

 Papaver 



orientale, many named varieties for 

 which see trade lists (crimsons and 

 scarlets), May-July .. .. 2-4 ft. 



nudicaule (yellow, orange, white), May- 



Oct. i ft. 



Pentstemon : Many gardeners do not grow Pentstemons 

 at all, others only grow some insignificant variety, and treat 

 this as a biennial. But this is a mistake. The plant must 

 either be grown as a half-hardy or as a hardy perennial. 

 Its culture as a half-hardy annual is as given in Chapter 

 III. To grow it as a perennial, however, sow seed in June, 

 and prick off into beds of good soil when large enough. 

 Winter the plants in a frame and plant out in March. After 

 they have bloomed cut down and mulch if they have not 

 been mulched already. In cold districts lift the roots and 

 winter in a frame, planting out again each season in the 

 following March. If the district is not a cold one, leave 

 them in the ground, and cover the crowns with leaves and 

 ashes in November, removing this in the following March. 

 Pentstemons include some of the most beautiful of our 

 garden flowers, and should be grown by everyone. 



Good Varieties. 

 Pentstemon 



barbatus (scarlet), July-Aug. . v t ;;. 2-3 ft. 



b. cceruleus (blue), June-July .. .,/;. i ft. 



Newbury Gem (scarlet), all the summer i ft. 



