*54 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



the early flowering- perennials sliould be done 

 •as early as possible. The pretty little pink 

 •and white flowering- phlox subulata, or moss 

 phlox as it is sometimes called, should be 

 divided and transplanted very early. A bet- 

 ter time to do this, however, is early in Sep- 

 tember, so unless the growth has g-ot very 

 straggling- this can be left over until early fall. 



Both the herbaceous and tree paeonies 

 should be transplanted early if done at all. 

 Dielytras and clumps of German Iris should 

 be divided early. All of the plants just men- 

 tioned will, however, grow and thrive and 

 produce their flowers in abundance for three 

 or four years, without being divided. After 

 that period transplanting is beneficial, as 

 larger flowers, higher colored and more lux- 

 uriant foliage can be obtained than by leav- 

 ing them in dense matted clumps for too 

 long a time. 



Herbaceous spireas (Spirea auruncus and 

 S. filipendula fl. plena) can also be trans- 

 planted early. About the first week in 

 May will be early enough for most of the 

 later flowering perennials. A good general 

 rule to work on at this season of the year in 

 regard to transplanting perennials is to 

 divide and transplant them when the young 

 growth is about an inch high. Exact dates 

 for a week or so cannot be given as the best 

 time for these operations, as situations and 

 seasons vary so much, but about the end of 

 April and early in May is about the right time 

 in this section of Ontario. 



Best Twelve Herbaceous Plants. — I am 

 often asked what I consider are the best 

 twelve varieties of herbaceous perennials. 

 The following twelve species, many of which 

 can be had in several varieties, will be found 

 to be hardy, easy of culture, and will come 

 into flower in succession from early spring 

 until late autumn. This latter feature, viz., 

 successive flowering period, I consider one 

 of the main points to be thought of when 

 planting a border, or even a few plants of 

 herbaceous perennials. Hardiness, and an 



Fig. 2288. P^ONY. 



adaptability to grow readily in almost any 

 soil, is another point that has been taken into 

 consideration in making up this selection, as 

 well as their suitability for cut flower pur- 

 poses. They are given here in about the 

 order that they will come into flower. I 

 have also given the average height of the 

 plants, a point lost sight of sometimes and 

 one that causes dissatisfaction oftentimes 

 later on. 



Iberis sempervirens, 6 inches. 

 Dielytra spectabilis, 2 feet. 

 Iris Germanica, 18 inches (in variety.) 

 Herbaceous Paeony, 2 ft. (in variety.) 

 Gaillardia grandiflora, 18 inches. 



6. Campanula persicefolia alba. 



7. Aquilegia, 2 feet (in variety.) 



8. Hemerocallis flara, 2 feet. 

 Phlox paniculata, 2 to 3 feet, (in va- 



9- 



riety 



10. 



I T. 



12. 



Pyrethrum hybrida, 18 inches. 

 Achillea, The Pearl, 2 feet. 

 Rudbeckia lanceolata, 5 feet. 

 This will be found to be a good list of 

 twelve iron-clad border plants, many of 



