IN MY LADY'S GARDEN 



But there are a few rampant growers amongst the 

 perennials which are difficult to keep within bounds, and, 

 unless they are prevented from robbing and crushing their 

 more delicate neighbours, they will do much harm before 

 the autumn, and must therefore be curbed at once. The 

 asters (Michaelmas daisies) are amongst the chief offenders 

 in this way, for they quietly spend the winter in push- 

 ing out long and most vigorous roots on all sides, so that 

 a clump which was small in the autumn will now be pre- 

 pared to smother the plants which grow near enough to it 

 without mercy. So terribly vigorous are these plants that 

 it is a question whether they should not be relegated to the 

 half-wild corner of the garden, where they could follow their 

 own devices in peace. But, on the other hand, they are so 

 beautiful in the autumn, when their cool tints contrast well 

 with the glowing colours of the dahlias, and the carmine and 

 gold of many leaves before they fall, that we cannot spare 

 them entirely from the herbaceous border. There is one 

 Michaelmas daisy, however, which is always welcome there, 

 for it does not increase rapidly, and is not too rampant in 

 growth, and that is the variety Aster ericoides, with fine 

 heath-like foliage, and a mass of beautiful little daisies on 

 slender stems, most desirable for cutting. This plant does 

 not exceed 3 feet in height, and is very neat in habit, so that 

 it is an excellent addition to the border at this time of year, 

 and other varieties in mauve, white, and lavender can be 

 added where there is plenty of room. 



The perennial sunflowers (helianthus) are also most 

 aggressive plants, quickly filling the border with a mass 

 of strong roots, to the destruction of neighbouring flowers, 

 and these must now be severely checked in their operations, 

 unless they have an abundance of space, when the mass of 

 golden blossoms they produce in the early autumn will be 

 very effective in the border. In removing the superabun- 

 dant roots of these plants, it is well to remember that such 

 strong-growing things exhaust the soil very severely, so that 

 it is necessary to add rich material in the spaces which they 

 have filled before putting in other plants. 



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