FOR THE HOME BEAUTIFUL 153 



broken appearance given to the display by plant- 

 ing here and there amongst the lower sorts a few 

 groups of the medium ones. 



We want to keep as far away as possible from 

 stiffness and formality and, so far as possible, to 

 simulate the workings of nature. 



The soil should be enriched with well-rotted 

 manure or bone meal, kept well cultivated and free 

 from weeds. In very dry weather during the hot 

 summer months, it will be well to use the hose in 

 the early morning or to put a light mulch over the 

 soil between the plants to conserve moisture and 

 keep the ground cool. 



The spring blooming species such as the peony, 

 bleeding heart and others require a few years to 

 become thoroughly established and to do their 

 best, but many of the late summer and fall bloom- 

 ing sorts, such as the chrysanthemums, rudbeckias, 

 hardy asters, etc., the sorts in which the old crown 

 dies out and many new side shoots appear, will be 

 much improved by dividing and transplanting 

 each year; taking four or five of the side shoots 

 to make the new plant. 



Plants for the Border may 'be purchased either 

 as field grown clumps, pot plants, or many of them 

 may be easily grown from seed sown in boxes or 

 frames in July or August and later transplanted 

 to the border. Some of those easily grown from 

 seed are hollyhocks, shasta daisies, coreopsis, del- 



