206 



AGRONOMY 



surroundings. Many of the perennial species are desirable for 

 the flowers they produce, but when these are needed for cut- 

 ting, they too should be planted in the flower garden and not 

 the border. Among the better-known perennials are the 



in 



lilies, columbines, irises, phloxes, peonies, sunflowers, bell- 

 worts, bleeding hearts, and pinks. Left to themselves, the 

 herbaceous perennials soon form large clumps, which may 

 often be divided and used to make further plantings. 



Photograph by O. L. Jordan 



FIG. 153. An old planting in which the border has all the appearance of a 



natural growth 



Arrangement of herbaceous perennials. In planting the her- 

 baceous perennials the general rules for planting shrubbery 

 may be followed, especially those regarding mass planting and 

 the avoidance of straight lines. Since they are always planted 

 for the decorative effect of their flowers, they should be placed 

 in front of the shrubbery, which thus forms a natural back- 

 ground and renders the flowers more conspicuous. Tall plants 

 should be placed in the rear and successively smaller ones 



