34 



How to Make a Flower Garden 



the crowns of the plants so as to at least partly shed the rain. The soil 

 must be extremely dry to mjure an established dormant plant, but 

 it can easily be too wet. 



When, after a few years, the border becomes too thick or the clumps 



An effective border-planiing against an office building 



too large to give satisfactory flowers, some removal of plants and division 

 of roots will be necessary. In general, do not separate the clumps until 

 they show very plainly that they need it. The best season to divide any 

 plant is the same as the best time to plant it, which is just before its roots 

 start to grow. 



It may sometimes be best to water the border during severe drought. 

 Do it this way, or do not do it at all: Give to each square foot of the bed a 

 two-inch covering of ivater as fast as the soil ivill take it up. The contmual 

 application of a little water not only hinders the rise of water from the 

 sub-soil, but tends to bring the roots to the moister surface, and so not only 

 crowds them into a smaller feeding space, but makes the plants less able 

 to endure the next drought, and less hardy for the winter. 



