A BORDER OF HARDY PERENNIALS 59 



florist will at least have a chance, in consequence of the delay, 

 to get hold immediately and grow away without any serious check. 



The chief point to remember in preparing the soil for perennials 

 is that the border is to be the home of your plants for three or 

 four years at least. The less you disturb them the better they will 

 grow. Therefore dig deep and dig thoroughly. If you find that 

 the good soil is two feet deep you may rest satisfied that you have 

 it at sufficient depth. 



It is possible, however, that you will have to contend with a 

 mass of heavy clay or a layer of light sandy soil, and that the 

 drainage of the subsoil may be imperfect. In that case the hints 

 given in the chapter on " Soils and How to Cultivate Them " 

 will be found useful. The great object to be aimed at is to give 

 your perennial plants a sufficiently deep root-run. Where the 

 top layers of soil are defective they should be treated so that, it 

 they are too light, moisture-retaining substances are incorporated, 

 and if too heavy, the lighter qualities of sand and road grit may 

 be introduced so as to bring about a better condition of porosity. 



The building up of a border with entirely new material will be 

 found to be a somewhat expensive undertaking, but where it is 

 possible the results can be nothing but satisfactory if the following 

 method be adopted : The old soil should be taken out to a depth I 

 of two or three feet, the subsoil loosened for purposes of drainage, / 

 and the vacant space filled in with layers of well-rotted manure I 

 towards the bottom, old pieces of turf, road grit, and loamy soil, l 

 The surface should be raised and rounded to allow for the in- 

 evitable shrinkage which will follow as the soil settles down. 



And here let me emphasise the desirability of generosity in 

 regard to the width of the border. If the plants are not to be 

 cramped for room ; if they are to be allowed to flourish, and to 

 attain the breadth and height that are natural to them, then be 

 assured that they will only reach the standard of perfection of 

 which they are capable if they be accorded spacious treatment. 

 By this I mean a border not less than four feet wide, and if possible 

 six. Its length will, of course, depend upon the dimensions of 

 the garden the larger it is the better chance will it give of effec- 



