A BORDER OF HARDY PERENNIALS 63 



for several years complete renewal and redistribution are essential ; 

 and in order to accomplish the operation satisfactorily it is ad- 

 visable to divide the border into sections, say, six yards in length, 

 so that the varied tasks of lifting, dividing, digging, manuring, 

 and replanting can be accomplished, so far as one section at least 

 is concerned, in one day. The adoption of this plan obviates the 

 possibility of damage to the plants by frost, if, as might be neces- 

 sary where a longer stretch of border came under review, they had 

 to be left out of the ground for several days at a stretch. 



Let us suppose that it has been decided to take such a section 

 in hand : What should be the method of procedure ? First 

 the old clumps must be lifted, and this, in the case of well-seasoned 

 old roots of perennial aster, phlox, or sunflower, will not be too 

 easy a task, especially if by neglect, the soil has been allowed to 

 become solidified. In such a case it is best to thrust a sharp spade 

 round the extremities of the clump, and then to lift it bodily, if 

 possible, out of the ground with the aid of a strong fork. The 

 roots thus removed may be placed on one side to await division. 



Here it is necessary to offer a word of warning. Some dis- 

 crimination must be observed in arriving at a decision in regard 

 to the subjects which will bear disturbance and those which will 

 not. Exceptions to the general rule of wholesale lifting must 

 be made in the cases of paeonies and alstrosmerias. These resent 

 all interference. To disturb them once they have become es- 

 tablished means another long interval before they will reward 

 the cultivator with gorgeous displays of blooms. 



In digging the border it is necessary to penetrate deeply enough 

 to ensure a thorough breaking up of the subsoil. The advantages 

 to be derived from this will be apparent both in the manner in 

 which the occupants of the soil will thrive and in the compara- 

 tively little need there will be for the use of the watering-can, save 

 in periods of excessive heat in summer. 



The efficient manuring of the border while the digging is in 

 progress requires some care. The kind of manure to be used 

 depends largely upon the nature of the ground. If it is light and 

 inclined to be sandy, and therefore unable to retain moisture in 



