February 15, A. D. 1906. 

 ADDRESS 



BY 



EDWARD W. BREED, Clinton. 



Subject : — Herbaceous Plants. 



In my desire to have some one speak for the Society on 

 ppeonies and herbaceous plants I have got myself into trouble. 

 This is a very interestmg class of plants. Herbaceous plants 

 have been defined as those having an annual stem from a peren- 

 nial root. They include an innnmerable number of varieties 

 being found in every department of gardening. Our ancestors, 

 perhaps, paid more attention to the herbs from which they made 

 their medicines than to decorative plants, although the latter 

 were by no means neglected, as nearly every house had its gar- 

 den with the boxwood border. It is interesting to note that 

 this type of gardening is now coming to the front and that the 

 leading plantsmen of our times are now devotmg their energies 

 to the improvement of these old-time plants. The term, " her- 

 baceous border" is generally used as the place given over to the 

 cultivation of this class of plants. In selecting a position for 

 this border we should choose a southern exposure if possible, 

 with a background of small trees or a hedge. It may also be 

 placed as a screen to the vegetable garden. If the grounds are 

 limited we must be satisfied with a few plants arranged in the 

 best manner. The ground must be well drained. If the sub- 

 soil is gravelly or sandy this will suffice, but if of clay, we must 

 use six inches of rough material as a foundation, with twelve 

 inches of good soil over. The soil should be of a fine loam, of 

 a sandy nature, well supplied with humus. The roots of many 

 of the herbaceous plants go down deep, and where the ground 



