HEKBACEOUS PLANTS VS. BEDDING PLANTS. 61 



directions about us, — the majority' of which at present have no 

 attraction in summer but a few starved and ill-appearing plants, 

 brouglit from the florist, and left to themselves and tlie famil}- cat ; 

 and permitted, like the latter, to run wild at their own conven- 

 ience. Under these conditions it is no wonder tliat many people 

 who can afford to have a garden, and who tell you they enjoy 

 flowers, attain no real success, and gradually lose interest in 

 their flower beds, until weeds and grass blot out even their first 

 attempts at gardening. 



To be a successful horticulturist one must have a competent 

 knowledge of his subject ; and this, like all things where success 

 is desired, requires effort and study. Such knowledge once gained 

 opens the way to easy methods, and the discouragements which 

 attend the first developments of horticultural taste give way to 

 the certain consummation of all that is undertaken. Knowledge 

 brings new delights in the garden, and what once seemed impos- 

 sible to achieve, becomes not a task Jjut a pleasure of absorbing 

 interest. Drudgery' ceases to be drudgery' because of a certainty 

 of accomplishing all that is undertaken. I think all will agree 

 that this is the secret of success, and that those who are willing 

 to learn through patient stud}- the habits and requirements of ever}-- 

 thing which takes root, grows, and blossoms, have no reason to 

 doubt the result. 



My suggestions so far have been more in the abstract than in the 

 concrete ; and I will now turn from any arguments for or agaiust 

 the favorites of different cultivators, and consider how our gardens 

 may be made beautiful by the culture of hardy plants. 



It is useless to hope for success without, at the outset, making 

 reasonable preparation for the growth of these plants. Most of 

 them are deeper rooting than bedding plants, and Iherefore the 

 beds for their reception must be trenched or spaded to a depth of 

 two feet, and well manured. Most herbaceous plants aie good 

 feeders, and require good soil. Beds must not be located under 

 trees, where the roots of the latter can impoverish the soil. Many 

 of the failures in the cultivation of these plants are due to neglect 

 and consequent starvation, and the grower, discouraged by his 

 indifferent success, pronounces' them worthless, when, on the 

 contrary, had he given them due attention at the proper time, 

 they would have proved themselves worthy of all the care bestowed 

 ou them. 



Robinson sa^'s, in this connection, the idea that, once these 



