PERENNIALS 



593 



to have removed any specially obtrusive plants that seem 

 to be taking more than their share of the room. 



As already stated, there is such a wide range of kinds 

 that it would seem as though any tastes and conditions 

 might be satisfied. Among the commonest of the spring 

 flowering perennials is one of the bulbs, that is the com- 

 mon daffodils or Narcissus. There are many kinds rang- 

 ing from white to deep yellow, with some modifications. 

 The yellow kinds are most common and are most easily 

 grown throughout the northern states. They behave as 

 most perennials in regard to over-crowding themselves 

 to the extent of requiring to be dug and replanted about 

 every three years, "^e bulbs should be planted in Octo- 

 ber or farther south in November. Two splendid va- 

 rieties are Emperor, a deep yellow, and Empress, a deep 

 yellow trumpet and pale yellow perianth. Double nar- 

 cissi are not satisfactory. 



Iris give a long season of bloom and a great variety of 

 heights. Some of the early kinds grow less than six 

 inches tall, while the Japanese Iris, a summer kind, grows 

 to a height of four feet and more under favorable condi- 

 tions. Some of these dwarf kinds are Cristata, four 

 inches; pumila, not much taller; nudicaulis, not over 

 twice as tall, all of which are deep purple. Later come the 

 so-called German Iris, an unknown mixture of several 

 species. In the neighborhood of Washington these bloom 

 during May, with blue and white and mixtures with yel- 

 low predominating. For landscape effect the common 

 blue flag is not surpassed in color and is as satisfactory 

 as any, unless it is to be viewed at close range. Mrs. H. 

 Darwin, seen at a little distance, is practically white, while 

 Madam Chereau is white, pencilled with blue. Iris 

 pseudo-acorns, the common yellow water flag, is a hand- 

 some yellow species that does well on moderately dry 

 ground and is one of the few iris that will grow in stand- 

 ing water. A distinct type of iris of about the same 

 height and of a little later bloom, with narrow foliage 

 and smaller flowers, is the Siberian Iris, of which there 

 are several varieties in white and blue. The flowers of 

 the species are equal in color to the improved varieties, 

 but are smaller. It is a very decorative plant. The Jap- 

 anese Iris comes later than those mentioned and has the 

 largest flowers, as well as being the tallest. It succeeds 

 well on upland but does best in moist but well-drained 

 soil. It also responds to an abundance of fertility and 

 does not object to manure only partially rotted. Heavy 

 mulching with manure is a benefit. With the other irises 

 and the German Iris in particular, mulching with manure 

 is liable to induce a rot that is quite destructive, there- 

 fore, the manure that is applied to these plants better 

 be well rotted and be worked into the ground promptly 

 in small quantities. 



Among the showiest of the late spring and early sum- 

 mer perennials is the peony. These come in rose reds 

 and white with intermediate shades. The flowers are 

 large and although the blooming season is rather short, 

 especially where hot- dry periods are likely to occur dur- 

 ing flowering, yet they are most satisfactory in landscape 



planting, as the foliage remains good throughout the 

 season, in addition to the plants making such a show 

 when in flower. Like the iris, the plants are best set in 

 the late summer or early fall, although they may be set 

 in the spring, but the flowering results are likely to be 

 postponed a year by late planting. When once planted, 

 peonies may be permitted to remain without dividing or 

 resetting for a good many years, plants being known that" 

 are still doing well after twenty years. They do not come 

 to their best until after iris, daffodils and many other 

 plants need replanting. 



After frost has killed the tops, but not before, they 

 should be cut off and when the ground freezes a good 

 application of manure should be given, which should be 

 worked under in the spring. They are gross feeders 

 and respond to plenty of fertility and do not require that 

 it be as well decomposed as many plants require. 



Varieties are numbered by the hundred, but the Amer- 

 ican Peony Society is trying to eliminate the poorest by 

 a comparison of varieties as grown under different con- 

 ditions. In selecting varieties it is not necessary to al- 

 ways choose the highest in price, as frequently good va- 

 rieties are moderate in price because they are free grow- 

 ers and are not of recent introduction. 



The lists given here represent the combined judgment 

 of a large number of peony growers in all parts of the 

 country, as collated by the American Peony Society. 



With and after peonies come perennial poppies, core- 

 opsis, gaillardias, pyrethrum roseum, fox-gloves, sweet 

 Williams and other hardy pinks and hardy larkspur or 

 delphinium. 



Later come the hollyhocks, Canterbury bells, Chinese 

 bell-flowers and yuccas, followed closely by the hardy 

 phlox, of which there are many kinds. This is probably 

 one of the first plants of v/hich there are a large number 

 of named varieties on the market for the amateur garden- 

 ers to begin growing for themselves. They are easily 

 grown from seed planted as soon as gathered, although 

 if kept for a few weeks it is difficult to get it to germinate. 

 The variation in seedlings is great, but the commercial 

 value of new and attractive forms is not sufficient for 

 these to be a temptation to name and put them on the 

 market, although it makes it possible for each gardener to 

 have a distinctive form or forms upon his own grounds. 



Along with the phlox comes the mallows, marshmal- 

 lows and in the South, hibiscus, rather coarse-growing 

 plants, attaining a height of five feet, but having showy 

 flowers shaped like hollyhocks and rose of Sharon, in 

 white and shades of pink, and red. Some of the lilies 

 bloom at this season, too, also physostegia, or false 

 dragon head, followed by montbretias, showy, bulbous 

 plants from the Cape of Good Hope, growing two or 

 three feet high and having spikes of orange or scarlet 

 flowers. Their foliage is somewhat similar to Siberian 

 Iris. At this season also comes the tritoma or red-hot 

 poker plant. This has foliage more like yucca, with 

 orange or scarlet flowers on tall spikes. These last two 



