MIXED SHRUBBERY BORDER. 



composed of choice hardy herbaceous plants, bulbs, and alpine 

 plants. Another of a very attractive description may be made by 

 the use of bedding 1 plants only, from Dahlias and Gladioli to the 

 smallest kinds, but in this case we will confine ourselves to the old- 

 fashioned sort made with hardy plants alone. There is a symmetrical 

 system, which must be entirely kept clear of that of placing 

 quantities of one thing 1 , good or bad, as the case may be, at regular 

 intervals from each other. The very reverse of that is the true 

 system for the best and most interesting kind of mixed border. In 

 a well-arranged one no six feet of its length should resemble any 

 other similar space of the same border. Certainly it may be desi- 

 rable to have several specimens of a favourite plant; but any 

 approach to planting the same thing in numerous places along the 

 same line should be avoided. I should not, for instance, place one 

 of the neat Saxifrages along in front of the border at regular inter- 

 vals, fine and well suited as it might be for that purpose, but, on 

 the contrary, attempt to produce in all parts a totally distinct yet 

 high type of vegetation. The Cannas may be used to diversify the 

 mixed border, a plant here or there having a fine effect. 



The accompanying plan shows a small portion of what I conceive 

 to be an approach to a tastefully arranged mixed border, so far as 

 size and quality of the plants are concerned. Each of the dwarf 

 plants in front should be allowed to grow into a strong spreading tuft. 



The borders should be deeply prepared, and of a fine free texture 

 in short, of good, rich, sandy loam. That is the chief point in 

 the culture. It is a great mistake to dig among choice hardy plants, 

 and therefore no amount of pains should be spared in the prepara- 

 tion of the ground at first. If thoroughly well made then, there 

 will be no need of any digging of the soil for a long time, though 

 it will require cleaning, and may with advantage be lightly forked 

 from time to time. 



CHAPTER II. 



THE MIXED SHRUBBERY BORDER. 



No practice is more general, or more in accordance with ancient 

 custom, than that of digging shrubbery borders, and there is none 

 in the whole course of gardening more profitless or worse. When 



