PAET I. 

 CHAPTER I. 



THE MIXED BORDER FOR HARDY FLOWERS. 



THERE are several other ways of arranging hardy plants in a more 

 beautiful, natural, and pleasing- manner, but the mixed border forms 

 a sort of reception room for all comers and at all times. On its 

 front margin you may place the newest Sedum or silvery Saxifrage ; 

 at the back or in the centre the latest Delphinium, Phlox, or 

 Gladiolus; and therefore it is, on the whole, the most useful 

 arrangement, though it should as a rule be placed in a rather iso- 

 lated part of the garden, where the extent of the place permits of 

 that. Not that a mixed border is not sufficiently presentable for any 

 position; but, having many more suitable things to offer for the 

 more open and important surfaces of the garden, this had better be 

 kept in a quiet, retired place, where indeed its interest may be best 

 enjoyed. If no better situation be offered than the kitchen- gar den, 

 make a mixed border there by all means. The little nursery depart- 

 ment, if there be one, will also suit; but best of all, in a large 

 place, would be a quiet strip in the pleasure-ground or flower- 

 garden, separated, if the garden be in the natural style, by a thin 

 shrubbery, from the general scene of the flower-garden. It is vain 

 to lay down any precise rules as to the position or arrangement of 

 this or anything else ; for, even if we succeeded in having them 

 adopted, what a sad end would it not lead to every place like its 

 neighbour ! That, above all others, is a thing to be avoided. In 

 old times the borders on each side of the main walk of the kitchen- 

 garden were mostly appropriated to herbaceous plants ; and, if well 

 done, this is a good practice, especially if the place be small. A 

 border arranged in this way in a small villa garden will prove a 

 very attractive feature, especially if cut off from the vegetable and 

 fruit quarters by a trelliswork completely covered with good strong- 

 growing varieties of Roses on their own roots. 



The mixed border is capable of infinite variation as to plan as 

 well as to variety of subjects. The most interesting variety is that 



