THE PRACTICAL FLOWER GARDEN 



Two years ago I attacked an herbaceous 

 border that had not been made over for five 

 years, only top-fertilized during that time. 

 The border is a hundred and sixty feet long 

 and about twelve feet wide, with an irregular 

 edge. Many varieties of perennials grew in it 

 whose colors had become mixed, and it was 

 far from satisfactory. First, all the plants 

 were lifted and the bed dug out, then 

 twelve wagonloads of cow manure, two hun- 

 dred pounds of bone meal, a quantity of leaf- 

 mold, with a good sprinkling of both lime and 

 wood-ashes, were put in and thoroughly 

 incorporated with the soil; the border was 

 then planted with choice varieties of phlox, 

 massed in shades carefully blended of cherry, 

 pink, and white; at intervals, groups of the 

 taller varieties were brought toward the 

 front, to prevent a rigid line; occasional 

 groups of foxgloves were also planted, and 

 the whole border was edged with sweet wil- 

 liams in the same colors, which are taken out 

 when they have finished blooming and fol- 



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