230 



MY GARDEN. 



ever adorn a garden. Some of the delicately pencilled flowers are 

 to my mind exquisite. There are several species in cultivation. 



All the plants hitherto described decorate the garden in spring 

 and summer; but for late summer and early autumn blossoms we 

 must have recourse to herbaceous phloxes, dahlias, hollyhocks, and 

 chrysanthemums. 



There is a period of the year when flowers are scarce, as in the 

 latter part of August and the end of Septem- 

 ber. At this time the effect of the flower of 

 the Herbaceous Phlox (fig. 449) is paramount. 

 The plants throw up stems from three to four 

 feet high, and, when two or three years old, 

 present such magnificent heads of flower, and 

 of such beautiful colours, as to give really a 

 character to the garden. They must not obtrude 

 FIG. 449. Herbaceous PI.IOX. 'into geometrically formed beds, but their gor- 

 geous display must be restricted to more subordinate positions. A 

 great many plants should be grown, embracing a number of varieties. 

 They are easily propagated by division, and varieties are 

 obtained by sowing seed of the most approved kind, and 

 then selecting the finest produce for permanent cultivation. 

 In the background the Hollyhock (Altlicea rosea, fig. 

 4^0), with its magnificent yellow, red, and almost black 



flowers, stands conspicuously pro- 

 minent behind the herbaceous 

 phlox. It grows very fine and 

 very freely at my garden, and the 

 flower is so grand that it ought 

 always to be cultivated. It is 

 easily raised by seed, and propa- 

 gated by cuttings. 

 The Dahlia (fig. 451), a melancholy reminder of departing summer, 

 comes to our aid for the embellishment of the garden at the end of 

 August and during September. The plant was introduced at the be- 



FIG. 450. Hollyhcc':. 



FIG. 451. Dahlia. 



