170 BORDER 



the greater possibilities we have are due largely to our 

 greater wealth in plants. 



To have a good flower border is by no means an ex- 

 pensive undertaking if a few essentials are regarded. 



BORDER 



plants are very desirable, such as bergamot, monarda* 

 the perennial fennel, with its graceful foliage for blend" 

 ing with cut-tl'Avirs, a little bush of nie, ..in- ..f iiuirjo- 

 raiii, ;l ]il;nit <4' Tin- lemon-sceuted vert"ii;i 'n- ;ilM\-i:i 

 (wl]i''l] iii;iy 1... « int. -red over indoors), tljr ^r, nt. d -. r:i- 



ad manv 



ass 



i.l h, 



and tricniis. .Spi 

 they "come befoi 

 many kinds are 1 



ir^ iim^t not be neglected, as 

 -allow .lans," Narcissuses in 

 e hardy aii.l jm nnaii. lit ; so, also, are the 

 Darwin tulips, even tlmugli unlike the florists' ideal. 

 This recent race of tulips and those of the Gesneriana 

 type live year after year and grow better, besides giv- 

 iiii< fine blooms for cutting. Crocuses may be placed near 

 the margins in warm comers, planting over them or 

 sowing a few seeds of annuals to cover the soil that 

 hides tliera in summer. Stocks, zinnias, asters and 

 mignonette are all admissible and most suitable, 

 clump or row of sweet peas : 

 Gladioluses are excellent. T 

 in a group, to do thorn justir. 



the back 



intervals, 

 "• planted 

 Ml then he 

 M needles 



to protect them. The regal .1 ; i much wa- 



ter, and may be given a special In i, . ;,. I. i: .an be sup- 

 plied freely, other semi-aquatic plants being placed with 

 them, provided the one border does not give the desired 

 variety of soils ; but the whole of the above-named 



that ab- 



that d: 



The first and most important requisite is a good depth 



of soil ; it matters little what the kind of soil, if good, 



but it is better, if possible, to vary the texture and be 



able to control the quantity of moisture. Lilies are 



among the most beautiful of border flowers, but they 



like a soil that is light, cool and un.ivt ; hence decayed 



humus, as leaf-mold, is valu il.I. :M iu\ other sub.iect 



as annuals from warmer ( lim it 



sorbs heat rapidly and ri t un^ r 



sandy texture. In this will tin 



down early in summer, surli i-i i' 



enables the bulbs to m.iini 



winter, and to make an i n 



majority of plants, howe\ < i 



that will not dry out readilx m li 



be made rich enough to grow 



cannot starve the plant and exj 



bloom. If the natural soil be not 



make it so. If it is not possible t 



gin well, and add to it i^ tini. i 



need the space, foi ii will t'l 1 >iii 



der of plants win. h in i n dl i i 



there will alwu> s h. |di iiu loi 



quantity of roots to sj.au . 



The location of such a border is an important ci 

 sideration so far as general effect and efficiency 

 cerned. Along the line of a fence or 

 margin of a walk, drive, or avenue, 

 are good locations. The front line 

 may be straight, curved or irregular 

 in outline, according to the situation 

 or fancy of the owner. The plants 

 will lend il, I , 1 I ■ ■■ 

 all form, 

 of their o 

 lotted spa. 1 

 suitable loi ili. 

 many. Begin w n 1 



flowers, such as ] I i is, 



larkspurs, pen mi | \ - 



rethrums, iris, hi la 



host of others. II i i 



excellent, but in 1 1 

 or rust must be K i i i 



spraying. The (.. i , n i i 1 t h n 

 phlox must be addid, hut mi to it 

 that it does not seed the bed and 

 produce a tiresome crop of poor, 

 weedy sorts. The same may be said 

 of the larkspur. In fact, unless 

 some specially marked flowers are wanted for seed 

 it is best not to allow border plants '- "-' — ■" 

 soil, for they speedily make trouble. Sweet smelling 



plants may be 

 properly 

 One of 

 pository . 

 asters ar 

 anytliinsr 



ide to grow in a mixed border if it be 



, I I a border is to make it a re- 

 I I r.ly plants. Here plant wild 

 1.:-. ,v)i.l lilies and buttercups, and 

 iiilmin which interests you in the 

 'lose plants may be dug even in sum- 

 tops, leaving a few leaves just above 

 them firmly, and most of them will 

 reflects the personality of its maker, 

 never spade up or fork 

 border. Let all enrichment be given as a 

 dressing in fall, allowing the plants to come up 

 through it as thev will. The best time to plant is early 

 ■ 1 fall, before the soil loses 

 s stored-up warmth, as the 

 lants then get well estab- 

 shed before spring ; but if 

 ivision and replanting are 

 ecessary, wait until things 

 ave made a visible start 

 1 spring, so that nearby 

 lants are not injured by the 



