734 



HERBS 



endure changeableness of weather, and particularly adds 

 to its hardiness. There are many plants which are 

 hardy only if protected until the roots are thoroughly 

 established. This is more often noticed with trees and 



1046. A mixed Herbaceous border. 



strong-rooted plants which are able to penetate deeply 

 into the subsoil, but the same applies to herbaceous 

 plants, except that it is usually necessary to loosen the 

 subsoil to ensure penetration by their finer roots to a 

 satisfactory extent. It is not necessary to make the sub- 

 soil equal in richness to the upper portion, but it should 

 preferably be mixed with a portion of the surface soil. 



The fine roots are the feeding roots and the surfaces 

 of the soil particles are their feeding ground, so that in 

 making the soil particles smaller the feeding surface in 

 the soil is increased, thus allowing for more roots and 

 making available a greater part of the plant-food in the 

 soil. A fine physical condition can usually be obtained 

 by turning the soil over a few times. No soil should be 

 turned or handled when too moist to crumble, as the clay 

 in the soil is quick to become puddled, and therefore 

 impervious to feeding roots. 



Underground drainage is necessary, since roots can- 

 not grow in soil filled with stagnant water. Where the 

 natural subsoil drainage is not sufficient, artificial means 

 should be used. Unless the drainage is good many 

 plants will be injured during the rainier seasons or 

 killed during winter. Plants that are not firmly estab- 

 lished are often easily killed by excess of moisture 

 about the roots during their dormant season; for in- 

 stance, many bog plants otherwise perfectly hardy will 

 winter-kill if planted late in the fall. A 

 further fact showing the effect of water 

 on dormant roots is that many plants, if 

 cut down low enough in the fall to allow 

 water, as from melting snow, to reach the 

 root through the hollow plant stems, will 

 often be entirely rotted by spring. Thus, 

 when it is necessary to destroy golden- 

 rod the dry stems can be mowed in late 

 fall with a sharp scythe. The vulnerability 

 of the root to water coming through the 

 plant-stem may be easily seen by compar- 

 ing in the spring roots of corn, the stalks 

 of which were cut at different heights the 

 previous fall. 



The subject of feeding plants in general 

 is treated at some length under Fertili- 

 sers and Fertility, which see. In the hardy 

 border no large amount of coarse or highly 

 fermentable material should be used. The 

 enrichment of the soil should, if possible, 

 be made while preparing the border, and 

 any fertilizers used should be well mixed 

 with the soil. Even if a liberal amount of 

 stable manure is available, it is well to 

 use some potash or phosphoric acid in 

 connection with it. A light top-dressing of manure given 

 in the fall will keep up the fertility of the soil and afford 

 a slight winter protection, which is appreciated by even 

 the hardiest plants. Over-richness as well as poverty 



HERBS 



of soil tend to make plants in genet al less hardy, 

 usually a great abundance of plant-food should b< 

 given, especially for the hardier species, with vigorous 

 constitutions and long season of growth. Many plant; 

 having a season of rest in late summer do best in soi 

 not overly rich, especially if the position be moist. 



A loose and open surface soil prevents baking aftei 

 rains and waterings; saves some of the labor necessarj 

 to keep the soil open and friable; allows the growth o: 

 many smaller, finer-rooted or creeping plants which can 

 not grow well in a stiff soil ; permits the sowing of manj 

 annuals in the border. Many low-growing plants are in 

 jured on clayey soil by having the under surfaces of th< 

 leaves coated with soil by spattering of rain. A claj 

 soil may be made more loose by the addition of ma- 

 nures, sawdust, coal ashes, sand or almost any such ma- 

 terial. A light, fine mulch should be kept on the surface 

 of a clay soil. 



The points to be borne in mind in planting should bt 

 healthy plants, careful planting and sufficient thickness 

 of planting. Plants should be obtained which have no) 

 been stunted, as a weakened plant will never make as 

 good a specimen as if rightly treated from the start. 

 When plants are received from the nursery they may 

 be heeled-in if necessary, but every day plants are left 

 where they have no root-hold on the soil is an injury tc 

 them, in proportion to the suitableness of the weathei 

 for root growth. If plants must remain any considerable 

 length of time before being placed in their permanent 

 position, it is best to plant them in reserve ground, and 

 to remove them when desired with balls of earth. 



Symmetry of top growth is to some extent, at least, de- 

 pendent on symmetry of root growth, so that by careful 

 planting the roots not only become more quickly and 

 strongly active, but give us hope for a more symmetri- 

 cal plant than can be obtained by careless planting. 

 The proper way to place a plant in the ground is equally 

 to distribute the roots about the plant, leaving the 

 tips pointed downward, and then to firm the soil suffi- 

 ciently about the roots. 



A perennial border should be planted rather thick, so 

 that when in foliage it shall appear as one mass. Any 

 showing of soil between plants is not only unnatural, 

 but destroys the beauty of the border as a whole. 



Winter Protection of Herbaceous Perennials. The 

 protection of species not reliably hardy may be accom- 

 plished with any material suitable for keeping out 

 frost which is not naturally too moist or close. The 

 material should preferably be heaped over the crown of 

 the plant, to shed part of the rain as well as to prevent 

 quick changes of temperature, or to who'lly exclude frost, 

 as the plant may need. 



The material to be used will be decided by the plants 



1047. An Herb-covered rock work 



to be protected, by what is on hand or easily obtainable, 

 and by the presence or not of mice or other vermin, 

 which often work under such material as straw a 

 destroy the plants. Protected plants should be examined 



