52 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



On some of our larger estates entire gardens or portions of a 

 garden are devoted to plants of one color, such as blue, red, or white. 

 The blue garden has been especially popular of late. 



Again, coming back to the actual problem of the herbaceous 

 perennials we should grow, let me say that in a list of 100 of the 

 best sorts, few people agree as to which actually are the best sub- 

 jects for a particular purpose. The personal element will again be 

 an important factor in making a choice. 



My recommendations will be based on tests which have been 

 made the past three seasons in the perennial garden at the Massa- 

 chusetts Agricultural College. Our collection, although far from 

 being complete, contains at the present time over 500 different 

 species and varieties. They are planted in beds 12 X 50 feet 

 separated by grass walks, one row of a variety with six plants 

 in a row. This garden has not been planted from the standpoint 

 of artistic effects, but principally for study, all plants being pro- 

 vided with zinc labels. 



I will not weary you with a list of all the meritorious hardy 

 plants, but select only those which are the most useful among those 

 we should grow. The writer has endeavored to put aside his own 

 likes and dislikes, and included only the more satisfactory forms. 

 There are many more sorts with strong claims of inclusion, but as 

 our time is limited, the exclusion of many good things is inevitable. 



The plants I will mention have been placed in their approximate 

 order of flowering and there will of course be cases of overlapping 

 throughout the season. In the period allotted to me, it will of 

 course be impossible for me to mention the specific use of each form, 

 however my slides will, I hope, illustrate these points to some extent. 



I might classify the plants I will mention and state definitely 

 for what position in the garden they are most satisfactory; however, 

 since this is impossible in a short period, I have arranged the plants 

 as to the season of flowering, height, and color of the flowers. 



A collection could be selected to good advantage from the follow- 

 ing list: 



April-Mat 



