310 HARDY BEDDING 



least one spot of colour every day throughout the growing season, 

 and I gladly acknowledge that tender plants will usually solve this 

 problem better than hardy ones. 



But now that the treasures of the Far East are lavished upon 

 us we have hardy plants suitable for practically every purpose the 

 most exacting gardener can conceive. And whenever we have any 

 special object to accomplish we ought to try nine times to find a 

 hardy plant that will do the work before falling back on a tender one. 

 And this for two reasons: First, hardy plants harmonize better 

 with our climate and environment than tropical plants. Second, 

 as a rule, they are cheaper to maintain. And in the long run, 

 those effects which grow naturally out of the soil and out of true 

 economy will be recognized as the most artistic. 



An artistic border, with bold, irregular outlines and strong 

 mass effects, is better than any formal arrangement nine times out 

 of ten, because a border has more variety throughout the season 

 than a bed. But granting that you really need beds of formal 

 shape, do you not prefer the effects here pictured to any that can 

 be had with tender plants? Do they not harmonize better? 

 Are they not cheaper in the end? Are they not a relief from the 

 flatness of carpet beds? 



It would be unfair and childish for me to rhapsodize about 

 the flowers of hardy perennials, as opposed to mere foliage plants, 

 because the real question is: "Are there any hardy plants with 

 beautiful foliage that are suitable for bedding?" The answer is, 

 dozens of them dozens that will not grow tiresome when seen 

 daily for five months. There is no need of getting five months of 

 raw colour from plants with commonplace foliage, like coleus and 

 alternanthera and acalypha, of which we use millions in America. 

 A better idea is to make sure of beautiful foliage for at least five 



