NOTEWORTHY PERENNIALS 93 



pure leafmold can be used. None of the ferns should be set deeply in 

 the soil, most of them requiring about an inch of soil covering. Those 

 which grow from crowns should be set on the soil so that the crown 

 is not covered. Ample room should be left between the plants because 

 they spread so readily. The Royal or Flowering Fern can be grown 

 in 2 or 3 inches of still water or in very moist places. The Cinnamon 

 Fern is usually found in mucky soils. The Gossamer Fern is one of 

 the best to grow along walks for it will grow in either sun or shade. 



Ferns should be reset in the Spring or during the Summer through 

 August. This will give plenty of time for a new set of fronds to come 

 while the roots are getting estabhshed. If they are planted in the 

 Fall they require a good mulching of leaves. The fronds should be 

 cut back when the plants are moved. 



Propagation. The Ferns are propagated by dividing the root 

 stalks, which are the underground stems from which the upright stems 

 grow. 



Funkia — Day Lily, Plantain Lily, Corfu Lily 



Two sorts of flowers have been called Day Lilies — Funkia (or 

 Hosta, as it is sometimes called) and Hemerocallis. Both are old 

 favorites in the garden. The flowers of the latter group are orange and 

 yellow (see HemerocaUis, page 106). Most of the Funkias are grown 

 for their exceUent foliage which is produced in clumps. The one 

 most commonly grown in om* gardens is the Corfu Lily (F. grandiJJora 

 or subcordata). Its leaves are a glossy light green color with spikes 

 of pure white Lily-like flowers It grows about 2 feet high and spreads 

 in a circle about 3 feet across The flowers are very fragrant, appearing 

 during August and September. The Common Day Lily {F. cwrulea) 

 grows \}/2 feet high, blooms during July, and has mauve or blue droop- 

 ing flowers. F. Sieholdiana is one of the strongest growers in this group. 

 It is 2}/2 feet taU, has white flowers tinged with hlac produced in July 

 and has very large, grayish-green leaves. There are some of these 

 Plantain Lilies with variegated foliage, bright green margined in white, 

 of which F. undulata variegaia is one of the best They keep on growing, 

 improving every year as the clumps increase in size. 



Uses. Funkias are perhaps most useful in the various kinds of 

 borders. The dwarfer variegated kinds are used for edging purposes. 

 They can be used as specimen plants in the lawn, planted near lakes or 

 streams, or grouped around shrubbery Both the fohage and flowers 

 are distinct, beautiful and attractive wherever planted. Some of them 

 are used in rock gardens. They are exceUent plants for the strip of 



