THE CA'NADIAN HORTICULTURIST, 15 



unexpected, its growth being concealed by more aspiring neighbors, still it 

 asserts itself, as modest merit does at times, by hanging out a dainty spray 

 of buds and i)erfected blossoms ; there is a regal blossom that two days ago 

 was a tiny, twisted, convoluted bud, that did not act as if it meant to "show 

 itself for a fortnight. I have in mind such a garden now, in which York 

 and Lancaster roses stood side by side as the rival factions never did in old 

 England j where Damask roses sent a shower of perfumed petals over a 

 carpet of "Creeping Charlie" and stone crop; where a i)urple Morning 

 Glory twisted itself round a convenient Hollyhock and dangled its bells 

 from its very top. It was a garden of delight, of unlimited boquets, of 

 happy luxuriance and never ending variety. 



But though not all homes can be beautified with so lovely and luxuriant 

 a garden, there are none which cannot afford a few flowers, and to these 

 the hardy perennials will prove more desirable than an attempt at the 

 bedding out system, in which plants must be judiciously arranged with 

 reference to height and color to be effective. Then, too, bedding plants 

 require an outlay of time, trouble and expense which perrenials do not. 



There are very few farm houses about which there is not some unsightly 

 view which might be hidden by judicious planting of shrubbery. There 

 are very many ornamental shrubs which may be purchased for the purpose 

 at a nurseryman's if one has means, but our common lilacs and snowballs 

 will answer every purpose. Against these, as a background, may be 

 arranged perrenial plants in a manner vvhich will be very effective. Holly- 

 hocks, the double varieties being best, herbaceous Phloxes and the perennial 

 Larkspurs, which often attain a height of four feet, look well against a 

 background of verdure. The old fashioned Tiger Lilies and Crown Imperials 

 also deserve a place. Where more space can be given and some attention 

 paid to their growth, greater things may be attempted. 



At this season of the year roots of perrenials may be set out with good 

 hope of surviving the winter and making free growth in the spring. Ono 

 merit, and it is no slight one, of this class of plants consists in the fact 

 that they are always on hand. Once established they go on increasing and 

 growing better every year with no care except to see that weeds do not 

 choke their growth, and to supply them with a little fine manure. Among 

 the most deserving of such flowers we may name, in addition to those 

 already mentioned, Pentstemon, a tall stately plant, whoso tubular flowers 

 of scarlet, blue and white grow in panicles ; Poppies, whose orange and 

 scarlet blossoms, though not very enduring, are very showy and fine among 

 shrubbery ; Pjeonies, the deep, blood-red variety being especially beautiful 

 against a green backgi-ound ; Columbines, with horns of honey ; the Fox- 

 glove, with her purple hood ; Sweet William, which is now so much 

 improved that it is hardly the same flower, with its splendid trusses of 

 velvety bloom ; Pyrethrums, which are as desirable as fine Asters ; Sweet 

 Pocket and wall fiowei-s. Then, too, we have Pinks, both Jai)an and 

 Chinese, which are perfectly hardy and are never done blooming ; Pansies 

 and Daisies ; all varieties of hardy Lilies and Roses, which make the garden 

 a bower of beauty in June ; the Flowering 2\lmond, " April's gift to April's 

 bees;" indeed, the difficulty is not in the variety, but in making a choice 



