112 THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



Noxt in importance are the 



TALL PHLOX, OR PHLOX DECUSSATA. 



These,, when properly grown, are unquestionably the finest of autumn 

 flowers, and in the hands of a tasteful cultivator can be made to furnish 

 very satisfactory results in garden ornamentation. Latterly, for some un- 

 known reason, they have not been so i)opular as they formerly were. On 

 the continent of Europe they are at ])resent held in the highest estimation, 

 and new varieties are being constantly raised from seed, many of which 1 

 am pleased to say show great progress. The Phlox has many qualities 

 which commend it for the garden. It is of vigorous habit, easy cultui-e, 

 and produces in great profusion, during a long season, flowers of fine form 

 and substanc and of bright and varied coloi's. Just as the Roses are 

 fading, the Phlox puts forth her first flowers, producing a fine succession 

 of bloom, and prolonging an interesting season at least six weeks. 



As regards their culture, it may be briefly stated that they succeed in 

 any good garden soil, but they are gi-eatly inqjroved by being liberally 

 manured, and an occasional supply of liquid manure during the growing 

 season will greatly increase the size of their trusses. When in flower they 

 should be watered fi-eely every evening. The Plilox usually flowers in 

 July and August, and in order to render it autumnal flowering it is ne>- 

 cessary to pinch the shoots about the first of June, and again iji July ; the 

 plants will then flower in September. For early flowers some of the plants 

 may bo left unpinched. When two years old the finest trusses are pro- 

 ■duced. The third year the plants flower tolerably well, but they will not 

 Iceep healthy and thrifty after that. The old plants should then be lifted 

 in the fall, divided and transplanted. But the better plan is to keep up a 

 succession of young plants from cuttings by securing a fresh collection 

 €very spring. 



THE JAPAN ANEMONE, 



admitted eveiywhere to be one of the finest hardy pei-ennials, stands in the 

 foremost I'ank among plants for autumn decoration. The species called 

 Japonica grows about three feet high, and bears on long footstalks very 

 pretty purple flowers measuring two inches across. A tine variety of the 

 -Japonica named Ilonorine Jobert resembles it in habit, but has snowy white 

 flowers. These, when planted together as companions, produce a fine effect 

 by their contrast. The plant is of such neat, compact habit, demands so 

 little care, is so hardy and beautiful, and bears such an abundance of 

 flowers, that it is sure to become quite popular wherever known. On large 

 lawns a grand cii'cular bed may be formed by planting the center with the 

 white variety, followed with a broad ring of purple around it, then another 

 ■circle of that fine fall flowering Sedum — spectabile. It is difficult to 

 describe the beauty of beds of this character. They must be seen in all 

 their glory of an autumn day to be fully appreciated. How mucli more 

 sensible to spend time and money on permanent beds like these, i-ather 

 than to devote so much to soft-wooded bedding plants which are of such 

 short duration. With the great variety of hardy bedding plants at our 

 disposal, pleasing combinations may be multiplied at will, and beds once 

 well made will be constant objects of pleasure. — To be continued. 



