April 14, 1910. 



The Weekly Florists' Review. 



View in the Store of Philip L. Carfaone, Boston. 



is to keep on hand plants and flowers 

 that are out of the beaten track, and he 

 is constantly on the lookout for — and ever 

 ready to pay Jor — anything new or un- 

 common. In addition to a large and in- 

 creasing Boston and New England trade, 

 he has many New York customers. 



So famous have his Italian and other 

 garden wares become that he finds it 

 necessary to make one or two European 

 trips each year for novelties, and with 

 him are to be found articles not procur- 

 able elsewhere. He returned only the 

 week before Easter with a big line; of 

 new goods and he starts on a western trip 

 to show his novelties in a few days. Mr. 

 Carbone has already made several west- 

 ern trips and has quite a number of cus- 

 tomers there. No trade visitor to Bos- 

 ton should fail to visit his beautiful 

 store at 342 Boylston street. They will 

 be much surprised at the variety of 

 goods displayed and pleased at its ex- 

 quisite arrangement, W. N. Ceaio. 



HERBACEOUS BORDERS. 



[An extract from a paper by Arthur E. 

 Thatcher, of Arnold Arboretum, read before the 

 Boston Gardeners' and Florists' Club.] 



In this country it is probable that 

 herbaceous plants have not yet attained 

 the same degree of popularity as in Eu- 

 rope, but with the ever-increasing love 

 for outside gardening, which is so notice- 

 able here, I feel sure that the day is not 

 far distant when their merits will be 

 fully appreciated. In no country in the 

 world can they be grown more success- 

 fully, and one has only to notice the 

 luxuriance of the native flora, such as 

 solidagos, asters, cypripediums and lo- 

 belias, to see this. 



I should like to say a word here about 

 the cultivation, as one frequently meets 

 people who are under the impression that 

 herbaceous plants, when once planted, 

 can be left to take care of themselves 

 for an indefinite period, but this is quite 

 erroneous; and though they may not be 

 so exacting in their requirements as the 

 denizens of glass houses, yet to maintain 

 them in good health and produce the best 

 results the necessary amount of atten- 

 tion must be given. 



Preparations for the Border. 



In making a herbaceous border, if it is 

 to be permanent, it should first of all be 

 seen that the drainage is good, as few 

 except semi-aquatics will succeed under 

 water-logged conditions. The border 

 should be not less than six feet in width, 

 but much finer effects can be produced 

 if from eight to ten feet can be allowed, 

 A good background is always desirable 

 and two excellent subjects for the pur- 

 pose are climbing roses or a row of sweet 

 peas, but, of course, what to use must be 

 decided »by the situation of the border. 

 Trench the soil in the fall to a depth of 

 two and a half to three feet, incorporat- 

 ing plenty of decayed manure or other 

 enriching material, and leave the surface 

 in a rough condition till spring, so that 

 the climatic effects may sweeten the soil 



and render it in good condition for work- 

 ing. 



The latter part of March or the first 

 two weeks in April is the best time to « 

 plant if the frost is out of the ground 

 suificiently, and it is advisable, if one is 

 not well acquainted with the subjects, to" 

 make a plan of the border beforehand, 

 showing where each variety is to be 

 planted. Harmony of color is of great 

 importance and can only be obtained by 

 making a plan or having a good knowl- 

 edge of the plants, and of equal import- 

 ance is the arrangement. 



Arrangement of the Plants. 



Tall-growing plants must, of Qourse, 

 find positions at the back of the border, 

 but the mistake is not infrequently made 

 of carefully graduating the heights so 

 that the tallest are at the back and the 

 lowest at the front, just as one would 

 arrange geraniums on a greenhouse 

 bench. In this way plants l<5s«-4;heir in- 

 dividuality, for much; of the charm of 

 the border depends^ seeing each sepa- 

 rately. The most effective arrangeme^t^-'T' 

 is obtained by planting some varieties in^ 

 groups and others as single specimens, / 

 By having plants of medium height near 

 the front of the border, much greater 

 depth results and the general effect is 

 altogether more pleasing. 



Early flowering varieties should not 

 be tojo near the edge of the border, un- 

 less they retain good foliage till the fall, 

 and others which flower at a later season 

 should be in front of them, so that no 

 bare places are apparent. By a judi- 

 cious selection a succession of blossoms 

 may be had from spring till late in the 

 fall, but to obtain such a desirable con- 

 dition it is necessary to be well informed 

 about the large number at our disposal 

 and then they can be ordered from the 

 catalogues, but, failing this, I would sug- 

 gest going to a good nursery where 

 herbaceous plants are a specialty, and 

 picking out what appear to be the most 

 suitable. It is well to remember that the 

 best plants are always the cheapest in 

 the end and that it pays to procure one's 

 plants and advice from the most reliable 

 and up-to-date nurseries. 



View in the Store of Philip L. Guitone, Boston. 



